Many people wonder if they’re “ready” to start trauma therapy. The truth is, there’s rarely a perfect moment — but there are signs that you may be ready to begin.
If past experiences continue to affect your relationships, physical body, or emotional well-being, that’s often your mind and body’s way of saying it’s time to heal. You might notice that you long for connection yet struggle to feel safe or trust others. You may experience signs of nervous system dysregulation, such as chronic tension, restlessness, sleep issues, gastrointestinal symptoms, pain, or fatigue. You might also feel “stuck” — repeating old patterns, avoiding certain situations, or feeling detached even when life appears fine on the outside. These can be signs that protective strategies that once helped you survive are no longer serving you in the same way.
Readiness doesn’t necessarily mean you feel strong or confident. It can look like curiosity — a growing openness to explore how earlier experiences have shaped your sense of safety, your body’s responses, and how you relate to yourself and others. Often, readiness simply means noticing that something inside you wants change or relief.
The Trauma Clinic at CFIR specializes in working with individuals who have experienced trauma in its many forms. Our clinicians use an integrative approach, incorporating psychodynamic and attachment-based therapies, somatic modalities (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, Polyvagal), and parts-based approaches (IFS, TIST, Inner Child work) to best support each client’s unique healing journey.
You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. Sometimes, readiness looks like reaching out for a consultation and seeing how it feels to talk about what you’ve been carrying.
Whitney Reinhart, M.A., R.P., is the Director of the Trauma Clinic at CFIR and a psychotherapist providing psychological services to adults experiencing a wide range of issues, with a special interest and expertise in trauma and relationships. She uses and supervises trainees using a variety of trauma-informed approaches, including sensorimotor psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, and parts-based approaches.
