RELEASE TRAUMA, REGAIN CONTROL
Compassionate Trauma Therapy Boca Raton, FL
The past does not have to keep running your present. At The Renew Center of Florida, Dr. Lisa Palmer helps adults heal from trauma caused by sexual assault, childhood abuse or neglect, domestic violence, emotional or physical abuse, accidents, grief, relationship trauma, medical trauma, and other painful life experiences. We use proven approaches, including EMDR, CBT, and Rapid Resolution Therapy, at a pace that feels safe to you. Meet with us in person in Boca Raton or online from anywhere in Florida.
Begin Healing from Trauma with Compassionate, Evidence-Based Care
When you’ve been through something overwhelming, it can feel like life has split into “before” and “after.” You may be functioning on the outside, but inside you feel anxious, numb, on edge, or stuck in painful memories. People often seek trauma treatment in boca raton when they:
Feel constantly on guard, overwhelmed, or easily triggered by everyday situations.
Struggle with sleep, concentration, or recurring memories of painful experiences.
Notice changes in relationships, trust, or emotional closeness with loved ones.
Use numbing behaviors, overworking, or avoidance to cope with difficult feelings.
Your emotions feel intense, unpredictable, or difficult to control on your own.
Feel disconnected from themselves, their body, or the life they once enjoyed.
You don’t have to carry this alone or “just get over it.” With a skilled trauma therapist by your side, you can safely explore what happened, learn tools to calm your mind and body, and gradually reclaim a sense of safety, strength, and control in your life.
PRESENTATIONS WE TREAT
Traumatic Experiences We Help With
Trauma can follow many kinds of experiences. Some happen in a moment. Others unfold over months or years. There is no "right" kind of trauma to seek help for. If an experience still affects how you feel, sleep, think or connect with others, it matters. Below are some of the most common experiences we help clients heal from at our Boca Raton trauma therapy practice and online across Florida.
Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse
Sexual assault and abuse can leave deep and lasting pain, whether it happened recently or many years ago. You may feel fear, shame, numbness or anger, or struggle with trust and intimacy. None of this is your fault. In therapy, you set the pace, and you never have to describe what happened in detail.
Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Abuse
Abuse from a partner can include physical harm, threats, control over money or friends, and constant fear. Even after leaving, the effects often linger. You may doubt yourself, feel on edge, or find it hard to trust again. We offer a safe, private space to process what happened and rebuild your confidence and independence.
Betrayal and Relationship Trauma
Discovering infidelity or a deep betrayal by someone you trusted can shake your whole sense of safety. It is common to feel intrusive thoughts and anxiety that will not settle. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Dr. Palmer helps individuals heal from betrayal and, when both partners want it, supports couples through rebuilding trust.
Childhood Abuse and Neglect
Physical, emotional or sexual abuse in childhood, or growing up without enough care and safety, can shape how you see yourself as an adult. It may show up as people-pleasing, trouble trusting others or a harsh inner critic. Therapy helps you understand these patterns and gently change them.
Violent Crime, Robbery and Assault
Being attacked, robbed or threatened can leave you feeling unsafe in places that once felt normal, even your own home. Many people become hypervigilant, avoid going out or have trouble sleeping. Therapy helps calm your alarm system and restore your sense of control and safety in daily life.
Car Accidents and Serious Injuries
After a car crash or serious injury, you might feel nervous driving, jump at loud noises or replay the moment again and again. These reactions are common, and they are very treatable. Focused approaches such as EMDR and Rapid Resolution Therapy can help your mind and body understand that the danger has passed.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma is a deeply distressing experience that overwhelms your sense of safety, leaving lasting emotional and physical effects. It can stem from a single event or a pattern of ongoing distress, and its impact varies from person to person based on support, resilience, and circumstances.
Types of trauma include:
Acute Trauma: A single overwhelming event such as an accident, loss, or sudden threat.
Chronic Trauma: Repeated exposure to distressing experiences over time.
Complex Trauma & PTSD: Long-term interpersonal trauma, especially during childhood or formative years.
Secondary Trauma: Emotional strain from witnessing or supporting someone through traumatic experiences.
TRAUMA'S LASTING IMPACT
How Trauma Impacts The Brain & Body
Trauma affects both the mind and body, shifting the nervous system into a constant state of alertness. Even after the event has passed, the body may continue reacting as if danger is still present. These responses are automatic survival mechanisms, not personal weaknesses or failures.
Emotional & Psychological Effects
Physical & Somatic Effects
Neurological & Memory Effects
Trauma can disrupt emotional balance, creating persistent anxiety, irritability, or sudden sadness. Many people experience emotional numbness or difficulty connecting with others. It can also lead to self-blame, shame, or confusion, making it harder to trust, feel grounded, or manage everyday stress in a stable way.
The body often carries trauma through symptoms like tension, headaches, fatigue, or stomach issues. Many people struggle with disrupted sleep, rapid heartbeat, or feeling constantly on edge. These physical reactions are the body’s attempt to stay alert, even when actual danger is no longer present.
Trauma affects the brain’s ability to regulate emotions and store memories. The amygdala becomes overactive, increasing fear responses, while the prefrontal cortex may struggle with decision-making. Memory processing can become fragmented, leading to difficulty separating past events from present safety.
TYPES OF THERAPY
Our Treatment Approaches For Trauma:
Healing from trauma requires gentle, structured, and evidence-based support. At The Renew Center of Florida, we use specialized therapeutic approaches designed to help you feel safe, steady, and supported while working through difficult experiences. Each method is chosen based on your needs, comfort level, and the challenges you’re facing.
1. EMDR Therapy
EMDR helps the brain process painful memories so they feel less overwhelming and easier to manage in daily life and relationships. Using guided eye movements or bilateral stimulation, this method reduces emotional intensity and supports clearer understanding of past events.
