Best Trauma Counseling for You and Your Family

Trauma can affect anyone, and often, for families dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event, being able to find support for both parents and kids is imperative. For this reason, Talkspace is our pick as the most comprehensive online therapy for trauma because the company employs a wide range of therapists who specialize in trauma and can treat anyone age 13 and up (Talkspace also offers psychiatric services for ages 18 and up). The first question in Talkspace’s intake form specifically asks if you or your teen needs help with “a traumatic experience (past or present).” And, because there are so many providers to choose from, you are much more likely to be matched with one who meets your needs and has experience treating a variety of different types of family trauma. 

In the event the provider isn’t the right fit, switching therapists is quick and easy through Talkspace. So it's easier for you to find the unique support you and your family need without adding the challenges of a mis-matched therapist to an already difficult experience. 

Talkspace has been around since 2012, and at this point, it’s one of the most well-known online therapy platforms. There are three membership plan options available, and it partners with numerous insurance providers, so you may find that your plan covers some or all of the costs.

Talkspace offers individual, couples, and teen therapy as well as psychiatry services (though psychiatry services are offered as a pay-per-session model rather than a subscription plan like its therapy services). Depending on the plan you choose, you’ll have access to asynchronous messaging with your therapist, real-time therapy sessions via video, audio, or live chat, and/or workshops. All communication and scheduling is done through the website or app. 

With so many providers with a variety of specialties, Talkspace offers treatment for numerous diagnoses including trauma and childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, chronic illness, parenting, LGBTQI+ concerns, anger management, eating disorders, substance use, and more. Every provider employed by Talkspace is licensed or credentialed, vetted, and has met standards set by the company.

Talkspace offers three therapy plans for individuals, couples, and teens:

• Messaging therapy starts at $69 per week and includes unlimited asynchronous text, video, and audio messaging with therapist responses five days a week.
• Video + messaging therapy starts at $99 per week and includes unlimited asynchronous messaging and four live 45-minute sessions per month (via live chat, video, or audio).
• Video + messaging + workshops starts at $109 per week and includes messaging, four live sessions per month, and access to therapy workshops.

There is also an option for psychiatry services, though this is not included in any of the therapy subscription plans. Psychiatry providers are either licensed psychiatrists or nurse practitioners who specialize in treating mental health conditions. An initial psychiatric evaluation costs $249 and each follow-up session is $125. You can also pre-purchase sessions in bundles to save a little money: 

• Initial evaluation + 1 follow-up session: $365
• Initial evaluation + 3 follow-up sessions: $565
• Initial evaluation + 6 follow-up sessions: $849

Users can pay for Talkspace out-of-pocket, or the platform is in-network with several insurance plans including Cigna, Optum, and more.

We surveyed 105 users from each of 55 different online therapy platforms, and Talkspace was one of the most well-reviewed of all. Ninety percent of respondents said their overall experience with Talkspace was positive, rating the company as good, very good, or excellent, and 92% felt their therapist’s qualifications also fell somewhere between “good” and “excellent.” Eighty-two percent said they’d be likely to recommend the platform to a friend. Seventeen percent of the Talkspace users we surveyed sought therapy specifically because of a traumatic event, including physical, psychological or emotional, or sexual trauma; a hate crime; or abandonment.

Our testers tried Talkspace while it was still offering 30-minute sessions, and therefore felt the sessions were too short. However, despite this, one of our testers felt that their therapist “managed the session time well and was very knowledgeable.” Talkspace sessions are now 45 minutes long.

Trauma happens to people of all ages, but the therapists at Little Otter are specifically trained to treat kids up to 14 years old. Caregivers can feel confident that their child’s counseling will be delivered in a developmentally appropriate way, and will even find training for themselves through Little Otter’s whole-family approach to therapy. 

Each family is set up with a care team, which helps develop a therapy plan that meets the child and the family where they are. Little Otter offers various types of counseling services and psychiatry treatment for kids, as well as resources and training for parents to help them navigate their child’s treatment and provide the best support possible while their child works through their trauma. 

