Trauma & PTSD Therapy in San Clemente

Trauma isn't only what happened.
It's what stayed, and that can change.

Trauma is any experience that overwhelmed your ability to cope at the time: a car accident, an assault, combat, a medical crisis, the sudden loss of someone, or years of growing up in a home that wasn't safe. Some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): nightmares, flashbacks, feeling constantly on guard, avoiding reminders, and feeling numb or detached. Others don't meet the full criteria but still carry the weight: trouble trusting people, a short fuse, difficulty relaxing, or a nervous system that never quite powers down. Both deserve care, and both get better with the right treatment.

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How we treat trauma

We start by making sure you feel safe and steady before we go anywhere near the hard material. That means building skills first: grounding, breathing, mindfulness and distress tolerance from DBT, so that you have brakes before we touch the accelerator.

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From there, your clinician will recommend an approach based on what you've been through and what you want:

• Trauma-focused CBT helps you understand how the trauma changed your beliefs about yourself, other people and the world, and work through the memories at a pace you control.

• DBT is especially useful when trauma shows up as intense emotions, impulsive behavior, or difficulty in relationships, which is common when trauma happened early or repeatedly.

• Trauma-informed addiction treatment, because trauma and substance use are deeply linked. If you've been using alcohol or drugs to manage symptoms, we treat both together rather than telling you to "get sober first."

You will never be pushed to talk about details before you're ready. Processing trauma is something we do with you, not to you.

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What a first session looks like

Your first session is free and full-length. We'll talk about what's been happening and what you'd like to be different; you set the pace. After that, weekly sessions work best at the start.

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Who you'll work with

Every Brain Repair clinician is trained in trauma-informed care, and our team's background in addiction treatment means we're comfortable working with trauma and substance use at the same time. Visit our Meet the Team page to learn more about each of us.

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Practical details

• In person at 3551 Camino Mira Costa, Suite K, San Clemente, or by telehealth anywhere in California

• Evening and weekend appointments available

• $150–250 per session after your free first session; superbills provided for PPO plans

• Also see our Addiction Counseling, DBT Explained and Individual Therapy pages

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Common questions

Do I have to talk about what happened? Not until you're ready, and some approaches don't require going through the details at all. Early sessions focus on stability and skills.

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Can trauma therapy be done by video? Yes. Many clients prefer processing difficult material from home. Your clinician will help you set up a safe, private space for sessions.

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I'm not sure what happened to me "counts" as trauma. If it still affects you, it counts. Come in and let's talk about it.

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Take the first step

Call or text (949) 415-4204, email info@brain-repair.com, or send us a message below. We'll get back to you within 24 hours. Our office is at 3551 Camino Mira Costa, Suite K, San Clemente, CA 92672.

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If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.

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Reviewed by Doug Pleiman, LCSW, LAADC, Clinical Director. Last updated October 2026.