Trauma therapy in Scarborough in-person | Online across Ontario and Nova Scotia

A safe place to untangle what feels overwhelming

What trauma can feel like

Trauma can come from experiences that felt overwhelming, frightening, or emotionally unmanageable at the time they occurred. These experiences may have been sudden and unexpected, or they may have built up slowly over months or years. Trauma isn’t defined only by what happened, but by how your mind and body had to cope in order to keep you safe.

Some people notice the impact of trauma immediately, while others begin to feel the effects much later. Therapy can help you understand how trauma has shaped your emotional life, relationships, and sense of safety, and support you in reconnecting with yourself in a way that feels steady and grounded.

    • Avoiding places, people, or memories that feel too activating

    • Keeping yourself busy or overworking to stay distracted

    • Struggling with boundaries or saying no

    • Shifts in sleep, appetite, or daily rhythms

    • Feeling easily irritated, overwhelmed, or overstimulated

    • Feeling constantly on edge or easily startled

    • Finding it hard to trust or connect with others

    • Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected from yourself

    • Carrying persistent self-blame, guilt, or shame

    • Struggling to concentrate or stay present

    • Ongoing tension, restlessness, or persistent fatigue

    • A racing heart or shallow breathing

    • Moments of feeling frozen, overwhelmed, or shut down

    • Difficulty relaxing, resting, or feeling settled in your body

How therapy helps

  • A gray circle with the number one inside it.

    Process painful memories in a safe, non-judgmental space

  • Generic background with a stylized number 2 in a circular design

    Learn grounding and coping tools for strong emotions

  • Black circle with a white three inside, resembling a number three sign or symbol.

    Rebuild a sense of trust and safety

  • Number 4 inside a circle

    Support healing, resilience, and reconnection

What contributes to trauma

Trauma can arise from many different types of experiences. These may include:

  • Childhood emotional or physical neglect

  • Experiences of violence or threat

  • Accidents or medical emergencies

  • Loss, instability, or unpredictable environments

  • Relationship trauma or betrayal

  • Chronic stress or burnout that pushed you beyond your limits

  • Growing up without emotional support or safety

Therapy offers a compassionate space to explore these experiences and understand how they continue to affect you.

Understanding PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop when trauma overwhelms your ability to cope. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but for some, symptoms become persistent and interfere with daily life.

PTSD may show up as:

  • Intrusive memories or flashbacks

  • Nightmares or distressing dreams

  • Avoidance of reminders of the trauma

  • Heightened anxiety, irritability, or restlessness

  • Feeling watchful or on alert

  • Emotional numbness or detachment

  • Difficulty concentrating or sleeping

Therapy can help you understand these symptoms and develop strategies that support safety, regulation, and resilience.

How therapy can support those experiencing PTSD

PTSD therapy focuses on helping you build safety, process your experiences at a pace that feels manageable, and develop skills to regulate your nervous system.

Therapeutic support may include:

  • Stabilization and grounding strategies

  • Cognitive approaches to reshape unhelpful trauma-related beliefs

  • Emotional processing and meaning-making

  • Support for reconnecting with your body

  • Strengthening your sense of control and agency

PTSD therapy moves slowly, respectfully, and collaboratively. You are never pushed to revisit memories before you feel ready.

How therapy can support those experiencing trauma

Trauma therapy supports you in moving at a pace that feels safe. We work with evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, grounding strategies, mindfulness-based work, and emotion-focused therapy. Where helpful, we also incorporate trauma-stabilization techniques and body-awareness strategies.

Therapy can help you:

  • Understand how trauma has shaped your nervous system and emotions

  • Build tools for grounding and calming overwhelming feelings

  • Explore the meaning of your experiences

  • Strengthen self-compassion and self-understanding

  • Rebuild trust in yourself and your relationships

  • Identify patterns that began as survival strategies but no longer serve you

Healing from trauma takes time, and therapy provides a supportive space to explore this work gently and thoughtfully.

Trauma therapy in Scarborough

Our Scarborough clinic offers a calming, supportive environment where children, teens, and adults can explore the impact of trauma. Many people appreciate the sense of safety that in-person therapy provides, along with the structure and grounding of a dedicated therapy space.

If you live in Scarborough or the surrounding areas, our team is here to support you with trauma-informed care that honours your pace and experiences.

Three people sitting at a table outside a cafe, engaging in conversation. Two women and one man, all wearing casual clothing. One woman has dreadlocks and is holding a wine glass, the man is wearing a white t-shirt and black pants, and the other woman has short, blonde hair and is wearing an orange top. A woman in a white jacket is sitting inside at a table near the window.

Online trauma therapy across Ontario and Nova Scotia

If in-person sessions aren’t accessible or comfortable for you, we also offer online trauma therapy across Ontario and Nova Scotia. Virtual therapy provides the same evidence-based support and allows you to connect from the comfort of your home.

This can be especially helpful if you prefer a familiar space, have mobility or scheduling limitations, or find travel difficult.

Fees & insurance

Therapy sessions start at $180/hour. Most extended health plans cover services provided by registered psychologists or social workers.

Frequently asked questions
about therapy for trauma and PTSD

What type of therapist is best for trauma?

A therapist trained in trauma-informed approaches, such as CBT, grounding tools, emotion-focused work or somatic awareness, can be especially helpful. Our clinicians work with you in a way that feels safe, steady and at a pace that honours your comfort.

Which therapy is best for trauma?

There's no single approach that works for everyone. Many people benefit from a mix of grounding strategies, CBT, mindfulness and relational therapy. What matters most is that therapy feels supportive, doable and centred on your needs.

What triggers can worsen trauma symptoms?

Triggers look different for everyone. They can include reminders of past events, changes in routine, conflict, certain environments or physical sensations that echo old distress. Therapy can help you understand your own patterns and learn grounding skills that bring more steadiness.

What is the fastest way to calm trauma-related distress?

There's no quick fix, but simple grounding tools like slowing your breathing, noticing your surroundings or pressing your feet into the floor can help in the moment. Therapy helps you build a set of tools you trust and can reach for when you need them.

What is the best therapy for PTSD?

Treatments such as trauma-focused CBT, grounding work and EMDR (when it fits) are often helpful for PTSD. The right approach depends on what you need, what feels safe and how you want to move through the process.

What type of therapist should I see for PTSD?

A therapist experienced in trauma and PTSD-focused care can help you understand your symptoms and guide you through a steady, compassionate healing process. Our team at Thrive offers trauma-informed support that is tailored to you.

What triggers can worsen PTSD?

PTSD triggers can include certain sounds, places, smells, relationship stress or sensations that feel linked to past danger. Therapy can help you identify these patterns and build skills to navigate them without feeling overwhelmed.

What is the fastest way to calm PTSD symptoms?

Grounding techniques, slower breathing and reconnecting to the present moment can ease short-term distress. Healing from PTSD takes time, support and a process that does not ask you to manage everything on your own.

Can PTSD improve without therapy?

Some people find that symptoms lessen over time, but many benefit from structured therapy to work through past experiences, reduce avoidance and build tools that support long-term healing. Support can make the process feel more manageable.

Is online therapy effective for PTSD?

Yes. Online PTSD therapy can be just as effective as in-person care, and it offers flexibility, privacy and access for clients across Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Reach out for support with trauma or PTSD whenever you’re ready

You don’t have to navigate trauma or PTSD alone. Therapy offers a supportive, respectful, and grounding space to understand your experiences and begin healing at a pace that feels right for you.

The first step is a 15-minute phone or video consultation. It’s a chance to share what’s been happening and ask any questions you have about getting started.

Book a free consultation with us