Little Otter was founded in 2020 by Helen Egger, MD, a child psychiatrist, and her daughter Rebecca Egger. Since its launch, the platform has grown in popularity and is currently available to patients in 11 states, but it is continuing to expand and plans to offer services in more states as soon as possible.

Therapists and psychiatrists at Little Otter are able to work with kids struggling with a variety of diagnoses, including trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, grief/loss, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), behavioral challenges, and more. 

Little Otter offers online therapy for kids up to 14 years old, couples therapy, psychiatric services (including medication management), and parent training and support. There are no wait times to be seen, differentiating Little Otter from many in-person therapeutic and psychiatric services for children with months-long waitlists.

There are no trial offers with Little Otter, but caregivers can schedule a free informational call to speak with someone at the company to learn more about the program and what it offers to determine whether or not the platform is right for their child. 

Currently, Little Otter is an out-of-network provider with all insurance companies except Kaiser Permanente, but can provide patient families with the documentation necessary to submit a reimbursement claim to their insurance provider. Also, it does accept health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA) payments. 

Once you decide to move forward with Little Otter, you’ll have a 30-minute welcome call, which costs $90, with a care team member who will help develop a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs. From there, each standard 45-minute therapy session is $200, or you can purchase a bundle of 12 session for $2,040. 

For psychiatry services, the initial evaluation runs for 75 minutes and costs $500. Follow-up appointments, which includes medication management, last for 30 minutes and are priced at $250. You can also purchase an assessment bundle for $540, which includes the 90-minute psychiatry assessment and one 45-minute standard therapy session.

We surveyed 105 Little Otter users and 75% said their overall experience with the platform was positive, rating it as excellent, good, or very good; additionally, 70% said their therapist met all or most of their needs. Sixty-five percent of users said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with their therapist options through Little Otter, and 79% said they felt their therapists’ qualifications were good, very good, or excellent. Eight percent of Little Otter users said they were specifically looking for trauma care.

One of our testers of Little Otter who tried its services with her family reported that she was “was impressed with the company’s attention to detail and the quality of parental coaching I received.” Another tester also had a positive experience with the company, telling us that her family’s assigned provider was able to quickly develop a rapport with her 10-year-old daughter, and they were able to use her therapy session to "openly discuss her feelings and challenges." This speaks highly of a service that many parents turn to help their children process traumatic events and for whom a strong therapeutic rapport is imperative.

For teens between the ages of 13 and 19, Teen Counseling offers therapy from providers who are specifically trained to work with patients during these complicated years. Specialties at Teen Counseling vary by provider, but trauma is among the diagnoses the platform specifically advertises that it treats. So, your child will receive counseling from a therapist who specializes in their age group, and who also specializes in treating trauma. 

Patients can connect with their therapist for one-on-one sessions via audio call, live chat, or video. They also have the option to engage in asynchronous messaging with their therapist as much as they’d like between sessions. Provider-patient trust is extremely important to the therapists at Teen Counseling, and is especially important to survivors of trauma, who have often experienced betrayal and with whom building trust might be difficult; so anything discussed during a therapy session is kept confidential. (However, parents are alerted if their teen shares anything during a therapy session that a provider considers to be a danger to the teen or to others). 

It’s important to note, however, that while many of the therapists at Teen Counseling do offer LGBTQIA+ affirming care, there are some outliers, which has proven to be problematic. In December 2022, BetterHelp (the parent company of Teen Counseling) came under fire in an investigative article by The Wall Street Journal after a therapist told an LGBTQIA+ patient they should “stop being gay” to please their parents. We at Verywell Family do not support this approach to therapy, and we celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community.

All of the providers at Teen Counseling hold a master’s or doctoral degree in their field and have at least three years of professional experience. They include psychologists, licensed professional therapists, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed clinical social workers. 

Teens can join one-on-one therapy sessions over the phone, through video, or via live chat. In addition to trauma, some of the conditions therapists at Teen Counseling can treat include depression, anxiety, bullying, stress, eating disorders, self-esteem issues, anger, and more.

