Will I have to talk about my trauma in group?

No. Our process groups are trauma-informed and we do not require disclosure in group. Reprocessing happens in individual EMDR or trauma-focused CBT, only when you and your team agree you are ready.

What is stabilization, and why does it come before reprocessing?

Stabilization builds sleep, distress tolerance, safety, and daily function first. Jumping to reprocessing before someone can tolerate it is a leading cause of treatment dropout, so we always stabilize first.

Is EMDR or trauma-focused CBT better?

Both are strong evidence-based therapies for PTSD in adults. The right choice depends on your history and preference; we match the approach to you after stabilization.

Do you prescribe benzodiazepines for PTSD?

No. We use SSRIs for PTSD symptoms and prazosin for nightmares when indicated. Benzodiazepines are not recommended for PTSD.

Can you treat complex PTSD from childhood, not a single event?

Yes. We treat complex PTSD (C-PTSD) from chronic relational trauma as well as PTSD following a discrete event such as an assault, accident, or combat.

How long does trauma treatment take?

It is staged and rarely fast. Stabilization comes first, then reprocessing. Outcomes are better with that sequence than with rushing straight into trauma work.

Condition

Trauma and PTSD treatment

Name: Manifest Behavioral Health
Address: 23297 S Pointe Dr, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653, US
Telephone: (949) 735-5705

Trauma changes how the nervous system responds to safety. Outpatient trauma treatment requires both stabilization (skills, regulation, day-to-day functioning) and reprocessing — in that order. We deliver both.

Call (949) 735-5705

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Editor's note: This page is awaiting clinical review by our Medical Director. Information is sourced from established peer-reviewed clinical literature.

Last updated: May 27, 2026

Key takeaways

EMDR and trauma-focused CBT are the strongest evidence-based therapies for PTSD in adults.
Stabilization (sleep, regulation, safety) precedes reprocessing — skipping this stage is a leading cause of treatment dropout.
Substance use frequently functions as nervous-system regulation in trauma survivors; integrated dual-diagnosis treatment addresses both.
Trauma treatment is rarely fast. It is staged. Outcomes are better that way.

What we treat

Acute PTSD — following a discrete event (assault, accident, combat, medical trauma).
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) — following chronic relational trauma, often in childhood.
Trauma-driven substance use — when alcohol or substances are functioning as nervous-system regulation. See co-occurring conditions.
Comorbid depression with trauma history — extremely common; treating the trauma often relieves the depression in a way that antidepressants alone can't.

Stabilization first

A common mistake in trauma treatment is jumping to reprocessing before someone has the skills and resources to tolerate it. We always start with stabilization — sleep, substance use, distress tolerance, safety, daily structure. Reprocessing (EMDR, trauma-focused CBT) happens only when you and your team agree you're ready.

This means trauma treatment with us is rarely "fast." It is staged. Outcomes are better that way.

In crisis? Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7) or 911 for an emergency.

How we treat trauma

EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Strong evidence base for PTSD.^[1] Delivered individually after stabilization.
Trauma-focused CBT — structured processing of the trauma narrative with cognitive work on stuck points.^[2]
DBT skills — emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness. Foundational for everyone with a trauma history.
Group work — trauma-informed process groups; we do not require disclosure in group.
Medication evaluation — SSRIs for PTSD symptoms; prazosin for nightmares when indicated; we do not prescribe benzodiazepines for PTSD.

Levels of care for trauma

PHP — when trauma response is disrupting daily function or you're in early stabilization after a recent event.
IOP — most common entry point; offers the dosage trauma work needs.
Virtual IOP — for California residents; many people prefer to do trauma work from home.
Aftercare — to maintain gains over the long arc of trauma recovery.

Frequently asked questions

Will I have to talk about my trauma in group?
No. Our process groups are trauma-informed and we do not require disclosure in group. Reprocessing happens in individual EMDR or trauma-focused CBT, only when you and your team agree you are ready.
What is stabilization, and why does it come before reprocessing?
Stabilization builds sleep, distress tolerance, safety, and daily function first. Jumping to reprocessing before someone can tolerate it is a leading cause of treatment dropout, so we always stabilize first.
Is EMDR or trauma-focused CBT better?
Both are strong evidence-based therapies for PTSD in adults. The right choice depends on your history and preference; we match the approach to you after stabilization.
Do you prescribe benzodiazepines for PTSD?
No. We use SSRIs for PTSD symptoms and prazosin for nightmares when indicated. Benzodiazepines are not recommended for PTSD.
Can you treat complex PTSD from childhood, not a single event?
Yes. We treat complex PTSD (C-PTSD) from chronic relational trauma as well as PTSD following a discrete event such as an assault, accident, or combat.
How long does trauma treatment take?
It is staged and rarely fast. Stabilization comes first, then reprocessing. Outcomes are better with that sequence than with rushing straight into trauma work.

References

[1] American Psychological Association. "Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Adults" (2017). Source
[2] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs / Department of Defense. "VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder." Source