Reviewed by Vinsent Franke, MBA, AMFT, CADC-II, RA, Founder of iRely Recovery. Updated September 2026.
Intro
Trauma does not stay in the past. It lives in the body as constant alertness and in daily life as a pull toward anything that brings relief. When that relief becomes substance use, two treatable conditions become entangled.
iRely Recovery provides trauma treatment in Los Angeles for co-occurring PTSD and addiction, including EMDR, trauma-focused CBT and somatic therapy, in a Joint Commission-accredited, ASAM 3.5 residential program. For how trauma-informed principles shape all our care, see our Trauma-Informed Care page.
Key Points
- Trauma is common in addictionSAMHSA: about 66 percent of people entering SUD treatment report childhood trauma exposure.
- EMDR has Level A evidenceMultiple randomized trials support it for PTSD, the strongest evidence classification.
- ASAM 3.5 residential careA structured, supervised environment for trauma processing alongside addiction treatment.
- Most PPO plans acceptedCall 818-351-1193 for a no-cost benefits check.
In Short
Trauma treatment at iRely Recovery in Los Angeles combines EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, somatic therapies and psychiatric support inside an ASAM 3.5 residential program. We treat PTSD, Complex PTSD, developmental trauma and acute trauma alongside substance use disorder. Most PPO plans accepted. Call 818-351-1193.
What Is Trauma?
Quick answer: Trauma is a lasting emotional and physiological response that overwhelms a person’s capacity to cope. It reshapes the nervous system and underlies many co-occurring addiction presentations, and it responds to structured, evidence-based treatment.
The event does not have to be catastrophic by an outside standard. What matters is its impact on the nervous system and the self. The DSM-5 defines trauma for PTSD as exposure to death, serious injury or sexual violence, but clinical experience shows that emotional abuse, neglect, community violence and chronic stress can be just as disruptive.
Not an Ordinary Memory
The body encodes trauma in limbic and brainstem systems before the prefrontal cortex can contextualize it, so sensory or relational cues can trigger responses out of proportion to the present moment.
An Adaptation, Not a Failing
Trauma is not a choice to stay stuck. It is an adaptation to an overwhelming experience, and it responds to structured, evidence-based clinical work.
How Trauma and Addiction Connect
Quick answer: Substances temporarily relieve PTSD symptoms such as hyperarousal, nightmares and numbness. SAMHSA data shows about two-thirds of people entering SUD treatment have experienced trauma. Treating addiction alone leaves trauma intact and drives relapse.
SAMHSA reports that about two-thirds of people entering SUD treatment have experienced a traumatic event. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study found that people with four or more ACEs were seven times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those with none.
Substances as a Solution
Alcohol numbs hyperarousal, opioids dampen emotional pain, stimulants cut through dissociation and benzodiazepines quiet the nervous system.
Why It Backfires
Substance use disrupts sleep, which impairs memory processing, and reinforces the avoidance that maintains PTSD. Neither disorder fully responds unless both are treated together.
Types of Trauma We Treat
Quick answer: We treat PTSD, Complex PTSD, developmental and childhood trauma, moral injury and acute trauma, each with a tailored evidence-based protocol alongside integrated addiction treatment.
PTSD and Substance Use
Flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, negative mood changes and hyperarousal. Each condition sustains the other, so treatment must be integrated.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
Recognized in the ICD-11 for prolonged or inescapable trauma, with added disturbances in affect regulation, self-concept and relationships.
Developmental and Childhood Trauma
Abuse, neglect or household dysfunction alter neurodevelopment and are often the root of dual diagnosis cases that resisted earlier treatment.
Moral Injury
Damage from actions or events that violate deeply held moral beliefs, common in military, first responder and healthcare settings, needing its own therapeutic approach.
Acute Trauma
Single-incident trauma such as an accident or assault has an excellent prognosis with timely treatment, but can become PTSD or drive substance use without it.