Families using Teen Counseling can expect to pay between $60 to $90 per week (which covers the cost of one therapy session along with messaging between sessions). Accounts are billed every four weeks (totaling between $240 to $360 per cycle) and can be canceled at any time. Unlike many other therapy platforms, Teen Counseling does not offer tiered memberships, but the price per session varies based on the provider you choose, where you live, and other preferences. At this time, Teen Counseling does not partner with any insurance companies or accept any insurance plans.

When we surveyed 105 Teen Counseling users, 85% said their overall experience with the platform was positive. Additionally, 88% of respondents found the platform to be better than other services they had tried in the past, 71% said they were likely to recommend Teen Counseling to a friend, and 85% were happy with their therapist’s qualifications, rating them as good, very good, or excellent. Twenty-one percent reached out to Teen Counseling because of a traumatic experience.

One of our testers of Teen Counseling had a good experience with her son, reporting that he “indicated that he wanted to keep engaging in therapy using the Teen Counseling platform even after this review was complete” and that “he enjoyed talking to his therapist and that she was giving him 'a different way to look at things' that he hadn't thought about before.” Establishing a therapeutic rapport in this way is essential for those seeking treatment for trauma.

Thriveworks offers various types of counseling—including family—and says it employs only the “top 4%” of mental healthcare providers who apply to work at its practice. This kind of discernment is important in being able to offer the highest quality services for those who have experienced trauma. Therapists and counselors are all licensed, credentialed, and have degrees in their chosen fields. Because Thriveworks puts such an emphasis on who it hires, patients can feel confident in their therapist’s ability to provide specialized care for trauma. 

We love that Thriveworks is in-network with a lot of major insurance providers, such as Cigna, Aetna, Blue Cross, and Humana. As of 2023, Thriveworks no longer charges users membership fees, so patients have no additional cost beyond what they pay for each session. 

In addition to its commitment to hiring high-quality providers, Thriveworks also prides itself in its dedication to patients. Appointments last between 50 and 60 minutes, are available within three to five days from when they are scheduled, and start on time 97% of the time. Because reliability and trust are imperative when treating trauma patients, these practices speak highly of Thriveworks’ trauma services.

Thriveworks offers individual, couples, family, child, and teen counseling services online, making treatment available for any and every member of your family. Depending on your preferences, you can opt to have your session via video or audio call. 

Thriveworks employs providers with a wide range of specialties, including trauma. Some other conditions and life events they treat include stress, coping with transitions, relationship struggles, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, grief, and more. Notably, Thriveworks offers both online and in-person therapy; seeing a therapist in person can feel especially grounding to survivors of trauma.

For patients with in-network insurance, you can expect to pay your regular copay (which varies based on provider and plan). Self-pay patients can expect to pay as low as $99 per session. Exact pricing for self-pay users varies based on location, provider, and your needs. As of 2023, there is no membership fee, and all of the features that were previously offered with memberships are now complimentary to any user.

In our survey of 105 Thriveworks users, 90% said their overall experience with the platform was good, very good, or excellent. When asked how many of their needs were met by their Thriveworks provider, 78% said they felt all or most of their needs were met. Twelve percent of Thriveworks users sought treatment specifically for trauma.

One of our Thriveworks testers felt that “Thriveworks’ flexible and uncomplicated scheduling for both in-person and online therapy sessions is uniquely appealing,” and although she had some difficulty finding a therapist for her 7-year-old daughter in Missouri, still felt that “the experience itself was positive and it was clear that the therapist was a good match.”

We chose ReGain for couples because the platform’s purpose is to provide counseling for and about relationships—which can be greatly impacted by the traumatic experiences of one, both, or all members of the relationship. Couples can attend sessions together for shared counseling, or they have the option to schedule individual sessions with a therapist who will tailor their therapy with their relationship in mind. There is also the option for couples to do both joint and individual sessions. This allows couples to process their trauma both individually and with their partner, which increases the likelihood of processing and moving past the trauma in a way that is beneficial for all involved.

