Complex PTSD Treatment in Orange County, CA
At Friendly Recovery, we specialize in helping people heal from Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). Whether you’re coping with long-term trauma, emotional dysregulation, or difficulties in relationships, we offer trauma-informed care tailored to your experience. Our Partial Hospitalization PHP, Intensive Outpatient (IOP), and Outpatient Services offer a supportive structure to help you regain emotional safety, confidence, and control at your own pace.
What is Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)?
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is a trauma-related disorder that develops after prolonged or repeated exposure to deeply distressing experiences. These may include emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, severe neglect, domestic violence, captivity, or ongoing abandonment, especially during formative years like childhood or adolescence. While PTSD typically arises from a single, identifiable traumatic event (such as a car accident or natural disaster), C-PTSD is tied to cumulative trauma that unfolds over time, often within environments where escape or protection wasn’t possible.
Because the trauma is relational and long-term, C-PTSD often leaves deeper psychological imprints. In addition to classic PTSD symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance, individuals with C-PTSD may struggle with chronic shame, emotional dysregulation, persistent feelings of helplessness, and a fragmented or negative self-identity. Relationship challenges, trust issues, and difficulty feeling safe, even in stable environments, are also common. Healing requires a comprehensive, trauma-informed approach that addresses both the emotional scars and the survival strategies developed to cope with them.
“For years, I thought I was just broken. Treatment taught me I was surviving the best I could—and now, I’m learning how to thrive.”
Common Signs of CPTSD
Not everyone with trauma shows the same symptoms. But there are emotional, psychological, and behavioral signs that often point to C-PTSD. Many people with C-PTSD carry their pain quietly, believing they’re just “too sensitive,” “too much,” or “not enough.” But what you’re experiencing is real, and it’s not your fault. These are common signs of a nervous system that’s been under long-term stress, not a reflection of your worth. Symptoms of Complex PTSD may include:
Emotional and Psychological Signs:
- Feeling chronically unsafe or “on alert”
- Emotional flashbacks without a clear trigger
- Shame, worthlessness, or self-blame
- Mood instability or uncontrollable anger
- Avoidance of close emotional bonds
- Irritability or feeling constantly “on edge”
- Tension in the body or unexplained aches and pains
Behavioral Signs:
- Dissociation or feeling detached from your body or surroundings
- Difficulty trusting people, even those close to you
- People-pleasing, perfectionism, or codependent patterns
- Self-isolation or pushing people away
- Sudden shifts between numbness and overwhelm
If these sound familiar, you’re not alone, and there’s support available to help you feel stable and safe again.
Types of C-PTSD We Treat
At Friendly Recovery, we work with individuals experiencing a wide range of trauma-based challenges. Every treatment plan is customized to address the specific causes and symptoms of C-PTSD.
Childhood Emotional Neglect or Abuse: Healing patterns formed by ongoing developmental trauma
Sexual or Physical Abuse Survivors: Offering safety-first approaches to deeply personal healing
Trauma Bonding and Toxic Relationships: Untangling the effects of prolonged emotional abuse
Co-Occurring Trauma and Depression or Anxiety: Treating the whole person, not just symptoms.
Complex PTSD with Dissociation: Reintegrating identity and sense of self in a gentle, grounded way.
“We take a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes emotional safety, trust-building, and long-term healing—not just symptom relief.”
How We Help
Our approach to C-PTSD treatment blends evidence-based therapies with deep compassion. We help you build emotional regulation, gain insight into trauma patterns, and restore your sense of control.
We don’t focus on what’s “wrong” with you; we explore what happened to you and how it’s affected your nervous system, relationships, and self-image. Then, we help you rewrite those patterns with tools that empower and heal you.
Our Therapies Include:
- Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Break negative thought loops tied to trauma
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Build mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotional control
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge
- Somatic Therapy: Help the body release stored trauma through movement and sensation awareness
- Group Therapy: Learn in community, practice boundaries, and feel less alone in your healing
- Narrative Therapy and Inner Child Work: Explore your past to rewrite your present with self-compassion
Outpatient Programs
Our flexible outpatient services are designed for those who want intensive trauma treatment while still managing daily life. Whether you’re stepping down from inpatient care or just starting your journey, we offer different levels of support to meet your needs.
You don’t have to pause your entire life to begin healing. Our outpatient programs make recovery accessible and sustainable.
Levels of Care:
- Outpatient Therapy: Weekly sessions to manage symptoms, build skills, and support steady progress
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Several weekly sessions for more structured support and peer connection
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Full-day clinical care with the ability to return home each evening
Each program includes personalized care plans, therapeutic support, and psychiatric guidance for those needing medication management.
Is This Care Right for You?
Starting treatment for C-PTSD can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a powerful act of reclaiming your life. You may feel emotionally reactive, detached, or stuck in a state of survival mode. Or you may not fully understand what’s wrong, only that something doesn’t feel right.
You could benefit from treatment if you:
- Struggle with trust, safety, or vulnerability
- Experience intense emotional flashbacks
- Feel numb, disconnected, or emotionally flooded
- Have difficulty with identity, self-worth, or boundaries
- Notice toxic or repeated patterns in relationships
- Feel like you’re constantly in fight-or-flight mode
- If you’re unsure what kind of support you need, our team can help you find the right starting point.
Our team helps you slow down, make sense of your experience, and begin to feel more grounded, without judgment.
Why People Choose Friendly Recovery
At Friendly Recovery, we don’t just treat symptoms, we care for the whole person. Our trauma-trained therapists take time to listen, understand your story, and build a treatment plan that reflects your reality and your goals.
We recognize that personalized, empathetic care yields better outcomes. That’s why we combine expert psychiatric support, trauma-sensitive therapy, and a deep respect for your healing process. You’ll never be rushed, blamed, or dismissed. Instead, you’ll be supported every step of the way.
Meet our clinical team to learn more about the professionals behind your care.
Specialized C-PTSD Care
Complex PTSD can make life feel chaotic, unsafe, or exhausting, but with the right care, you can find peace again. You can reconnect with yourself, build healthy relationships, and live a life that feels like yours.
Medically Reviewed By: Shahana Ham, LCSW
Shahana Ham, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She specializes in client-centered care for individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges, fostering a supportive environment for healing and growth.
