Online Trauma Therapy
for Military and Government Workers
AVAILABLE ONLINE IN 38+ STATES, AND IN PERSON IN ALEXANDRIA, VA
Trauma can affect your mental health, causing anxiety, sadness, panic attacks, and trouble with relationships. Learn about trauma and PTSD, and how we can help you heal with online trauma therapy.
You may be wrestling with long-term trauma symptoms—something heavy, something that’s been lingering for a while.
Or you may have recently experienced or witnessed something that’s deeply concerning to you.
Military and government sector workers often experience trauma when working with:
Child exploitation cases
Violent crime scenes
Counterterrorism operations
Undercover operations
Human trafficking
Witnessing traumatic events
Hostage situations
You may have experienced these traumatic experiences firsthand.
Or it may not have happened to you directly—perhaps you learned about it through your job, or you saw it happening to a close friend.
secondary trauma
Even if it didn't happen directly to you, it’s still a traumatic event.
The technical term for this is secondary trauma exposure.
These traumatic experiences impact the way you see others and the world, which changes how you interact (or don’t) with people, your trust in others, and your overall life outlook.
And worse, you may not be able to confide in a partner or friends because of confidentiality issues at work.
These events may be part of the job, but you can get help confidentially with our online trauma counseling services. We can understand what you’re going through—even without you providing all the details.
More importantly, we know how to help you work through the impacts of these traumatic experiences.
we can help
Online trauma therapy isn't just about talking through your problems—it's about finding practical strategies to cope and heal.
Your therapist will work with you to identify your triggers, manage your symptoms, and build resilience in the face of adversity.
We are fully committed to helping you feel better faster, with convenient online therapy for trauma and online therapy for PTSD available in 38+ states.
We prioritize building strong therapeutic relationships with our clients. We provide a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space where you can openly discuss your experiences and progress.
Meet the Team
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![Dr. Monica Reintjes, PhD]()
Dr. Monica Reintjes, PhD
Founder / Licensed Professional Counselor
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![Natasha Benfer, PhD]()
Natasha Benfer, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
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![Blair Farrar, LPC]()
Blair Farrar, LPC
Clinical Supervisor
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![Rachel Synden, BA]()
Rachel Synden, BA
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern
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![Heidi Fortin, BS]()
Heidi Fortin, BS
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern
We use evidence-based treatments when treating trauma and PTSD.
these treatments offer:
A structured and consistent framework for our therapists to follow, to ensure that you receive high-quality care based on established standards and best practices.
A more direct path to recovery; clients typically see progress more quickly, which can be motivating and encouraging.
A data-driven approach that measures outcomes and tracks progress over time, which helps therapists to adjust methods as needed to better serve you.
Increased confidence in the therapeutic process and better outcomes; when you know that the therapy you’re receiving is based on scientific evidence, it can increase your trust and help you get better.
Lower risk of harm; by relying on methods that have been thoroughly researched and tested, it ensures that the interventions are safe and appropriate.
Learn more about trauma, Acute Stress Disorder, PTSD, c-PTSD and Evidence-Based Trauma Treatments
Trauma
Trauma is defined as experiencing, witnessing, or learning about actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence, and it can lead to various mental health disorders such as PTSD, Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), and Complex PTSD.
Acute Stress Disorder
Most people experience some anxiety after a traumatic event called an Acute Stress Disorder.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) can appear quickly after a physical or mental stressor such as grief, a car accident, or an assault, but does not usually last long.
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Anxiety and dissociative behavior following the traumatic event
Feeling disconnected from yourself or from work
Difficulty feeling in control of your emotions
Mood swings
Feeling depressed or anxious.
Trouble sleeping, eating, concentrating,
Dreams or flashbacks
Avoidance of activities or situations that trigger memories of the traumatic event.
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Raised heart rate
Breathlessness
Excessive sweating
Headaches
Chest pain
Nausea
ASD an acute condition—it comes on fast, but it does not last. These symptoms usually resolve within a month; if they last longer than a month they may turn into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
ASD may resolve without therapy, by talking things over with friends or family. People who can resolve within a month usually can understand the event AND put it into context. This is necessary for healing.
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Therapy
Lifestyle management (stress relieving practices such as yoga or meditation)
Beta blockers and antidepressants to ease physical symptoms in combination with therapy for the best possible, and long standing results.
Meditation to help calm the fight-or-flight response, which creeps its way back into daily living and can be disruptive.
However, for some people, the impacts last longer—months, years, or even their whole lifetime if left untreated.
This is what we call post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
You have likely heard of PTSD in reference to combat veterans or survivors of military sexual assault or sexual assault (e.g., rape). However, it can also be the result of many types of events including natural disasters, being the victim of a robbery/assault, or even learning of the sudden death of a loved one.
Mental health treatment for PTSD often involves trauma therapy, which helps individuals deal with the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of trauma.
