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Trauma-Informed Care in Salem, New Hampshire

Trauma does not always look like what you expect. It is not limited to a single catastrophic event — it can be the accumulation of experiences that overwhelmed your capacity to cope, leaving marks that shape how you think, feel, and relate to the world. At Trailhead, we provide trauma-informed care grounded in Cognitive Processing Therapy, delivered at your pace, and never forced. Healing from trauma is possible, and it begins with feeling safe enough to start.
24-48hr Admission Timeline
CPT Core Treatment Model
Client-Led Trauma Processing
Dual NH & MA Licensed
Recognize the Signs

Signs & Symptoms of Unresolved Trauma

Trauma responses exist on a spectrum. Understanding how trauma manifests can help determine whether professional support could make a meaningful difference in your life or the life of someone you love.

Emotional Responses
Persistent feelings of anxiety, dread, or hypervigilance — a sense that danger is always nearby, even in safe environments.
Emotional numbness or detachment from people and activities that once felt meaningful — going through the motions without feeling present.
Overwhelming guilt or shame related to traumatic events, including the belief that you caused what happened or should have been able to prevent it.
Difficulty trusting others, even people who have consistently shown care and reliability.
Behavioral Responses
Avoidance of people, places, or situations that remind you of the traumatic experience — rearranging your entire life to prevent triggering memories.
Sleep disturbances including nightmares, insomnia, or waking in a state of panic — the body refusing to rest even when the mind is exhausted.
Difficulty concentrating at work, school, or in conversations — a fog that makes daily tasks feel impossibly demanding.
Increased irritability, anger outbursts, or a startle response that seems disproportionate to the situation.
Complex Trauma Responses
Flashbacks or intrusive memories that feel as vivid and threatening as the original experience — the past intruding forcefully on the present.
Dissociative episodes — feeling disconnected from your body, your surroundings, or your sense of identity.
Chronic physical symptoms with no clear medical cause — headaches, digestive problems, chronic pain — the body holding what the mind cannot process.
A pervasive sense of hopelessness about the future, difficulty imagining that life could feel different or better.

If any of these resonated, our clinical team can help determine the right level of care. You do not need to have a specific diagnosis to reach out.

Get a Free Assessment

Your healing begins with a single conversation

Same-day assessments available. Most insurance accepted. Completely confidential.

Treatment Programs

Programs for Trauma Recovery

Multiple levels of care designed to meet you where you are. Trauma processing is always client-led — you will never be pushed to disclose or revisit experiences before you are ready.

i.

Partial Hospitalization Program

Our most intensive outpatient level. Full-day programming centered on Cognitive Processing Therapy, DBT skills training, individual therapy, safety and stabilization, and holistic activities. The foundation for processing trauma at your own pace.

Mon–Fri, 9am–3:30pm 20–30 days Lunch included
ii.

Intensive Outpatient Program

A structured step-down from PHP. Continued CPT work, group therapy, and individual sessions with more flexibility for work, school, or family. Morning, afternoon, or evening tracks available.

Mon–Fri, 9am–12:30pm 60–90 days Switch tracks daily
iii.

Evening Professional Track

Designed for working adults who cannot attend daytime programming. The same evidence-based trauma treatment curriculum, delivered in the evening with the same clinical rigor.

Mon–Thu, 6pm–9pm For working professionals
iv.

Outpatient Program

Step-down support for continued trauma recovery. Less intensive than IOP but maintains therapeutic continuity with weekly groups and individual sessions focused on integration and long-term resilience.

1–3 sessions/week Ongoing as needed
v.

Telehealth Services

Full access to our programming from anywhere. HIPAA-compliant video sessions for groups, individual therapy, and psychiatric consultations — especially valuable for trauma survivors who feel safer in their own environment.

Full or hybrid attendance NH & MA residents
vi.

Psychiatric Services

Our on-site Nurse Practitioner provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and medication management for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other conditions that frequently co-occur with trauma. Medication is always optional and client-directed.

