Reviewed by Vinsent Franke, MBA, AMFT, CADC-II, RA, Founder of iRely Recovery. Updated September 2026.
Intro
For many people, addiction is not the root problem. It is the response to one. Substances become the solution to unbearable memories, overwhelming emotions or a nervous system stuck in survival mode.
At iRely Recovery in Los Angeles, we understand that unresolved trauma and substance use disorder are deeply intertwined conditions that must be treated together. Our trauma-informed program uses EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT and somatic therapy, delivered by credentialed clinicians, within a framework designed to make every client feel safe, heard and in control of their own recovery.
Key Points
- Trauma is the norm, not the exceptionAbout 70 percent of adults in substance use treatment report a significant traumatic event.
- Built on six core principlesSAMHSA TIP 57: safety, trust, peer support, collaboration, empowerment and cultural awareness.
- Multiple evidence-based modalitiesEMDR, TF-CBT, Seeking Safety and somatic therapy, matched to your history.
- Insurance verificationWe verify benefits at no cost. Call 818-869-2112.
In Short
Trauma-informed care at iRely Recovery treats trauma and addiction together, using EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT, Seeking Safety and somatic therapy within SAMHSA's six principles of safety, trust and empowerment. We are Joint Commission accredited and DHCS licensed, and most insurance is accepted. Call 818-869-2112 to verify your benefits.
What Is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed addiction treatment recognizes that most people with substance use disorders have experienced significant trauma, whether from childhood abuse, violence, accidents or other overwhelming events. This approach shifts the question from “What is wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”, understanding that addiction often develops as a survival mechanism for managing trauma symptoms.
SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol 57 defines trauma-informed care through six core principles: safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment and choice, and cultural, historical and gender issues. At iRely Recovery, these principles shape every interaction, from how we conduct initial assessments to how our therapists structure each session.
Addressing the Underlying Pain
Trauma therapy for addiction addresses the pain that drives self-medication. Every part of treatment operates with awareness that certain words, actions or environments might trigger a trauma response.
Trained Staff
Staff trained in trauma-informed care know how to create safety, build trust and avoid retraumatization while helping you process difficult experiences.
Nervous System Regulation
Trauma disrupts your nervous system, leaving you hypervigilant, emotionally numb or swinging between extremes. You learn to recognize these patterns and develop healthier ways to regulate.
The Connection Between Trauma and Addiction
Research indicates that approximately 70 percent of adults in substance use disorder treatment report experiencing at least one significant traumatic event during their lifetime. A 2023 study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry on implementing a trauma-informed model of care found that integrated trauma and addiction treatment supports better outcomes than treating either condition in isolation.
When trauma goes untreated, the nervous system stays locked in fight-or-flight mode, making sobriety feel unbearable at times. Integrated treatment helps you understand why substances became your coping mechanism, often the only thing that quieted flashbacks, numbed emotional pain or helped you sleep, and teaches your nervous system that the danger has passed.
How and Why Trauma-Informed Care Works
The effectiveness of trauma and addiction treatment comes from treating the root causes rather than just the symptoms. Traditional addiction programs that ignore trauma often fail because they leave the underlying pain intact.
Grounding for Flashbacks
Concrete techniques to bring you back to the present moment during a flashback or intrusive memory.
Body-Based Practices
Somatic tools for releasing stored trauma that talk alone may not reach.
Cognitive Strategies
Approaches for challenging the beliefs trauma leaves behind, so they stop driving behavior.
The Efficacy of Trauma-Informed Care
Evidence for trauma-specific interventions in addiction treatment is growing. Seeking Safety, developed by Dr. Lisa Najavits, is among the most widely studied and consistently used manualized approaches for co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder, alongside EMDR and the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model. At iRely, our clinical team is trained in multiple evidence-based approaches and selects the intervention that fits each client’s trauma history, preferences and treatment goals.
Programs that adopt fully integrated trauma-informed models, with specialized screening, trauma-focused therapy, psychoeducation and coping skills training within standard programming, report improvements in both addiction recovery and trauma symptoms, and staff also report greater confidence in treating complex cases. The strength of this model is its comprehensiveness. Rather than adding trauma treatment as an afterthought, it integrates trauma awareness into the core of residential care.
What to Expect From Trauma-Informed Care in Los Angeles
Trauma-informed care is embedded into every layer of the residential experience. Your traumatic experiences are acknowledged and supported alongside substance use treatment.
Trauma Screening at Admission
A comprehensive screening identifies PTSD, complex trauma and emotional responses, without retraumatization.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Co-occurring disorders like PTSD are addressed alongside substance use in one integrated plan. See our trauma treatment program.