Signs That Trauma May Be Driving Your Substance Use
Quick answer: Signs include using to numb intrusive memories or sleep, constant hypervigilance, avoiding triggers, emotional detachment, flashbacks or nightmares, and past sobriety attempts that never addressed what happened. We assess trauma at intake even if you do not identify as a survivor.
- Using substances to numb out, fall asleep or stop intrusive memories
- Feeling on guard most of the time, easily startled, unable to relax
- Avoiding people, places or situations tied to traumatic memories
- Feeling emotionally numb or detached from people you care about
- Flashbacks, nightmares or intrusive images
- Sobriety attempts that never addressed what happened to you
- Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in close relationships
- Reactions to ordinary stressors that feel out of proportion
- Chronic physical symptoms or pain without a clear medical explanation
EMDR Therapy for Trauma and Addiction
Quick answer: EMDR carries Level A evidence for PTSD from multiple randomized trials. It uses bilateral stimulation so the brain can reprocess traumatic memories without detailed verbal retelling, and it has been adapted for co-occurring PTSD and addiction.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) uses guided eye movements while you hold a traumatic memory in mind, letting the brain integrate the experience and reduce its emotional intensity.
The 8-Phase Protocol
EMDR does not require detailed description of the event, so it suits people who find talk therapy overwhelming. Sessions move from history and preparation through reprocessing to integration.
EMDR for PTSD and SUD
Addiction-adapted protocols target the trauma memories that drive cravings, the emotional states that trigger use and the positive substance associations that resist standard treatment.
What to Expect in Our Program
Quick answer: Treatment begins with stabilization and a trauma-informed intake before any processing starts. DBT distress tolerance and grounding come first, then paced EMDR or trauma-focused CBT. Most clients complete 30 to 90 days of ASAM 3.5 care before stepping down to PHP or IOP.
Step 1: Stabilize
Medical detox is coordinated if needed, and a trauma history is taken to identify your window of tolerance, the zone where processing can happen safely.
Step 2: Build Skills
DBT distress tolerance, grounding and somatic regulation are established before active processing begins. We adjust pacing with you throughout.
Step 3: Process
Paced EMDR or trauma-focused CBT, individual therapy at least twice weekly, groups five days a week, somatic work and psychiatric support.
Step 4: Step Down
Most clients stay 30 to 90 days before PHP or IOP, where trauma-focused work continues. Your discharge plan includes outpatient trauma support.
Additional Treatment Modalities
Quick answer: Beyond EMDR, we offer trauma-focused CBT, somatic approaches, DBT stabilization skills, psychiatric medication management and trauma-informed group therapy in one coordinated plan.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Addresses the distorted beliefs and avoidance that maintain PTSD alongside emotional processing of memories. Well suited to single-incident trauma.
Somatic Trauma Therapy
Body-oriented mindfulness, breathwork and yoga reach the physiological side of trauma that talk therapy may not fully address.
DBT Skills for Stabilization
DBT distress tolerance and emotion regulation build the window of tolerance needed for processing, and run in parallel with trauma work.
Psychiatric Support
Our on-site psychiatrist manages medication for nightmares, hyperarousal and co-occurring depression or anxiety.
Trauma-Informed Groups
A community that understands living with trauma in recovery, easing the isolation and shame trauma often produces.
Residential Level of Care: ASAM 3.5
Quick answer: iRely Recovery operates at ASAM Level 3.5, the highest non-hospital residential level, with Joint Commission accreditation and DHCS License #191516AP. It provides 24-hour supervised containment so PTSD processing can proceed safely alongside addiction treatment.
Our facility provides 24-hour supervised care in a structured therapeutic environment. For people with PTSD and addiction, that containment allows trauma processing to proceed without the triggers of daily life interrupting the work.
Afterward, clients step down to our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) to continue trauma-focused work as real-world integration begins. For more on PTSD specifically, see our PTSD and addiction program, and we also treat personality disorders.
