Trauma and PTSD Therapy for When the Past Won't Stay Past
Virtual trauma and PTSD therapy, serving Missouri and Illinois.
Something happened, or a lot of somethings, and your body never quite got the message that it's over. You might flinch at things that shouldn't bother you, go numb without meaning to, or brace for a bad moment that isn't actually coming.
Trauma and PTSD therapy at CLS Counseling & Consulting is about helping your nervous system catch up to the present, not just talking through what happened.
Who This Is For
Trauma doesn't always look like what you'd expect. A lot of people carrying it are still functioning fine on paper.
A smell, sound, or offhand comment sent you somewhere else entirely, even years later.
Feeling keyed up or on edge without an obvious reason.
Going numb or shut down when things get emotionally intense, even in good moments.
Noticed you avoid certain people, places, or conversations without fully admitting why.
Something happened that you've never really talked about, not because it wasn't a big deal, but because saying it out loud feels harder than carrying it.
What Gets in the Way
Trauma has a way of talking you out of getting help for it. Usually it sounds like one of these:
“It wasn't that bad, other people have been through worse.”
“It happened a long time ago, I should be over it by now.”
“I don't want to relive it just to talk about it.”
“I've told this story before and nothing changed.”
None of those mean you don't deserve support. They're usually just trauma doing what trauma does.
How Trauma and PTSD Therapy Works at CLS
Therapy here doesn't require you to relive the worst moment of your life in detail to make progress. We focus on what's happening in your body and mind right now, and building tools to change that.
About half of U.S. adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lives, but most do not go on to develop PTSD (National Institute of Mental Health). An estimated 3.6% of U.S. adults have PTSD in a given year, and about 6.8% will experience it at some point in their lives (National Institute of Mental Health). If this is you, you're far from alone, and it responds well to treatment.
Our clinicians use Trauma-Focused CBT and Internal Family Systems (IFS), among other evidence-based approaches, adapted to your specific experience. You set the pace. Nothing is forced before you're ready for it.
Who You'll Work With
All three clinicians on our team treat trauma and PTSD. You don't need to pick the “right” one before reaching out, the free intro call is designed to help you figure that out together.
LCSW MO & IL
Carolina Dolan-Dominguez
Trained in Trauma-Focused CBT and works with teens, young adults, GenZ, and bilingual clients (sessions available in Spanish or English) processing past experiences, often alongside identity, family, or acculturation stress. She offers evening and weekend availability.
Attention, organization, and follow-through
Structured, compassionate, and practical
Nicole McSuhm
Stress, emotional overwhelm, and disconnection
Warm, relational, and grounding
Trauma is one of the areas Nicole is most known for. She has advanced training in working with victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Partner Abuse. She uses a relational, attachment-based approach, including IFS, to help clients understand how past experiences show up in current relationships: how they attach, react, or pull away. She's LGBTQ+ affirming and disability-affirming.
LCSW IL
Cassandra Sissom
Trained in Trauma-Focused CBT and works with high-achieving women and LGBTQ+ clients who've learned to perform well on the outside while carrying something heavy underneath. She helps clients understand how past experiences are still shaping present-day patterns, without requiring them to fall apart to prove it's real.
LCPC IL, LPC MO
Patterns, emotional depth, and healing
Insightful, direct, and supportive
Common Questions
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Trauma isn't defined by how it looks from the outside, it's defined by how it's still affecting you. If something is still showing up in your body, your relationships, or your sense of safety, it's worth talking about, regardless of how it compares to anyone else's experience.
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We draw from evidence-based approaches including Trauma-Focused CBT and IFS, adapted to your specific experience and pace. There's no one-size-fits-all protocol.
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No. You set the pace. Good trauma therapy doesn't require reliving every detail to be effective, and your clinician will work with you on what feels manageable.
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Yes. All sessions are virtual, and we currently serve clients located anywhere in Missouri or Illinois.usually within one business day.
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We can help you understand your options, including self-pay and out-of-network reimbursement. Reach out before your first session and we'll walk you through what applies to you.
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It depends on what you're working through. Some clients see meaningful shifts in a few months, others need longer. We'll check in regularly on progress rather than assuming a fixed timeline.
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It's a short, no-pressure conversation to see if it's a good fit, for you and for us. No commitment, just a chance to ask questions and get a feel for how we work.
Book a Free Intro Call
Start with a consultation to explore your options.
