Services › Trauma & PTSD
Trauma Therapy, At Your Pace.
Telehealth therapy for trauma and PTSD, including EMDR. Covered by Partnership HealthPlan Medi-Cal, with no referral and no waitlist.
Last updated: October 2026
What We Treat
What trauma therapy helps with
- Single-incident trauma
- Complex PTSD
- Adverse childhood experiences
- Wildfire and disaster-related trauma
- Grief and loss tied to trauma
- Anxiety, sleep problems, and avoidance after a traumatic event
A formal PTSD diagnosis is not required to begin treatment.
Our Approach
How treatment works
- Safety first. Work begins with safety and grounding skills before any processing of traumatic material.
- EMDR. A structured treatment recognized by the WHO and APA as a first-line therapy for trauma and PTSD. It does not require you to retell your trauma in detail.
- Trauma-focused CBT. Helps you understand and change the patterns trauma leaves behind.
- Your pace. Treatment moves at the pace you can handle, never faster.
Sessions run 50 to 60 minutes by secure video or phone, and sessions can close with grounding so you leave steady.
When To Reach Out
Signs trauma is still affecting you
- Memories, nightmares, or flashbacks that arrive without warning
- Avoiding people, places, or topics that remind you of what happened
- Feeling on guard, jumpy, or easily startled
- Numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself or others
- Strong reactions that seem bigger than the moment calls for
- Trouble sleeping or concentrating since the event
These are common responses to overwhelming experiences, not signs of weakness. They can change with the right care.
What To Expect
How trauma care unfolds
- Stabilization. Early sessions build grounding and coping skills so you have steady footing before any memory work.
- Assessment. Your clinician may use the PCL-5, a PTSD checklist, to understand your symptoms and track change.
- Processing. With EMDR or trauma-focused CBT, you work through what happened at a pace you set, without being pushed.
- Moving forward. Later work focuses on reclaiming the parts of life that trauma made smaller.
You stay in control of what you share and when. Stopping or slowing down is always an option.
Why Telehealth Works
Trauma work from a place that feels safe
Feeling safe matters in trauma therapy. Many patients find it easier to settle into hard work from their own home than in an unfamiliar office.
EMDR adapts well to telehealth. Bilateral stimulation can be done by following a moving target on your screen or with self-tapping, guided by your clinician in real time.
Try the free PCL-5 checklist, 5-4-3-2-1 grounding, and guided breathing on our Therapy Tools page.
Myths & Facts
Common myths about trauma therapy
MythYou have to relive every detail to heal.
FactEMDR does not require a detailed retelling. Trauma processing can happen without describing everything out loud.
MythTrauma only comes from war or violence.
FactAccidents, medical events, losses, disasters like wildfires, and repeated childhood experiences can all leave lasting effects.
MythIf it happened years ago, it is too late.
FactTrauma responses can improve with treatment no matter how long ago the events took place.
Coverage & Getting Started
What trauma therapy costs and how to start
In network with Partnership HealthPlan
PMHS is a contracted, in-network provider with Partnership HealthPlan of California. Covered sessions for Medi-Cal members usually cost nothing.
Partnership HealthPlan covers trauma therapy, including EMDR, for most members at no cost, with no referral needed. PMHS also accepts Medicare, Medi-Medi, and private pay, with sliding-scale fees available. We verify your benefits before your first appointment.
- Reach out. Submit the short form or call or text (925) 771-0430. We respond within one hour between 8am and 8pm, or by 9am the next morning.
- We verify your coverage. We check your Partnership HealthPlan, Medicare, or other benefits for you.
- Start this week. No waitlist. Your first session is an intake, by secure video or phone from home.
Where We Serve
Trauma & PTSD Therapy in all 24 Partnership HealthPlan counties
PMHS is 100% telehealth, so you can start from home in every Partnership HealthPlan county, including these towns.
What PMHS does not provide
- Crisis or emergency services. Call or text 988, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
- Medication management or psychological testing.
- Court-ordered evaluations or forensic assessments.
- In-person appointments. PMHS is 100% telehealth by video or phone.
- Sessions while you are physically outside California.
Common Questions
Trauma & PTSD Therapy FAQ
Does Medi-Cal cover EMDR and trauma therapy?
Yes. Partnership HealthPlan covers evidence-based trauma treatment, including EMDR and trauma-focused CBT, usually at no cost to the member, with no referral needed.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. EMDR does not require a detailed verbal retelling of traumatic events, and all trauma work begins with safety and grounding skills.
Can EMDR be done by telehealth?
Yes. PMHS provides trauma treatment, including EMDR, by secure video from wherever you are in California.
Do I need a PTSD diagnosis?
No. A formal PTSD diagnosis is not required to begin treatment.
How long does EMDR take?
It depends on what you are working through. A single recent event may take fewer sessions than complex or long-term trauma. Your clinician will talk with you about a realistic plan after assessment.
Is EMDR safe for me if I get overwhelmed easily?
Preparation is built into EMDR for that reason. You learn calming and grounding skills first, and processing only begins once you can use them.
Does PMHS have an EMDR-certified clinician?
Yes. Ryan Frost, LMFT, is certified in EMDR therapy.
Related Services
Other therapy PMHS offers by telehealth
Ready to take the next step?
Healing happens at your pace. Start this week.
Telehealth therapy across all 24 Partnership HealthPlan counties. No referral needed. No waitlist.
Get Started