Why Choose iRely Recovery
Quick answer: We offer EMDR-trained clinicians, an integrated protocol treating trauma and addiction from day one, Joint Commission accreditation, ASAM 3.5 certification and no-cost insurance verification, at 17524 Napa St in Los Angeles.
EMDR-Trained Clinicians
Our therapists have specialized training for complex trauma in the context of addiction. Trauma processing is a core capability, not an add-on.
Integrated, Not Sequential
Waiting for addiction to be controlled before treating trauma, or the reverse, leaves the cycle intact. We hold both from day one.
Beyond Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is a philosophy applied across all treatment. Trauma treatment is an active intervention for a specific diagnosis.
Accredited, ASAM 3.5
Joint Commission accreditation and ASAM 3.5 certification for complex dual diagnosis cases.
Insurance-Friendly
We accept most PPO plans and provide no-cost benefits verification within 24 hours. Call 818-351-1193.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best treatment for trauma and addiction together?
Integrated dual diagnosis treatment addressing both conditions simultaneously is the most effective approach. EMDR carries Level A evidence for PTSD and has been adapted for co-occurring addiction, making it the cornerstone of our trauma program. Trauma-focused CBT and DBT skills training are also evidence-supported components. Residential care at ASAM Level 3.5 provides the structure most appropriate for co-occurring PTSD and SUD.
How long does trauma treatment take?
Residential trauma treatment at ASAM 3.5 typically ranges from 30 to 90 days, followed by PHP or IOP to continue integration work. EMDR often shows meaningful symptom reduction within 12 sessions for single-incident trauma, while complex PTSD requires longer phase-based treatment. The timeline varies by trauma type, severity and the severity of co-occurring addiction.
Is EMDR covered by insurance?
Yes. EMDR delivered by a licensed therapist is covered by most major PPO insurance plans when it is clinically indicated and documented as part of a treatment plan. Our admissions team can verify your benefits at no cost. Call 818-351-1193.
Can you treat PTSD and addiction at the same time?
Yes. Decades of research show that treating PTSD and addiction simultaneously is both safe and more effective than treating them in sequence. Withholding trauma treatment until addiction is addressed, or the reverse, leaves the cycle intact. Integrated treatment addresses both conditions in one coordinated clinical plan.
What is Complex PTSD and how is it treated?
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) results from prolonged, repeated or inescapable trauma, typically childhood adversity. It includes standard PTSD symptoms plus disturbances in self-concept and affect regulation that need phase-based treatment. Phase one is stabilization and skills, phase two is trauma processing, and phase three is integration. Residential care provides round-the-clock support and is often the right starting point for C-PTSD with co-occurring addiction.
What if I am not sure whether trauma is part of my situation?
Clinical assessment at intake will identify whether trauma is contributing, even if you do not identify as a trauma survivor. Many people entering SUD treatment do not recognize the role adverse experiences have played in their substance use. Our team conducts thorough trauma-informed assessments and will help you understand whether and how trauma may be contributing. You do not need certainty before you call.
How is this page different from your Trauma-Informed Care page?
Trauma-Informed Care describes the clinical philosophy applied across all treatment, covering how our staff interacts with every client regardless of diagnosis. This page describes trauma as a specific co-occurring diagnosis treated with EMDR and evidence-based protocols in our dual diagnosis program. Read more on our Trauma-Informed Care page.
Start Trauma Treatment in Los Angeles Today
For Individuals and Families
If trauma is part of what is driving your substance use, or if you suspect it might be, you deserve treatment that addresses both. Our admissions team can answer questions, verify your insurance benefits and walk you through what the first steps look like. Call 818-351-1193 or reach out through our online form.
For Healthcare Providers
iRely Recovery accepts referrals for patients with PTSD, Complex PTSD and other trauma presentations co-occurring with substance use disorder. We work collaboratively with referring providers throughout the episode of care. To refer a patient or discuss a clinical case, call 818-351-1193.
