At Spring Grove Recovery, we believe healing and resilience are possible for everyone. Trauma‑informed therapy is an approach to care that recognizes how deeply trauma can affect mental, emotional, and physical well‑being. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with you?” a trauma‑informed therapist asks, “What happened to you?” That way, we can build safety, respect, and compassion for each person’s story—creating the foundation for recovery in our peaceful, private Colorado Springs setting.
What is trauma‑informed therapy?
Trauma‑informed therapy is a model of care designed to ensure clients are not re‑traumatized during treatment. It's especially powerful in addiction recovery, since around 75% of people with a substance use disorder have experienced trauma. By weaving trauma sensitivity into every interaction—from admission through aftercare—trauma‑informed therapy helps people feel safe, understood, and empowered. Benefits include greater engagement in treatment, reduced drop‑out, improved coping, and care that honors each person’s pace and preferences.
Core principles of trauma‑informed care
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma‑informed care is guided by six key principles. At Spring Grove, we bring each to life with clear practices:
- Safety: Calm spaces, predictable routines, and collaborative safety plans reduce overwhelm and support nervous‑system regulation.
- Trustworthiness and transparency: We explain what to expect, why we recommend certain steps, and how decisions are made.
- Peer support: Groups and community connection help clients feel understood and less alone as they build resilience together.
- Collaboration and mutuality: Your voice matters. Care plans are co‑created, and we check in often to see what’s working for you.
- Empowerment, voice, and choice: You set the pace, choose topics, and opt in to practices that feel right for you.
- Cultural, historical, and gender responsiveness: We honor identities and lived experiences, and we continually adapt care to be inclusive and respectful.
Trauma‑informed vs. trauma‑focused therapy
- Trauma‑informed therapy integrates sensitivity into all aspects of care, even when trauma is not addressed directly. It protects against triggers and builds a sense of safety.
- Trauma‑focused therapy uses specific protocols to process traumatic memories. Some clients may benefit from trauma therapy, and the Spring Grove team can provide it.
How trauma impacts the brain and body
Trauma can create lasting patterns in the brain and nervous system designed to keep you safe, but that may feel exhausting. Stress hormones can stay elevated, the amygdala may stay on “high alert,” and the prefrontal cortex—a planning and reasoning center—can go offline under stress. People may swing between fight/flight (hyperarousal) and freeze/shut‑down (hypoarousal). We teach the window of tolerance: the arousal range where you can think clearly and feel present. With grounding, breathwork, movement, and skills practice, many clients widen that window over time.
Who we help
At Spring Grove Recovery, we care for individuals who have experienced a range of trauma‑related challenges:
PTSD treatment and trauma counseling: For intrusive memories, nightmares, and hypervigilance after events such as violence, accidents, or disasters.
Complex trauma (C‑PTSD) and dissociation: For those who endured long‑term or repeated trauma (e.g., childhood neglect or abuse) and experience numbness, dissociation, or chronic distrust.
Childhood trauma therapy and attachment wounds: Addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their impacts on safety, trust, and emotion regulation.
Co‑occurring conditions: Integrated care for trauma with anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and substance use.
Trauma and relationships: Boundaries, trust, and intimacy
Trauma can complicate connection—leading to people‑pleasing, over‑accommodation, shutting down, or conflict cycles. In therapy, we practice boundary setting, assertive communication, and rebuilding trust at a sustainable pace, so relationships can become sources of support rather than stress.
How trauma‑informed therapy works at Spring Grove
Trauma‑informed care is not a single technique—it’s a philosophy that guides every step of treatment.
Evidence‑based treatments and modalities we use
Our clinicians combine trauma‑informed principles with evidence‑based therapies offered at Spring Grove:
- Individual therapy: Private sessions to explore root causes, process emotions, and set meaningful goals.
- Group therapy: Peer‑centered support to practice skills, share experiences, and build connection.
- Cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT): Identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and practice healthier patterns.
- Motivational interviewing (MI): Strengthen your internal motivation and confidence for change.
- Mindfulness and trauma‑sensitive practices: Gentle breathing, grounding, and present‑moment awareness to support regulation.
Assessment and personalized treatment planning
Healing begins with understanding. At admission and throughout care, we provide:
- Comprehensive trauma assessment and screening: History, strengths, risk/safety, and co‑occurring symptoms inform a personalized plan.
- Trauma psychoeducation: Understand triggers, the window of tolerance, and how to respond to early warning signs of overwhelm.
- Measuring progress and outcomes: We use check‑ins and validated scales to track symptoms, cravings, sleep, mood, and functioning, and to adjust the plan. Relapse‑prevention work includes trigger mapping, refusal skills, and a written support plan for high‑risk moments.
Integrated, trauma‑informed care across settings
Spring Grove offers a full continuum of addiction treatment delivered with trauma‑informed principles:
- Medical detox: 24/7 medical oversight and evidence‑based protocols to help you begin safely and as comfortably as possible.
- Inpatient treatment: Daily therapy, skills practice, and structured support in a restorative environment.
- Medication‑assisted treatment (MAT): When clinically appropriate, medications such as Suboxone, Subutex, or Vivitrol are paired with counseling to reduce cravings and support recovery.
- Co‑occurring disorders treatment: Integrated mental‑health care for anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms alongside substance use.
- Aftercare and alumni support: Practical planning, community resources, and peer connection sustain momentum after discharge.
What to expect in trauma‑informed therapy
First session: Confidentiality, informed consent, and goal setting
Your first session covers privacy, your rights in care, and what you want from treatment. Together, we outline goals and design a safety plan, including grounding techniques to use if distress rises.
Session structure, pacing, and safety plans
Sessions begin with a check‑in, move into skills or reflection, and end with grounding and next‑step planning. You set the pace. If a topic feels too intense, we slow down, switch strategies, or take a break.
About our team
Our licensed clinicians bring advanced training in trauma‑informed practices and evidence‑based therapies. Many hold additional certifications in CBT, MI, and co‑occurring disorders treatment. We invest in ongoing education so your care reflects current best practices while staying compassionate and human.
Start trauma‑informed therapy in Colorado Springs, CO
Getting started at Spring Grove Recovery is simple and accessible. Admissions are open 24/7, and our team will help you understand your coverage—including Colorado Medicaid—so you can begin without delay.
Call us anytime at 719.415.3460 or reach out online. We’ll help you explore the best fit, whether that’s inpatient treatment in Colorado Springs or virtual sessions for added flexibility.
Frequently asked questions
If you have a history of trauma—recent or long‑past—and want care built on safety, dignity, and collaboration, trauma‑informed therapy may be a strong fit. You do not have to recount traumatic events to benefit from this approach.
There is no fixed timeline. Some clients notice meaningful changes in a few months; others prefer a longer course of care. We’ll tailor frequency and duration to your goals, step‑down needs, and daily life.
Traditional therapy may not always address the impact of trauma on the brain and body. Trauma‑informed therapy integrates sensitivity at every step—consent, pacing, language, and environment—so sessions feel safer and more effective.