4. Mindfulness Approaches
Mindfulness-based strategies help you stay present, manage anxiety, and reduce reactivity to triggers. Breathing techniques, grounding practices, and guided awareness help create a steadier relationship with thoughts and emotions.
2. CBT Therapy
Trauma Focused CBT helps identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier, more supportive beliefs. It teaches emotional regulation skills and helps you understand how trauma influences your reactions and daily life.
5. Rapid Trauma Resolution
RRT uses guided imagery and hypnosis-based techniques to shift emotional responses tied to traumatic memories. It works by engaging the subconscious mind in a calm, focused state, helping emotional blocks move without retelling of past events.
3. Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy focuses on how trauma affects the body, helping release stored tension and stress. Through gentle movement, grounding exercises, and breathwork, the body begins returning to a calmer and more balanced state.
6. DBT Therapy
DBT provides practical tools for managing strong emotions, improving communication, and handling distress. The mindfulness, regulation, and relationship-building skills of DBT are helpful for clients experiencing trauma-related emotional intensity.
Who We Help With Trauma Treatment In Boca Raton?
Adolescents (Ages 13–18)
Adolescents may struggle with trauma in ways that impact their emotions, identity, and relationships. Our adolescent PTSD treatment provides a safe space to talk openly and understand how trauma affects daily life. We help teens strengthen resilience, improve communication, and navigate overwhelming feelings with more confidence and clarity.
Teens often benefit from therapy when experiencing:
Intense mood swings, irritability, or emotional numbness
Struggles with friendships, trust, or family relationships
Risky coping behaviors or sudden changes in routines
Trouble focusing, increased anxiety, or avoidance of reminders
Adults (Ages 18+)
Adults often carry trauma that affects relationships, work, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing. Therapy offers a private space to understand patterns, process memories, and develop healthier ways to respond to stress and triggers. We support adults in rebuilding stability and creating a more grounded, connected life.
Adults seek trauma therapy for challenges such as:
Anxiety, panic, or persistent fear
Difficulty trusting others or maintaining relationships
Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or emotional overwhelm
Feeling disconnected, exhausted, or “stuck” after past events
OUR PROCESS
What to Expect In Trauma Therapy?
Beginning trauma therapy in Boca Raton can feel uncertain, but the process is gentle, collaborative, and paced around your comfort. Each step is designed to help you feel supported, grounded, and understood as you work through difficult experiences and begin to regain a sense of emotional stability and safety.
1. Initial Assessment & Understanding Your Story
Your first session focuses on discussing your concerns, history, and goals in a comfortable, non-pressured way. This helps your therapist understand what you’ve been experiencing and identify the most supportive path forward for your healing.
4. Processing Traumatic Memories Safely
When you feel ready, therapy gently guides you through the emotions, memories, and patterns connected to your trauma. This is done slowly, with care, helping reduce distress while supporting greater clarity and emotional balance.
2. Creating a Personalized Treatment Plan
Together, you and your therapist decide which approaches may help you feel more stable and supported. This includes planning practical strategies, identifying triggers, and outlining the steps you’ll work on throughout your therapy journey.
5. Strengthening Resilience & Rebuilding Confidence
As therapy progresses, you’ll begin developing healthier patterns, stronger boundaries, and a renewed sense of control. This stage focuses on long-term stability, helping you reconnect with yourself and feel more grounded in your daily life.
3. Building Emotional Regulation Skills
You’ll learn grounding techniques, calming exercises, and coping strategies that help your mind and body feel safer. These tools reduce overwhelm and create a stronger foundation for processing trauma in a manageable, steady way.
Ready To Begin Your Healing Journey?
When you’re ready to begin, contact us today to schedule your appointment and take the next step toward healing.
Begin With a Complimentary 15-Minute Discovery Call.
Dr. Palmer's approach draws on several areas of training. As a marriage and family therapist, she looks at trauma in the context of your whole life, including your relationships, your family history and the people who matter to you. Her background in clinical hypnotherapy informs the calm, focused attention used in Rapid Resolution Therapy, and she also draws on EMDR, CBT, DBT and mindfulness, so your care can be shaped around what works best for you.
START TODAY
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Dr. Lisa Palmer
LMFT, CHT, CRRTT, PhD · America's Leading Celebrity Psychotherapist · 20+ Years of Experience
Featured on CBS · NBC · FOX · CNN
Hear From A Leading PTSD & Trauma Specialist
In this featured news segment, Dr. Lisa Palmer, founder of The Renew Center of Florida, shares her expert insights on PTSD and trauma recovery. With more than 23 years of specialized experience, Dr. Palmer is recognized for her advanced, evidence-based approach to treating trauma. The Renew Center of Florida is the Best treatment center for PTSD in Florida, offering compassionate, high-level care for individuals seeking meaningful and lasting healing.
YOU DESERVE A HEALING SPACE!
Schedule Initial Discovery Call For Trauma Therapy
If you’re ready to feel more supported and understand your next steps, scheduling a discovery call is a meaningful way to begin. Our team is here to help you find clarity, stability, and comfort as you move forward. Reach out today to get started.
Trauma Therapy Questions
AREAS WE SERVE
Areas We Serve For Trauma Treatment
We provide trauma therapy in Boca Raton at The Renew Center of Florida through private, in-person sessions with Dr. Lisa Palmer. Many of the adults and couples we help visit us from Boca Del Mar, East Boca Raton, West Boca Raton, Downtown Boca and the Mizner Park area. We also welcome clients from nearby communities, including Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach and South Boynton Beach. Online trauma therapy is available to anyone living in Florida, so you can get support from the comfort of home wherever you are in the state.