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Nightmares
Intrusive thoughts
Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger you
Feeling constantly on guard
Depressed mood
Self-blame or survivor’s guilt
Irritability or anger
Panic attacks
Withdrawing from loved ones
Feeling numb
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PTSD does not always develop right after the event. In fact, we often see PTSD symptoms surface when people’s lives slow down–they retire or change jobs, their kids move out of the house, and PTSD rears its head.
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Distraction or avoidance of your memories of the event—and the tough emotions that come up as a result—temporarily keep your PTSD at bay. However, it will inevitably come up as things in your life slow down.
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Instead of avoiding these thoughts and feelings, you’ll learn to be with them through structured therapy sessions so you can heal them. With the guidance of your therapist, we will help you face and regain control over your thoughts, memories, and emotions associated with the trauma.
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We utilize evidence-based approaches including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure (PE), and prolonged exposure therapy, amongst others.
Complex PTSD (c-PTSD)
The term “complex PTSD” or c-PTSD has gained popularity over the last few years. Complex PTSD often results from more chronic forms of trauma, like childhood abuse and domestic violence.
Because of the chronic and interpersonal nature of the trauma, people with c-PTSD might experience more problems in their relationships with others. For example, someone with c-PTSD may struggle with relationship boundaries, emotional outbursts, or co-dependency.
Treatment for c-PTSD thus might be longer than PTSD treatment, and can involve extra sessions to focus on interpersonal (relational) skills and emotion regulation work.
What are the preferred treatment options for trauma, PTSD and c-PTSD?
At Reintjes Counseling, we use evidence-based trauma therapies to treat symptoms and promote healing, including:
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Exposure Therapy
Exposure Therapy type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
It usually involves working with a therapist to gradually expose the individual to the feared object, phobia or situation in a controlled environment, in a safe manner. The goal is to help address the symptom, treat with exposure, and help the body learn not to respond to the stimulus with the symptoms of panic.
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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
These treatments emphasize attitude changes and reinforce new behavior. Rather than reducing symptoms—though this is a benefit—we aim to help you step away from unhelpful thoughts that are no longer serving you.
We'll help you become more aware of your thoughts, create some distance from your thoughts, and help you reframe your thoughts and let them go.
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR therapy involves recalling a picture, scene or feeling from a past trauma while tracking bilateral stimulation, such as the therapist’s hand moving back and forth across their field of vision or a light bar. This therapy uses bilateral eye movement stimulation of the brain while the individual focuses on distressing memories, thoughts or feelings. This is particularly effective in treating individuals with PTSD.
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Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) helps you discuss symptoms of PTSD, thoughts and emotions, recall trauma to gain awareness of thoughts, and learn practical skills to challenge thoughts and modify behaviors. Through guided discussions and structured exercises, you'll learn to reframe your thinking patterns and better manage your emotions.
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Medication
Working with a psychiatrist to help manage symptoms of PTSD or c-PTSD, particularly when paired with anxiety or depressed mood.
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Lifestyle Changes and Mindfulness Exercises
Increase in practicing relaxation techniques (e.g. mindfulness and breathing exercises), maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and seeking social support.
FAQs
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Individuals with limited access to in-person services, those seeking flexibility and convenience, people who prefer privacy, individuals with mild to moderate symptoms.
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Yes.
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Searching for the right trauma therapist can be daunting. However, if you are looking for someone to trust in this already vulnerable process there are some things to look for in your search.
Main things to remember when looking for any therapist: warmth, comfort, feeling of being unconditionally accepted, professionalism, and trustworthy.
First, good rapport and connection.
Second, flexibility and adaptability. Trauma can bring up new issues and therapists who are well versed in trauma should be able to adjust their techniques and interventions to your specific needs.
Third, knowledge of trauma-informed care: a well seasoned clinician has a deep understanding of how trauma affects the mind and body (and can articulate it for you).
Collaborative approach feels natural. Setting goals and developing a treatment plan together is essential in allowing you to shine in the therapeutic process and respect your autonomy.
Lastly, the trauma therapist should have credentials and experiences to back their specialization in trauma therapy.
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Yes. We have clinicians who are PSYPACT state approved, which means the clinician is able to see you across state lines and avoid interrupted treatment.
Additionally, once Counseling Compact application becomes available in 2024 for LPCs, we will also be applying for licensure.
This is a priority for our group practice because we want therapy to be as easily accessible to you as possible.
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If after reading our clinician biographies you are leaning towards a specific clinician – please mention your preference when you fill out your contact form.
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We are an in-network provider with Tricare, Carefirst, Blue Cross Blue Shield (including Anthem).
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All personal information that you share within the therapy session remains strictly confidential, in accordance with professional ethical standards and legal requirements. Your information can only be shared with your signed release form.
Online trauma therapy tailored to military and government personnel.
We’re here to support you when you’re ready.