A Safe, Calming Environment
Designed with transparency, choice and predictability to restore your sense of control.
Psychoeducation
We explain how trauma affects the brain, body and behavior, connecting the dots between trauma and addiction.
Body-Based Coping Strategies
Grounding techniques, mindfulness and movement therapy manage flashbacks and triggers, alongside somatic therapy.
Personalized Pacing
Care honors your pace and preferences, letting trauma processing unfold gently within your level of care.
Holistic Therapies
Art, equine and trauma-informed yoga support embodied healing, through our experiential therapies.
Aftercare Planning
Trauma-focused support continues well after residential treatment ends.
Accreditation and Credentials
Joint Commission Accredited
Independent review of our clinical protocols, safety procedures and treatment quality.
DHCS Licensed
Licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services, License #191516AP.
Trauma-Informed Care for Addiction at iRely Recovery
Our trauma-informed program is designed to help you heal both the wounds and the survival strategies that followed. We do not believe in band-aid solutions that leave you white-knuckling sobriety while trauma still controls your life.
Our experienced team helps you process trauma safely, without judgment, at a pace that works for you. If the weight of your past feels too heavy to carry alone, we are here to walk alongside you.
Does Insurance Cover Trauma-Informed Addiction Treatment?
Yes. Trauma-informed addiction treatment is covered by most major insurance plans when it is medically necessary. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires insurers to provide equivalent coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment as for physical health conditions.
Call 818-869-2112 to verify your specific benefits before admission.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma-Informed Addiction Treatment
How is trauma treated in addiction recovery?
Trauma in addiction recovery is treated using evidence-based, trauma-specific therapies that address the emotional wounds driving substance use. At iRely Recovery, our clinicians use EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy and somatic therapy techniques, each tailored to the individual’s trauma history and co-occurring substance use disorder.
What are trauma-informed treatments?
Trauma-informed treatments are approaches built on SAMHSA’s six principles of trauma-informed care: safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment and cultural sensitivity. Rather than asking what is wrong with you, trauma-informed care asks what happened to you. This framework is designed to avoid retraumatization and support healing throughout treatment.
What is the connection between trauma and addiction?
Research shows that approximately 70 percent of adults receiving substance use disorder treatment have experienced at least one traumatic event. Trauma and addiction are connected through the self-medication pattern: unresolved trauma creates chronic emotional pain, anxiety and hyperarousal that substances temporarily relieve, and over time the brain’s reward system rewires around substance use as a coping mechanism.
What is the cycle of trauma and addiction?
The trauma-addiction cycle is a self-reinforcing loop. Trauma creates emotional distress and intrusive symptoms, substances are used to numb or escape those symptoms, substance use then creates shame and loss of control, which intensifies the original trauma symptoms and drives further use. Breaking this cycle requires treating both the trauma and the addiction at the same time.
How long does trauma therapy take in addiction treatment?
The duration depends on the severity and complexity of the trauma, the modality used and your progress. Shorter programs establish safety and stabilization with initial trauma processing, while extended stays allow deeper trauma reprocessing with modalities like EMDR. We design individualized timelines and discuss what fits your needs during your initial assessment.
Does insurance cover trauma-informed addiction treatment?
Yes. Most major insurance plans, including many PPO plans, cover trauma-informed addiction treatment when it is medically necessary. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires insurers to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment at the same level as physical health treatment. Call 818-869-2112 to verify your specific benefits before admission.
What is EMDR therapy for addiction?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy originally developed for PTSD that has shown effectiveness for co-occurring trauma and addiction. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge, targeting the specific memories and triggers that drive substance use.
Sources
[1] National Library of Medicine. (2020). Trauma-Informed Care: A Sociocultural Perspective. Nih.gov; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207195/ on May 22, 2025
[2, 3] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). Understanding the Impact of Trauma. National Library of Medicine; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/ on May 22, 2025
[4] Walter, Z., Carlyle, M., Kerswell, N., Valeriya Mefodeva, Reginald, Cobham, V. E., & Hides, L. (2023). Study protocol: implementing and evaluating a trauma-informed model of care in residential youth treatment for substance use disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10572352/ on May 22, 2025
[+] Najavits, L. M. (2002). Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse. Guilford Press.
Heal Trauma and Addiction Together
If the weight of your past feels too heavy to carry alone, we are here to walk alongside you. Call 818-869-2112 to speak with our admissions team about trauma-informed treatment at iRely Recovery in Los Angeles.
