What We Treat / Trauma & PTSD
Trauma & PTSD Treatment.
PTSD treatment in Orange County, California for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma — evidence-based therapies with EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, and clinicians paced to your nervous system.
Admissions answers when you call.
A real person — never a call center.
Levels of care
PHP & IOP
Modalities
EMDR, somatic, CBT
Approach
Trauma-informed
Length
Clinical need
What PTSD treatment looks like here
Processing at the speed your nervous system allows.
The question isn’t whether you need support. It’s whether the support you have matches the weight you’re carrying.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is what happens when a traumatic event — or a series of them — keeps replaying as flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance, and negative thoughts long after the danger has passed. Symptoms of PTSD can also overlap with substance use disorders. Complex PTSD adds layers when trauma was prolonged or relational.
At High Tide in Orange County, CA, PTSD treatment is trauma-informed from day one: stabilization before deep processing, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), trauma-focused therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills when dysregulation is high, and PHP or IOP structure so you are not left alone with what surfaces between weekly sessions.
At High Tide, trauma treatment is paced deliberately. PHP and IOP structure provides daily regulation practice, enough clinical contact to manage abreaction, and a team that knows when to push and when to stabilize.
Who it's for
For trauma that still runs your nervous system.
Trauma treatment here fits when PTSD symptoms are interfering with daily life and you need structured, trauma-informed care.
This level of care fits when
- Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories are frequent and disruptive.
- Hypervigilance and startle responses make normal environments feel dangerous.
- You avoid reminders of trauma and your world has shrunk because of it.
- Dissociation or emotional numbing interfere with relationships and functioning.
- Previous trauma therapy moved too fast — or never got past stabilization.
A different level may fit better when
- You’re in acute crisis or actively suicidal — stabilization comes before processing.
- You need 24/7 supervision for safety.
- Substance use is uncontrolled — dual diagnosis stabilization may come first.
- Trauma is mild and weekly EMDR with an outpatient therapist is sufficient.
What we treat here
Trauma presentations we treat.
Trauma takes many forms. We assess complexity, dissociation, and readiness — then build a phase-based plan.
01
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress from single or repeated events — combat, assault, accidents, medical trauma.
- Single-incident PTSD
- Complex PTSD
- Combat trauma
- Medical trauma
02
Developmental trauma
Childhood abuse, neglect, or attachment wounds that shaped how you relate and regulate.
- Childhood abuse
- Neglect
- Attachment trauma
- Chronic invalidation
03
Dissociative symptoms
Depersonalization, derealization, and dissociative gaps that accompany trauma.
- Dissociation
- Memory gaps
- Emotional numbing
- Identity confusion
04
Overlapping concerns
Trauma rarely exists in isolation.
- Trauma & substance use
- Trauma & depression
- Trauma & personality patterns
- Grief & traumatic loss
We don’t require you to narrate your trauma on the first call. Safety and stabilization come first — always.
See everything we treatWhat to expect
Programming hours and weekly groups.
Here is how PHP and IOP are structured — plus the group types offered every week. Condition- and modality-specific work (individual therapy, psychiatry, and targeted skills) is scheduled inside these PHP and IOP hours — not as a fixed minute-by-minute sample day.
Our groups aim for a holistic, clinically excellent, and human approach to healing. Programs address the whole self — brain, mind, and body — with a wide range of perspectives and ways to engage in treatment. Individual therapy and psychiatry are scheduled inside PHP or IOP; the weekly mix shifts with your plan.
PHP
9 AM – 4 PM
Full-day programming five days a week — individual therapy, group work, psychiatry, and holistic practices in one integrated day.
IOP
Morning & afternoon tracks
Part-day sessions several days per week. Morning and afternoon tracks are offered so you can keep work, school, or family routines while staying anchored in treatment.
Group
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT focus)
Dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Group
Therapeutic Process Groups
Small-group therapy where emotional triggers, relationship patterns, and recovery challenges surface and get worked in real time.
Group
Relationships / Family Based Groups (IFS/ACT Focus)
Internal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy lenses on attachment, family dynamics, and values-aligned connection — including family therapy themes when clinically useful.
Group
Physical Movement Groups
Body-based sessions that support regulation, energy, and the physical side of recovery — part of the clinical week, not optional fluff.
Group
Recovery (SUD & MH track focus)
Integrated recovery groups with substance use and mental health tracks — cravings, relapse prevention, and the mental health drivers underneath both.
Group
Somatic Healing Groups
Breathwork, sound bowls, and mindfulness exploration for nervous-system regulation and trauma-informed body awareness.
Group
Art-Based Expression / Music-Based Process Groups
Creative process groups for clients who access emotion and insight more readily through art and music than talk alone.
Group
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT focus)
Cognitive behavioral therapy for thought patterns, behaviors, and the loops that keep depression, anxiety, and related symptoms going.
