Trauma Therapy, at Your Pace

How Trauma Lingers in Everyday Life

After a frightening or painful experience, it is common to feel constantly on guard, as if danger could return at any moment. Memories may break in without warning, sleep may be disrupted, and strong reactions can feel hard to manage.

You might find yourself avoiding certain places, conversations, or thoughts just to keep going. Over time, staying on guard is tiring, and it can make it hard to feel safe with people or in the places you spend your days.

How We Pace the Work

In our sessions, you stay in control of what you share and when. We use trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, shaped around your history and what you want from the work, and Alethea Braun-Dunagan, M.A., LPC, brings particular experience in helping people heal from trauma. Dr. Della S. Lusk, our clinical director, also works with adults, couples, and families as they recover from difficult experiences. Since 2002 our practice offered free, anonymous community screenings for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, covered by the Arizona Daily Sun on the National Screening Day.

Early work is about steadiness: grounding skills, ways to settle strong emotions, and attention to any anxiety that comes with them. Only when you feel ready do we turn toward the harder memories.

Starting Care

To begin, call (928) 774-7997 to speak with our intake specialist. We will talk about what you hope to address and arrange a first appointment that feels right for you.

First sessions focus on what helps you feel safe and steady: noticing what sets off strong reactions, building coping routines you can rely on, and creating a calm space before exploring anything deeper.

In the Office or From Home

We welcome clients to our Flagstaff office and also meet by secure video, which some people find easier for this kind of work. Video care is available in more than 40 states, and our state pages explain the details for yours. Our practice is included in the statewide Arizona Sexual & Domestic Violence Mental Health Resource List (2023).

Questions people ask

Will I have to talk about everything that happened right away?

No. Early sessions focus on stability and grounding. Difficult memories are explored only when you feel ready, and you decide what to share.

Can trauma therapy be done by video?

Yes. Many people do this work by secure video from a private space at home, and others prefer our Flagstaff office. Both follow the same careful, structured approach.

Is trauma therapy only for a single major event?

No. Trauma can come from one event or from experiences that built up over years, including difficult childhoods and family patterns passed down through generations. Therapy can help with both.

How long does trauma therapy take?

It varies more than most kinds of therapy. Some people meet weekly for a few months; others need longer. We review progress with you regularly and go at the pace that keeps you steady.