Between therapy sessions, couples have access to a “room” where they can send their therapist questions, ask for advice, or provide updates at any time. Messaging is asynchronous, but providers will respond in a reasonable timeframe. Additionally, therapists can use this space to distribute worksheets or other assignments for the couple to work on before their next session, or send other helpful resources. 

ReGain is an offshoot of the well-known therapy platform BetterHelp. It was founded in 2016 and is unique because of its focus on relationship counseling. Providers at ReGain can help an individual or couple navigate trauma in a way that strengthens their relationship. Therapists provide them with the tools clients need to cope as individuals and thrive as a couple.

ReGain offers couples therapy and individual therapy with a relationship approach. Couples who are seeking help with a variety of struggles, such as trauma, depression, anxiety, anger, stress, conflict resolution, addiction, parenting, and more, can benefit from this platform.

Users can attend therapy sessions through video, audio call, or live chat and can message their provider 24/7 between appointments.

ReGain is not in-network with any insurance providers, so everything is self-pay. Users will have to sign up for a membership that ranges from $60 to $90 per week—exact pricing depends on the couple’s location, preferences, and therapist availability. Billing occurs every four weeks and members can cancel at any time between billing cycles.

In our survey, ReGain ranked favorably among users: 77% said their overall experience with the platform was good, very good, or excellent, and 80% said they felt their therapist met all or most of their needs. Additionally, when asked if they would recommend the platform to a friend, 71% said they would. Eight percent of our 105 ReGain users sought therapy specifically because of trauma.

Our tester and her partner were impressed with ReGain's service, telling us that “the therapist we ended up meeting with was professional, listened to us, and was able to meet our needs.” She added that the therapist "worked with us to create goals based on our experiences and provided us with worksheets and activities that fit in with those needs.”

While trauma is a mental health condition on its own, with many different causes and symptoms, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) often requires a more specialized treatment approach. Wellnite provides this approach, explaining in clear language what PTSD is and what type of treatment is best (a combination of psychotherapy and medication). It also prides itself on the quality of doctors and therapists available on its platform. Every provider is properly credentialed and vetted, and providers who say they specialize in PTSD are experts in that diagnosis. 

In addition to therapy, Wellnite also offers medication management services. Someone who is struggling with PTSD may need medication during treatment, depending on how severe their symptoms are, and this makes it easier for a patient to get everything they need from one place. Additionally, patients can often get same-day appointments with therapists.

Wellnite offers individual, couples, child, and teen therapy. Counseling sessions last either 30, 45, or 60 minutes and are held via video or phone call. All Wellnite providers hold appropriate degrees and certifications for the services they provide, and offer treatment for a variety of conditions including trauma and PTSD, as well as anxiety, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, family struggles, grief, and more. 

In order to get therapy through Wellnite, you will need to sign up for a membership. There are three plan options:

• Therapy only is $450 per month (for self-pay patients) and includes six 30-minute sessions, four 45-minute sessions, or three 60-minute sessions. 
• Medical care only is $95 per month (for self-pay patients) and includes one doctor consultation and access to wholesale medication pricing and free shipping on up to three orders per month.
• Medical care + therapy is $245 per month (for self-pay patients) and includes one doctor consultation, access to wholesale medication pricing and free shipping on up to three orders, and two 30-minute therapy sessions or one 60-minute therapy session per month.

All plans are billed monthly, but you can opt to pay biannually or annually to receive a discount. You can also purchase additional therapy or doctor appointments as needed. 

For patients using insurance, Wellnite offers reimbursement for PPO plans for as low as $37.50 biweekly. Some insurance providers it works with include UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Optum.

In our user survey, 83% of Wellnite users said it was better than other therapy services they’ve tried in the past and 80% said their overall experience was positive. Additionally, 81% of respondents said they were happy with their therapist’s qualifications and 75% felt their therapist met all or most of their needs. Thirteen percent sought treatment for trauma at Wellnite.

Our Wellnite tester found the additional resources that the company provides worth mentioning, noting that “Wellnite told us that some therapists also utilize guidebooks, worksheets, and journaling while working with their clients,” and that providers “might also encourage mindfulness, meditation, or work with you to manage your stress.”

