Trauma & PTSD Treatment in Naples, Estero & Fort Myers
You survived something difficult. Now it is time to stop just surviving and start healing. Our trauma-trained therapists use proven approaches to help you reclaim your sense of safety and peace.
What Trauma and PTSD Look Like
Trauma does not always look the way people expect. Sometimes it is not the big, dramatic event that catches up with you -- it is the way your body still tenses when you hear a certain sound, the nightmares that jolt you awake at 3 a.m., or the way you cannot seem to relax no matter how safe you actually are.
Maybe you find yourself constantly scanning for danger, jumping at small noises, or feeling emotionally numb even around people you love. Perhaps you avoid certain places, conversations, or memories because getting too close to them feels unbearable. You might feel irritable, on edge, or disconnected from yourself in ways that are hard to explain.
Some people experience flashbacks -- moments where the past feels like it is happening right now. Others notice a general heaviness, difficulty concentrating, or a sense that something is fundamentally wrong even when nothing obvious is going on. You might turn to alcohol, overwork, or constant busyness just to keep the feelings at bay.
If any of this sounds familiar, please know that what you are experiencing is your nervous system's natural response to overwhelming events. It is not weakness. It is not something you should just "get over." And with the right support, it absolutely can get better.
Our Treatment Approach
At Florida Coast Counseling, we do not take a one-size-fits-all approach to trauma. Every person's experience is different, and your treatment should reflect that. Our therapists are trained in several evidence-based modalities that are considered the gold standard for trauma and PTSD treatment.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps your brain process stuck traumatic memories so they no longer trigger the same intense emotional and physical reactions. Many clients are surprised by how quickly they begin to feel relief, often within just a few sessions.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) combines cognitive behavioral techniques with trauma-sensitive interventions. This approach is particularly effective for processing traumatic events, challenging unhelpful beliefs that developed after the trauma, and building practical coping skills.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) helps you examine and reshape the way you think about your traumatic experience. Many trauma survivors develop beliefs like "It was my fault" or "The world is completely unsafe." CPT gently helps you evaluate these thoughts and develop a more balanced perspective.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy helps you gradually and safely approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations you have been avoiding. Over time, these experiences lose their power to cause distress.
We always move at your pace. Healing from trauma is not about being forced to relive painful experiences before you are ready. It is about building safety, developing trust, and then gently working through what happened so it no longer controls your life.
What to Expect in Sessions
Your first session is about connection, not confrontation. We want to understand your story, your symptoms, and what you are hoping for -- not push you into anything you are not ready for. We will talk about what brought you in, what your day-to-day life looks like, and how trauma is affecting you right now.
From there, your therapist will work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your specific needs. If EMDR feels right, we will explain exactly how it works and walk through the process together. If CPT or exposure therapy is a better match, we will build up gradually, making sure you have solid coping tools before we start processing the harder material.
Throughout treatment, you are always in control. If something feels like too much, we slow down. If you need to take a different direction, we adjust. Many clients tell us they were nervous about starting trauma therapy, but once they experienced the process, they wished they had reached out sooner.
Sessions are typically 50 minutes and can be held in person at any of our three offices or via telehealth from anywhere in Florida. Some intensive formats are also available for clients who want to make faster progress.
Therapists Who Specialize in Trauma & PTSD
Stephanie House, MS, LMHC
TF-CBT, EMDR, Trauma-Informed Yoga
Estero & Fort Myers offices
Emily Korolevich, MS, LMFT
Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure
Naples office
Mary Lisa Grimmer, MA, LMHC
Trauma Counseling, Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Estero & Fort Myers offices
Micki Besse, MS, MA, RMHCI
Trauma-Informed Care, Narrative Therapy, ACT
Estero office
Izzah Zainab, MA, RMHCI
EMDR, Psychodynamic Therapy, CBT
Naples office
Stephen Bridges, MSW, RCSWI
Trauma-Informed Care, EMDR, CBT
Estero & Fort Myers offices
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have PTSD or just normal stress?
PTSD involves specific symptoms that last more than a month after a traumatic event, including intrusive memories or flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and heightened reactivity like being easily startled or having trouble sleeping. If these symptoms are interfering with your daily life, relationships, or work, it is worth talking to a professional. Even if your experience does not meet the full criteria for PTSD, trauma therapy can still help.
Will I have to relive my trauma in therapy?
We never force you to relive painful experiences before you are ready. Effective trauma therapy involves a phased approach: first we build safety and coping skills, then we process the trauma at a pace that feels manageable, and finally we focus on reconnection and growth. You are always in control of how fast or slow we go. Many evidence-based approaches like EMDR actually allow you to process trauma without having to describe every detail out loud.
How long does trauma therapy typically take?
The length of treatment varies depending on the nature of the trauma, how long symptoms have been present, and which approach we use. Some clients with a single traumatic event see significant improvement in 8 to 12 sessions of EMDR or CPT. Complex or childhood trauma may require longer treatment. Your therapist will give you a clearer picture after your initial assessment.
What is the difference between EMDR and traditional talk therapy for trauma?
Traditional talk therapy helps you understand and verbally process your experiences. EMDR works differently -- it uses bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping) to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories at a neurological level. Many clients find that EMDR resolves trauma faster than talk therapy alone because it works with the way your brain naturally heals. Our therapists can help you determine which approach is the best fit for your situation.
Can trauma therapy help even if the traumatic event happened years ago?
Absolutely. Trauma does not have an expiration date. Whether your experience happened last month or decades ago, your brain and body may still be carrying the effects. In fact, many of our clients come to therapy years after the event because they have reached a point where they are ready to finally address what happened. It is never too late to heal, and effective treatment can bring relief regardless of when the trauma occurred.
Related Services
Ready to Start Your Healing Journey?
You do not have to keep carrying this alone. Our trauma-specialized therapists are here to help you move from surviving to truly living again.
Available at our Naples, Estero, and Fort Myers offices, plus telehealth across Florida.