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Evidence-based treatment for PTSD, complex trauma, and acute stress disorder for adults 18 and older, using EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Trauma-Focused CBT.
Trauma recovery at Villa Healing Center is evidence-based treatment for adults 18 and older in Woodland Hills, California, addressing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, and acute stress disorder. Treatment uses EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Trauma-Focused CBT per APA and ISTSS clinical guidelines. Most commercial insurance covers trauma therapy. Call (888) 669-0661.
Trauma recovery at Villa Healing Center treats three distinct clinical presentations of trauma-related distress: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma (also called complex PTSD), and acute stress disorder. Each has its own diagnostic criteria and treatment pathway, and clinical assessment at the start of treatment determines which best describes your presentation.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most commonly recognized trauma-related diagnosis. The DSM-5-TR published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2022 defines PTSD by four symptom clusters following exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence: intrusion symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares, persistent avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, negative changes in cognition and mood, and changes in arousal and reactivity. Symptoms must persist longer than one month and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other functioning.
Complex trauma, also called complex PTSD (cPTSD), is officially recognized in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11) published by the World Health Organization as diagnostic code 6B41. Complex PTSD includes the three core symptom clusters of PTSD plus three additional symptom domains of disturbed self-organization: persistent problems with affect regulation, persistent negative beliefs about oneself as diminished or worthless, and persistent difficulties in sustaining relationships and feeling close to others. Complex PTSD often follows prolonged or repeated trauma, such as childhood abuse or domestic violence.
Acute stress disorder describes trauma-related symptoms occurring within three days to one month after a traumatic event. The DSM-5 distinguishes acute stress disorder from PTSD primarily by symptom duration. If symptoms persist beyond one month, the diagnosis typically shifts to PTSD. Early clinical intervention during the acute stress window can reduce the risk of progression to chronic PTSD.
If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call or text 988 immediately. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that suicide risk is elevated in PTSD; clinical safety assessment is part of every trauma evaluation at Villa using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).
Four trauma therapies have the strongest evidence base for treating PTSD and are recommended in APA and ISTSS clinical practice guidelines. The choice between them depends on the type of trauma, the patient’s symptom profile, and clinical preference.
Dimension | EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) | Prolonged Exposure (PE) | Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) | Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) |
Originator | Francine Shapiro (1987) | Edna Foa, with Hembree and Rothbaum | Patricia Resick, with Monson and Chard | Cohen, Mannarino, Deblinger |
Mechanism | Bilateral eye movement or tactile stimulation while recalling traumatic memory; reduces emotional intensity of the memory | Gradual, repeated exposure to trauma memory and avoided situations; reduces avoidance and habituates the fear response | Identifies and challenges ‘stuck points’ (cognitive distortions about the trauma); writing-based and cognitive restructuring | Combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with trauma-narrative work; integrates parent/caregiver component when applicable |
Best fit | Single-incident trauma; patients who avoid prolonged exposure work; patients who respond well to non-verbal processing | Patients with strong avoidance symptoms; willingness to engage in difficult exposure exercises | Patients who respond well to cognitive analysis; trauma involving guilt, shame, or self-blame (e.g., military trauma, assault) | Originally developed for adolescents and children; adapted for adults; trauma with strong cognitive-behavioral component |
Typical duration | 8-12 sessions | 8-15 sessions | 12 sessions (manualized) | 12-16 sessions |
Session format | 60-90 minutes individual | 60-90 minutes individual + between-session exposure practice | 60 minutes individual + written impact statements | 60 minutes individual + structured trauma narrative |
APA / ISTSS recommendation | Conditionally recommended (APA); Strongly recommended (ISTSS) | Strongly recommended (APA + ISTSS) | Strongly recommended (APA + ISTSS) | Adults: conditionally recommended; Adolescents (separate adolescent program): strongly recommended |
Clinical selection between these four modalities is made jointly with your therapist after the initial assessment, based on your trauma history, symptom profile, and treatment preferences. All four have strong evidence; the choice is about clinical fit rather than which modality is better in absolute terms. Villa’s clinical team is trained in EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT; Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy are available based on the assigned therapist’s training.
Trauma treatment at Villa Healing Center follows a four-phase clinical structure: assessment and stabilization, processing the trauma memory, building coping capacity and resilience, and consolidation with relapse prevention. This phased approach is consistent with the consensus model in trauma-focused care developed from Judith Herman’s work on trauma recovery and elaborated in subsequent ISTSS clinical practice guidelines.