For someone who needs medication to help support their trauma treatment, Talkiatry is the best platform. With providers across most of the U.S., this platform specializes in treating a handful of conditions—which includes PTSD. 

To get started, you’ll fill out an online questionnaire that will help Talkiatry match you with a psychiatrist who can meet your needs. From there, you’ll have an initial visit where you speak in depth about what you’re going through and the two of you will come up with a treatment plan. You’ll continue to follow up with the provider as needed to adjust medication dosage (or change medications entirely) and make changes to your treatment plan based on how you are feeling. 

Talkiatry offers virtual psychiatry services across the U.S., with the exception of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. If you are a current psychiatry patient with Talkiatry, your provider can refer you to a therapist who also works with the platform, but you must see a psychiatrist in order to use the therapy services.

Talkiatry offers psychiatry and medication management services to patients 5 years old and up, making services accessible to the entire family. Conditions it treats include PTSD as well as anxiety, adjustment disorder, ADHD, depression, OCD, insomnia, bipolar disorder, and more. Additionally, psychiatry patients can seek referrals for therapy through the platform. 

Talkiatry only offers services to patients who are in-network with the insurance companies they partner with, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, Oscar, and UnitedHealthcare. How much you will pay depends on your insurance plan.

In our survey of 105 Talkiatry users, 95% said their overall experience with the platform was positive, rating it as excellent, very good, or good—and making it a standout psychiatry service in our research. Additionally, 91% were happy with their provider’s qualifications and 70% said their provider met all or most of their needs. Twelve percent of users sought treatment with Talkiatry for trauma.

Our Talkiatry reviewer was especially impressed with how comprehensive its services are, reporting that “both the intake and the sessions at the company are long and thorough, allowing your psychiatrist the time to really get to know you and diagnose you accurately”—both imperative when establishing a therapeutic rapport with someone who has experienced trauma.

For someone struggling to cope with persistent complex bereavement disorder—formerly known as complicated grief disorder—we think Amwell is an excellent choice for online therapy. There are therapist options for users across the country, and all providers have either a master’s or doctorate degree in their chosen field, meaning they are well qualified to treat a variety of conditions—including complicated grief. 

Amwell staffs therapists who can treat patients as young as 10 years old. Additionally, the company partners with several major insurance networks and files the claim for you, so if you’re covered, all you have to pay is a copay. 

In addition to offering mental health services, Amwell, which was founded in 2006, also offers psychiatry, urgent care, and specialist appointments. For therapy specifically, appointments are available outside of business hours, including nights, weekends, and potentially even holidays—which might be especially convenient for families with busy schedules who are dealing with persistent grief.

Amwell offers online video therapy for users 10 years old and up. Each appointment lasts around 45 minutes and is available through the website or Amwell app. In addition to complicated grief, providers at Amwell treat conditions such as PTSD and trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, life transitions, and more. 

You do not need to be a member in order to sign up for services at Amwell, as it has a pay-as-you-go model. For users who are filing through insurance, the cost of therapy will depend on your unique insurance benefits. For self-paying users, pricing is based on therapist qualifications. One session with a master’s level provider is $109 and a session with a doctoral level therapist is priced at $129.

When asked about their overall experience with Amwell, 88% of users felt their experience was positive and 78% said they’d recommend the platform to a friend. Additionally, 91% were happy with Amwell’s therapists’ qualifications and 86% said the provider they saw met all or most of their needs. Eight percent of Amwell users turned to this company specifically for trauma treatment, and an additional 8% were looking for help with grief and loss.

One of our Amwell reviewers reported that her “overall experience using Amwell was a good one,” and that “signing up was quick and easy and my therapist was well-qualified, compassionate, and professional.”

Birth trauma is all too real, and it’s something that not every therapist is equipped to treat. LifeStance Health employs more than 5,400 providers, many of whom are trained in treating maternal mental health conditions as well as PTSD and trauma. Since it’s such a niche category, it can be difficult to find a therapist who can truly help with birth trauma, but LifeStance Health makes treatment more accessible for parents and families dealing with this very specific type of trauma. 

