Trauma-informed therapy is an approach to care that recognizes the widespread effects of trauma and prioritizes safety, empowerment, and healing. Rather than asking “What’s wrong with you?” trauma-informed therapy asks, “What happened to you?” This perspective shifts the focus, allowing clients and clinicians to both understand behaviors and emotions as responses to past experiences.

This therapy approach is utilized in every level of care at Cedar Grove Recovery, from detox and residential treatment to outpatient programs. Our therapists recognize that trauma can take many forms, including abuse, neglect, violence, medical procedures, or long-term stress. By focusing on compassion and safety, we help clients regain control, restore confidence, and begin to rebuild their lives.

Trauma-informed therapy is guided by six key principles and the “4 R’s,” which define what it means to provide safe, respectful, and effective care.

1. Safety: Ensuring clients feel physically and emotionally safe in every session.
2. Trustworthiness and transparency: Building relationships based on honesty and clear communication.
3. Peer support: Encouraging connection with others who have shared experiences.
4. Collaboration and mutuality: Valuing the client’s voice and active participation in the healing process.
5. Empowerment, voice, and choice: Supporting autonomy and recognizing strengths.
6. Cultural, historical, and gender awareness: Respecting the role of identity and lived experience in recovery.

1. Realize the impact of trauma and how it affects individuals and families.
2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients and staff.
3. Respond by integrating trauma-informed principles into every aspect of care.
4. Resist re-traumatization by creating safety and preventing harmful triggers.

These principles guide all aspects of care at Cedar Grove Recovery so clients feel supported throughout healing.

Trauma-informed therapy supports anyone who has experienced overwhelming or distressing events. It’s especially effective for those living with post-traumatic stress disorder, complex PTSD (CPTSD), or trauma connected to addiction, grief, or loss.

Our clinicians help clients heal from trauma related to diverse experiences, such as:

• Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
• Neglect or abandonment
• Domestic violence
• Accidents, medical trauma, or chronic illness
• Systemic or cultural trauma
• Traumatic loss or grief

Trauma can manifest as anxiety, depression, substance use, or difficulty trusting others. Trauma-informed therapy helps clients reconnect with safety, regain control of their lives, and reduce symptoms that interfere with daily functioning.

You might benefit from trauma-informed therapy if you:

• Have intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares
• Avoid people or situations that remind you of past events
• Feel anxious, on edge, or emotionally numb
• Experience mood swings, guilt, or shame
• Use substances or other behaviors to cope with emotional pain

At Cedar Grove Recovery, we understand that trauma recovery looks different for everyone. Our therapists meet you where you are and guide you toward healing at your own pace.

Entering trauma-informed therapy can feel uncertain at first, but Cedar Grove Recovery makes the process comfortable, transparent, and collaborative. Therapy is never rushed. Instead, clients progress through healing steps tailored to their individual experiences and goals.

Trauma assessment and screening

Your therapist will begin with a comprehensive assessment, reviewing your trauma history, current symptoms, and personal strengths. This helps identify patterns and triggers while highlighting resilience and coping strategies that already exist.

Trauma psychoeducation

Clients learn how trauma affects the brain and body, including the nervous system, stress response, and window of tolerance. Understanding these concepts helps normalize trauma reactions and reduce self-blame. Psychoeducation helps clients recognize how trauma affects their daily lives and equips them to manage it more effectively.

Stabilization and self-regulation

Before processing traumatic memories and experiences, clients learn grounding, breathing, and somatic (body-based) skills to regulate emotions and reduce distress. These techniques establish a foundation of safety and control, which is essential for healing later on.

Collaborative treatment planning

Therapists work with clients to create personalized, measurable goals that support recovery and well-being. This collaborative approach builds trust and allows therapy to progress at a pace that feels safe, empowering, and sustainable for each client.

Cedar Grove Recovery uses proven, research-backed therapies to help clients process trauma safely and effectively. Each approach is chosen based on a person's needs, comfort levels, and treatment goals.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact. Using guided eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, clients process and reframe challenging memories in a structured way. EMDR is recognized as one of the most effective treatments for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms.

Somatic experiencing and body-based trauma therapy

Somatic therapy focuses on the body’s physical responses to trauma. Clients learn to notice and release tension, build awareness of physical sensations, and restore a sense of safety within their bodies. These techniques help reduce symptoms like hypervigilance, chronic pain, and anxiety.

Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)

Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy combines therapy and behavioral techniques to address distorted thinking and emotional responses caused by trauma. Originally developed for children and families, TF-CBT can also help adults coping with trauma related to addiction or mental health conditions.

Trauma-sensitive yoga and mindfulness

Mindfulness and trauma-sensitive yoga encourage clients to reconnect with their bodies through gentle movement, breathing, and awareness. These practices help reduce stress, regulate emotions, and support long-term nervous system balance.

Each therapy can be used alone or as part of a personalized care plan.

Childhood trauma therapy

Childhood trauma can affect emotional development, attachment, and relationships well into adulthood. Cedar Grove Recovery’s trauma-informed therapists help clients process painful experiences, build self-compassion, and develop a sense of safety. Therapy focuses on repairing early attachment wounds and strengthening resilience for the future.