Treatment begins with a clinical assessment that includes the PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) for symptom severity screening, the CAPS-5 (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5) for structured diagnostic interview when indicated, and the ACE-Q (Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire) for developmental trauma history. The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is administered as part of every trauma assessment because suicide risk is elevated in PTSD per NIMH research.
After assessment, your treatment plan specifies which evidence-based modality best fits your presentation: EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or Trauma-Focused CBT. Trauma therapy at Villa is typically delivered in 60- to 90-minute individual sessions, with frequency and total duration determined by clinical need. Most treatment courses run between 8 and 16 sessions.
Trauma treatment confidentiality is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and trauma assessments that include substance use screening also receive additional federal protection under 42 CFR Part 2. Villa Healing Center does not disclose trauma history or treatment records to employers, family members, or third parties without your written consent, except in narrow legally mandated exceptions involving imminent harm to self or others.
If your assessment identifies trauma alongside an active substance use disorder, treatment sequencing matters clinically. Active intoxication or withdrawal can interfere with trauma-focused therapy and increase distress. Villa’s dual diagnosis program addresses trauma alongside substance use where mental health is the primary clinical concern. Where substance use is the primary concern, we coordinate referral to a primary SUD treatment facility for medical stabilization before trauma-focused work begins.
Trauma therapy at Villa Healing Center is delivered by licensed mental health clinicians with specialized trauma training.
Therapists conducting trauma-focused sessions include licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), and licensed psychologists (PsyD or PhD), each holding active California licensure with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or the Board of Psychology. Trauma-specific training includes EMDR certification through EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) approved programs, and supervised clinical practice in evidence-based modalities.
Psychiatric medication management for PTSD, when indicated, follows the American Psychiatric Association practice guideline for PTSD and references the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which is part of the National Institutes of Health. FDA-approved pharmacotherapy for PTSD includes sertraline and paroxetine. Medication is one component of trauma treatment and is considered alongside trauma-focused psychotherapy, not as a substitute for it.
Trauma treatment at Villa is clinically reviewed by Dr. Courtney Scott, MD, Medical Director.
Conditions that commonly co-occur with trauma
Trauma rarely presents in isolation. Common co-occurring conditions identified during clinical assessment include the following. Each links to a dedicated page describing how Villa addresses that condition when it appears alongside trauma.
Trauma recovery across California
Villa Healing Center serves adults across California with trauma-focused care. If you are searching for trauma treatment in a specific county, the following pages describe Villa’s coordinated treatment pathways for residents of each service area:
If trauma assessment identifies primary substance use disorder where trauma is secondary, we coordinate direct referral to a primary substance use disorder treatment facility with coordinated records transfer. If a condition or population is outside Villa’s scope, our clinical team provides referrals to appropriate settings. The SAMHSA national treatment locator at findtreatment.gov is the federal directory for state-licensed treatment programs nationwide.
Most commercial insurance plans cover trauma therapy as a billable mental health service. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires commercial insurance plans that cover mental health benefits to provide coverage at parity with medical and surgical benefits, which includes evidence-based trauma therapy.
Individual trauma therapy sessions are typically billed under CPT code 90837 (60 minutes of psychotherapy) or 90834 (45 minutes of psychotherapy), with EMDR sessions often billed at the 90837 rate due to typical session length. Out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan deductible and coinsurance. Most plans cover 8 to 16 sessions of trauma-focused therapy with prior authorization for courses extending beyond initial coverage.
If your plan is out-of-network or you are paying out-of-pocket, we discuss rates and payment options during the verification process. Call (888) 669-0661 to discuss.
Villa Healing Center’s facility is located at 23033 Ostronic Drive, Woodland Hills, California 91367, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County.
Trauma is widely prevalent in adult populations. The National Center for PTSD (part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) reports that approximately 6% of U.S. adults will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, with lifetime prevalence higher among women than men. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that PTSD often co-occurs with depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, which is why integrated treatment matters.
Our Woodland Hills facility is accessible from the 101 and 405 Freeways. We serve adults from across Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino, Calabasas, West Hills, Canoga Park, and Agoura Hills, and coordinate trauma treatment appointments from across California. For adults in other counties, our coordinated trauma recovery pathways for Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and Ventura Counties are described in Section 6.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Courtney Scott, MD, Medical Director at Villa Healing Center. Board-eligible in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Addiction Medicine per Villa’s published clinical leadership profile.
Read more about our team
Trauma recovery appointments are available for adults 18 and older. Treatment begins with a clinical assessment using validated instruments, followed by an individualized treatment plan using EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or Trauma-Focused CBT. Call (888) 669-0661 to speak with a clinical intake coordinator, or verify your benefits to begin.
If you are in crisis right now, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For medical emergencies, call 911. Reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