LifeStance Health was founded in 2017 and currently serves patients in 32 states. It offers both in-person and virtual appointments, and the providers are in-network with a wide variety of major insurance plans. Patients without insurance also have the option to schedule appointments, and there is no membership required in order to be seen. 

For patients who need medication in addition to therapy, LifeStance Health also offers psychiatry services to users.

LifeStance Health offers couples therapy, which can be useful for parents who have just experienced a traumatic birth, as well as individual therapy and psychiatry treatment for both adults and children. Appointments are available either in-person or online for patients across 32 states. Providers include psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed therapists. 

In addition to PTSD and trauma and maternal mental health (including perinatal and postpartum depression), LifeStance Health also treats a wide range of other conditions including anxiety, depression, stress, sleep disorders, phobias, disordered eating, life transitions, and more. 

For users who are paying through insurance, pricing for therapy and psychiatry appointments will vary based on their specific plan. Some of the insurance companies LifeStance Health partners with include Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, and more. 

Pricing for self-pay patients is, unfortunately, not very transparent—but it is an option. In order to determine how much it would cost for you to be seen by a LifeStance Health provider, you will need to contact a care coordinator to get an estimate. 

Seventy percent of the 105 LifeStance Health users we surveyed said they were happy with the number of qualified providers available to them on the platform, 60% found the process of finding a quality therapist easy, and 73% said the therapist they ultimately chose met all or most of their needs. Overall, 88% of users surveyed said their experience with the platform was positive. Fourteen percent of LifeStance users said they sought treatment for trauma, and 3% said they were dealing with postpartum issues when they reached out to LifeStance.

One of our reviewers of LifeStance was able to participate in a couples counseling session for herself and her wife as well as a few individual sessions, and reported that “​​the therapist was attentive to both of us and in the next individual session, she reviewed some of our concerns from our couples session and offered advice.” The availability of both couples and individual sessions is a benefit for a family struggling after a traumatic birth.

While Postpartum Support International is not an online therapy platform, it is designed to help new parents navigate common mental health struggles that come as a result of pregnancy, birth, or pregnancy loss. Through the website, struggling parents have access to quick resources like emergency crisis hotlines, peer mentor programs, online support groups (including pregnancy and infant loss support groups), and weekly “chat with an expert” forums where a licensed mental healthcare provider answers questions. Additionally, there is a database that allows users to find a provider in their area who is trained in treating new parents struggling with a variety of conditions.

Postpartum Support International (PSI) was founded in 1987 and is based in Oregon. The organization has members and volunteers from more than 30 countries across the world. In addition to its goal of providing support to parents, PSI also advocates for more research, funding, and legislation around parental mental health.

Since PSI does not offer therapy, there are no specific conditions it treats. However, it does offer peer support groups, weekly Q&A sessions with mental health experts, a provider directory, informational content, a hotline, and more. With all these resources, finding support after a pregnancy loss is simple.

For anyone who is seeking help, PSI is completely free. There is also a membership program that’s open to providers and supporters. Membership pricing ranges from $35 to $160 annually. Additionally, PSI welcomes donations that allow it to continue to offer its services to parents. 

Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to survey Postpartum Support International’s users as we did with the other companies on our list. However, we felt that its specialization and expertise treating this difficult topic made it worthy of our list. 

“Because pregnancy loss is often shrouded in feelings of guilt or shame,” says Hannah Owens, LMSW, one of the subject matter experts that helped us evaluate these companies, “having a dedicated place to work through those feelings and your experience with people who have been through the same trauma is an indispensable resource.”

In addition, it is clear that Postpartum Support International has helped many, many people. It has a 4.9/5 star rating on Facebook with dozens of glowing reviews as well as comments from parents. On Instagram, Postpartum Support International has tens of thousands of followers who regularly engage with its content. On a post advertising the organization’s various support groups, a parent commented, “I’m so grateful for these groups and the ladies that lead them.”