Group
Aftercare Planning Groups
Discharge and aftercare planning so outpatient therapy, medication, recovery support, and home structure are mapped before you leave.
Group
Adventure
Experiential outdoor and adventure-based groups that practice regulation, trust, and peer connection outside the therapy room.
What's included
Trauma treatment tools.
Phase-based trauma care — stabilization, processing, integration — using modalities with strong evidence.
01
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for trauma memories — paced by trained clinicians.
02
Somatic therapy
Body-based processing for trauma stored below narrative memory.
03
Trauma-focused CBT
Cognitive restructuring and gradual exposure for PTSD symptoms.
04
DBT skills
Distress tolerance and emotion regulation for trauma-related flooding.
05
Psychiatry
Medication support for nightmares, hypervigilance, and comorbid depression or anxiety.
06
Holistic regulation
Breathwork, movement, and ocean-side mindfulness for nervous system healing.
What changes
What paced trauma treatment builds.
Recovery means the past stops hijacking the present — not that you forget what happened.
Phased
Stabilization before processing — never pushed through trauma work unprepared.
Team
Individual therapy and psychiatry scheduled inside your programming week.
Planned
Aftercare with outpatient trauma therapist and safety plan documented.
Trained
Clinicians with EMDR and trauma-informed certifications — not generalists guessing.
Not sure PHP is the right level?
PHP and IOP, side by side.
Trauma treatment needs enough clinical contact to stabilize between processing sessions — PHP for acute PTSD symptoms, IOP when you’re integrating EMDR or somatic work while keeping daily life intact. Here’s the side-by-side.
PHP
This program- Time commitment
- 9 AM – 4 PM, 5 days a week
- Best for
- Acute symptoms, stepping down from inpatient, medication changes
- Psychiatry
- Multiple check-ins weekly with close monitoring
- Work & school
- Usually paused or reduced during the program
- Length
- Follows clinical need
IOP
The step down- Time commitment
- Part-day sessions, several days a week
- Best for
- Moderate symptoms, stepping down from PHP, working or in school
- Psychiatry
- Weekly or as-needed appointments
- Work & school
- Designed to run alongside your regular schedule
- Length
- Follows clinical need
How to start
From first call to first day — usually within a week.
Admissions is one phone call, not a paperwork gauntlet. Here’s the whole process.
01
Call or verify online
A confidential conversation with our admissions team — what’s going on, what you’re looking for, and whether trauma treatment is the right fit. We verify your insurance the same day, usually while you’re still on the phone.
02
Symptom & diagnosis mapping
Your assessment maps how symptoms show up in sleep, relationships, work, and safety — not just the diagnosis on paper. That picture drives which modalities and which level of care (PHP or IOP) actually fit.
03
Structured start
Within days you’re in daily programming with psychiatry and therapy aligned to your condition — medication questions answered early, skills introduced in week one, and the team adjusting the plan as your symptoms respond.
Most PPO plans cover this program. Verification is free, confidential, and usually same-day.
Common questions
Answers before you have to ask.
Can't find your question? Call us — a real person answers, and there's never pressure to commit.
Will insurance cover trauma and PTSD treatment?
Most PPO plans cover PHP and IOP for mental health, and California parity law requires insurers to cover mental health care at the same level as physical health care. We verify your exact benefits before you commit — free, confidential, and usually same-day. Start at /insurance or read /mental-health-guides/does-insurance-cover-php-iop.
Can I keep working during treatment?
Trauma stabilization can temporarily increase symptoms — PHP provides daily contact during that phase. IOP supports continued processing when you’re stable enough to sleep at home and maintain part-time routines. Learn about EMDR and trauma-informed care.
How long will treatment last?
Trauma timelines are paced, not rushed. Stabilization may come first in PHP; processing-heavy work often continues in IOP at a sustainable pace.
What if I’m coming from out of town?
Many clients travel for specialized condition care. We can help arrange optional supportive housing nearby — but PHP and IOP do not require living on campus; most people spend evenings at home or a hotel. Orange County families often start at /mental-health-treatment-orange-county.
Is this the same as being hospitalized?
No. Condition treatment here is outpatient PHP or IOP — structured clinical days without overnight stay, locked units, or hospital corridors. You return home (or optional housing) each evening.
What happens after I finish?
Trauma aftercare maps processing targets, regulation skills, and outpatient EMDR or somatic therapy referrals — with an IOP bridge when PHP stabilization was the first phase.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a trauma-related disorder with intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood shifts, and hyperarousal after a traumatic event. Outpatient PTSD treatment at High Tide happens in PHP or IOP — not a locked inpatient unit unless safety requires a higher level first.
What is trauma-informed therapy?
Trauma-informed therapy prioritizes safety, choice, and pacing. We stabilize regulation first, then process traumatic memories with approaches like EMDR when your system can hold the work.