Complex trauma treatment

Complex trauma results from long-term or repeated exposure to distressing situations, often involving abuse or neglect. Treatment emphasizes understanding fragmented parts of self, rebuilding boundaries, and developing emotional regulation. Our therapists help clients cultivate self-awareness, heal relationships, and build trust after long-term trauma.

Trauma often occurs alongside other mental health conditions. Cedar Grove Recovery specializes in treating co-occurring conditions such as addiction, anxiety, and depression through integrated, trauma-informed care.

Trauma and addiction

Many people turn to substance use to cope with trauma-related pain. Our addiction treatment programs incorporate trauma-informed principles that help clients address the root causes of addiction while building new coping skills. Group and individual therapy sessions teach clients how to manage triggers and replace harmful coping strategies with healthier habits.

Trauma and relationships

Trauma can create difficulties with trust, communication, and emotional boundaries. Through group therapy and family counseling, clients learn to identify attachment patterns, rebuild trust, and form safe and supportive relationships. These skills support recovery, connection, and long-term well-being.

Trauma-informed principles extend beyond individual treatment sessions. They can be applied in parenting, schools, workplaces, and community settings to create safer and more understanding environments.

Examples of trauma-informed practices include:

• Parenting: Prioritizing consistency, empathy, and co-regulation to support children’s emotional safety.
• Education: Implementing trauma-informed classroom strategies that promote trust and student engagement.
• Workplaces: Encouraging psychological safety, supportive leadership, and policies that reduce stress and burnout.

Applying trauma-informed care across all areas of life builds resilience and promotes understanding within individuals and communities affected by trauma.

A trauma-informed therapist should be skilled, compassionate, and focused on creating a sense of safety and trust. At Cedar Grove Recovery, our trauma-informed clinicians are:

• Licensed and credentialed professionals trained in CBT, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and EMDR therapy
• Experienced in treating trauma alongside addiction, anxiety, and depression
• Committed to trauma-informed ethics, safety, and confidentiality
• Dedicated to ongoing education and clinical supervision

When choosing a therapist, it’s important to ask about their experience with trauma-specific modalities, approach to pacing, and commitment to avoiding re-traumatization.

At Cedar Grove Recovery, SMART Recovery is integrated into our broader addiction treatment model. Our licensed clinicians combine SMART’s tools with therapies such as CBT and DBT to create a comprehensive, evidence-based approach.

How we integrate SMART Recovery into addiction treatment:

• Individual therapy sessions: Personalized coaching and skill development
• Group therapy: Peer-led discussions and shared learning
• Ongoing aftercare support: SMART meetings and alumni engagement for continued growth

Progress is measured through goal reviews and self-assessments, helping clients take ownership of recovery while remaining supported.

Getting started with SMART Recovery at Cedar Grove Recovery is simple and supportive. Our admissions team will help you complete a brief assessment, match you with the right level of care, and connect you to your first SMART meeting or therapy session.

Your first steps include:

• Completing an assessment to understand your goals and needs
• Developing a SMART-aligned treatment plan with measurable milestones
• Joining your first SMART Recovery group to begin practicing new skills

Clients can participate in SMART groups during treatment or as part of their aftercare plan. With support from Cedar Grove Recovery’s compassionate staff, recovery becomes a process of growth, learning, and personal empowerment.

We believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality, compassionate addiction care, regardless of their financial circumstances. Healing from trauma should be accessible and supported at every step, which is why our team works closely with each client to make treatment affordable and stress-free.

Cedar Grove Recovery accepts most major insurance providers, including Medicaid. Before beginning treatment, our admissions specialists review your benefits, clearly explain the costs, and help you find the best plan for your specific situation.

What clients can expect from our admissions process:

• Personalized insurance verification with transparent cost information before treatment starts
• Guidance and support from a caring admissions team that walks you through each step
• A focus on accessibility so that finances are never a barrier to receiving care

Our goal is to make treatment accessible, allowing you to focus entirely on your recovery.

We know that for people healing from trauma, feeling safe is the foundation of progress. Our trauma-informed therapy environment is built on compassion, transparency, and respect. This helps clients regain confidence in themselves and in therapy. Every member of our team is trained to recognize trauma responses, respond with empathy, and create a space where clients feel supported, not judged.

How Cedar Grove Recovery promotes safety and trust:

• Confidential care that protects your privacy and personal story
• Clear communication and informed consent at every stage of treatment
• Therapists trained in trauma-sensitive practices to prevent re-traumatization
• Consistent emotional support that encourages clients to move at their own pace

We are committed to providing trauma-informed care that honors your experiences and empowers you to heal at your own pace. In our safe, compassionate, and trusting environment, you are always in control of your recovery.

We provide a healing space that is safe, compassionate, and empowering. At Cedar Grove Recovery in Louisville, Kentucky, our trauma-informed therapy program guides clients in processing trauma, rebuilding trust, and moving forward with renewed strength and resilience in their recovery journey.

Call 502.317.8031 today or fill out our secure online contact form, and a member of our admissions team will be in touch to help you get started with treatment.