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TRAUMA & PTSD THERAPY
Specialized online Trauma Treatment in California
Evidence-Based Treatment With Dr. Sarah-Rae Andreski, Ph.D.
Traumatic experiences can continue affecting your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and everyday life long after the events themselves have passed. Dr. Sarah-Rae Andreski provides specialized online trauma and PTSD therapy for adults throughout California, using evidence-based treatment approaches tailored to each individual's experiences and needs.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist | Secure Telehealth Across California
Common trauma & ptsd symptoms
Understanding Trauma & PTSD
Not everyone experiences trauma in the same way, and experiencing these symptoms does not automatically mean you have PTSD. A clinical assessment can help clarify what you're experiencing and whether trauma-focused therapy may be appropriate.
Intrusive Memories & Nightmares
Unwanted memories, distressing dreams, or moments when a past experience feels difficult to separate from the present.
Hypervigilance & Feeling on Edge
Feeling unusually alert to potential danger, becoming easily startled, or struggling to relax even in familiar environments.
Avoidance & Emotional Numbness
Avoiding reminders of difficult experiences, withdrawing from others, or feeling disconnected from emotions and activities.
Changes in Mood & Beliefs
Persistent guilt, shame, anger, fear, or changes in how you view yourself, other people, and the world.
Sleep & Concentration Difficulties
Trouble sleeping, irritability, difficulty concentrating, or feeling mentally and physically exhausted.
Difficulties With Trust & Connection
Changes in relationships, emotional closeness, or your sense of safety with others.
When the Experience Is Over, but Its Effects Remain
Understanding Trauma & PTSD
Trauma can change the way you experience everyday life. You may find yourself constantly alert, avoiding certain situations, struggling with memories, or reacting to things that previously felt manageable.
For some people, these difficulties develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Others experience significant trauma-related symptoms without meeting the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE MATTERS
Treating trauma requires more than understanding its symptoms. Effective care also considers the circumstances surrounding the experience, the ways a person has adapted to it, and how those adaptations may continue affecting everyday life. Dr. Andreski brings extensive clinical experience working with individuals exposed to complex and high-stress circumstances, including military service, occupational trauma, serious physical injury, and repeated exposure to distressing events. Her professional background includes specialized clinical work within Veterans Affairs healthcare systems and experience with military populations. This background informs her understanding of trauma-related concerns that may be particularly difficult to recognize, discuss, or address. She combines that experience with established psychological treatment methods and an individualized, collaborative approach to care.
EVIDENCED BASED TREATMENT OPTIONS
Approaches to Trauma Recovery
Effective trauma treatment is not simply about discussing difficult experiences. Evidence-based approaches help individuals address the thoughts, memories, emotional responses, and patterns of avoidance that may be maintaining trauma-related distress.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Traumatic experiences can influence deeply held beliefs about safety, trust, responsibility, and self-worth.
Cognitive Processing Therapy helps individuals identify and evaluate beliefs connected to traumatic experiences, including patterns of guilt, self-blame, or feeling unsafe. The goal is to develop more balanced ways of understanding what happened and how it affects life today.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
Avoidance can provide temporary relief from trauma-related distress, but over time it may reinforce fear and limit daily life.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy uses a structured, gradual approach to help individuals safely engage with trauma-related memories and situations they have been avoiding, with the goal of reducing distress and avoidance.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a structured psychotherapy that helps individuals process distressing memories associated with traumatic experiences.
Treatment involves recalling aspects of a traumatic memory while engaging in guided bilateral stimulation, such as alternating eye movements. The approach is designed to reduce the distress associated with traumatic memories.
Individualized Treatment Plan
The most appropriate approach depends on your symptoms, clinical history, treatment goals, and preferences. Dr. Andreski works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods are appropriate for their needs.
EVIDENCED BASEd Treatment Begins With Understanding Your ExperienceD TREATMENT OPTIONS
Beginning Trauma Therapy
Starting trauma therapy can feel intimidating, particularly when you're uncertain how much you'll be expected to share. Treatment begins with a clinical assessment and a discussion of your concerns, history, and goals. This helps establish an understanding of your needs and determine an appropriate treatment direction. From there, therapy follows an individualized plan informed by your clinical needs and the treatment approach being used. Throughout the process, you can expect clear communication about treatment goals, the methods being used, and your role in the therapeutic process.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist | Secure Telehealth Across California
Common Questions About Trauma & PTSD Therapy
Questions about Trauma Treatment
No. People may experience distressing effects from traumatic events without meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. A psychologist can help assess your concerns and determine whether trauma-focused treatment is appropriate.
Not necessarily in the same way with every treatment approach. Different evidence-based therapies involve different levels and methods of engaging with traumatic memories. Your psychologist should explain the recommended approach so you can make informed decisions about treatment.
Yes. Research supports delivering certain evidence-based PTSD treatments through secure video appointments when clinically appropriate. The suitability of telehealth depends on individual circumstances and the treatment being provided.
Treatment length varies depending on the approach, the concerns being addressed, and individual progress. Some evidence-based PTSD therapies follow structured protocols, while other clinical needs may require a different course of care.
You don't need to determine that on your own. An initial clinical assessment can help clarify your symptoms, identify relevant concerns, and guide appropriate treatment recommendations.
When the Experience Is Over, but Its Effects Remain
Understanding Trauma & PTSD
Trauma can change the way you experience everyday life. You may find yourself constantly alert, avoiding certain situations, struggling with memories, or reacting to things that previously felt manageable.
For some people, these difficulties develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Others experience significant trauma-related symptoms without meeting the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
FAITH BASED THERAPY
Integrating Spirituality Into Treatment (Optional)
For clients who wish to include faith as part of their healing journey, Dr. Andreski offers faith-based therapy upon request. Sessions may incorporate prayer, spiritial reflection, or scriptural principles alongside evidence-based modalities, honoring both psychological and spiritual dimensions of recovery.