On-site NP Eval within 24 hours Client-directed
JCAHO Accredited NH Licensed MA Licensed LegitScript Certified HIPAA Compliant
What They Say

Stories from Healing

“[Client testimonial about trauma recovery at Trailhead — for years I thought I was broken. My therapist helped me understand that my reactions were normal responses to abnormal experiences. CPT gave me a framework to process what happened without being re-traumatized.]”
— [Client Name] • Google Review
“[Client testimonial about the client-led approach — no one ever pushed me to talk about things I was not ready for. I always felt in control of my own treatment. That safety is what made it possible to eventually open up.]”
— [Client Name] • Google Review
“[Family member testimonial — we did not understand why they kept pulling away from us. The family sessions helped us learn about trauma responses and how to be supportive without being intrusive. It changed our whole family dynamic.]”
— [Family Member] • Google Review
Why Trailhead

11 Reasons to Choose Trailhead for Trauma Treatment

1. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is our core trauma model. CPT is one of the most rigorously researched treatments for PTSD and trauma. It helps you examine and reframe the beliefs about yourself and the world that trauma created — without requiring you to relive the experience in graphic detail.

→ Evidence-based CPT at every level of care

2. Trauma processing is always client-led, never forced. You will never be pushed to disclose details you are not ready to share. Your therapist follows your lead. The pace of treatment is yours to set, and changing course is always allowed. Safety comes first — always.

→ Your pace, your terms — always
→ Your pace, your terms — always

3. Live at home, heal during the day. Our outpatient model means you sleep in your own bed, maintain family connections, and practice new coping skills in your real environment from day one.

4. Flexible scheduling across three tracks. Morning, afternoon, or evening sessions — switch daily based on your work, family, or personal commitments. Our Evening Professional Track (6–9 PM) is built specifically for working adults.

→ Switch tracks daily — no penalty
→ Switch tracks daily — no penalty

5. On-site psychiatric care within 24 hours. Our Nurse Practitioner evaluates every client for co-occurring conditions — PTSD, depression, anxiety, and others. Medication decisions are always collaborative and never pressured.

6. Weekly individual therapy with a licensed, trauma-trained therapist at every program level. One-on-one sessions are where the deepest processing happens — in a space that is entirely yours.

7. A trauma-informed environment from intake to discharge. Every staff member at Trailhead is trained in trauma-informed care principles. This means safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment are embedded in everything we do — not just clinical sessions.

→ Trauma-informed is how we operate, not just what we treat
→ Trauma-informed is how we operate, not just what we treat

8. Rapid admission. Multiple weekly admission opportunities. No months-long waitlists — begin programming within 24 to 48 hours of your first call.

9. A family-style environment where staff know every client by name. Shared lunches build community. This is not a sterile clinical facility — it is a place designed to feel safe.

10. Holistic & experiential programming including yoga, meditation, breathwork, equine therapy at Blue Sky Farm, art therapy, and somatic experiencing — approaches that help the body release what talk therapy alone cannot always reach.

11. Dual state licensing in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts ensures broad regional access and insurance acceptance across both states.

Recovery Timeline

Your Path Through Trauma Treatment

Weeks 1–2 • Safety & Stabilization
The First Pages
Before any trauma processing begins, we build a foundation of safety. Your first days at Trailhead focus on establishing trust with your clinical team, learning grounding techniques, and beginning to understand how trauma has affected you. No one will ask you to revisit painful memories before you are ready.
  • Comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation
  • NP evaluation and psychiatric assessment within 24 hours
  • Grounding and stabilization skill development
  • Therapist and case manager assignment
Weeks 3–6 • Active Processing
Finding Your Voice
When you feel ready — and only when you feel ready — the processing work begins. CPT helps you examine the thoughts and beliefs that trauma created, gently challenging the narratives of self-blame, helplessness, and danger that keep you stuck.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (individual and group)
  • Weekly individual therapy sessions
  • Psychoeducation on trauma responses and the nervous system
  • DBT skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Weeks 7–10 • Integration
Writing New Chapters
You start applying what you have learned to real life. Step down from PHP to IOP. Practice new ways of thinking and responding in your actual environment. Discover that trauma does not have to define your future — and that a different relationship with your past is genuinely possible.
  • Real-world skill application and cognitive restructuring practice
  • Equine therapy, somatic work, art therapy
  • Family therapy and monthly support groups
  • Transition planning and aftercare coordination
Weeks 11–16+ • Maintenance
The Story Continues
Healing from trauma is not a linear process, and it does not end when programming does. Outpatient support, alumni connection, and aftercare referrals ensure you have ongoing resources as you continue to integrate what you have learned.
  • Step-down to OP or ongoing individual therapy
  • Alumni program enrollment
  • Continued CPT or maintenance therapy as needed
  • External provider referrals and community support connections
Our Space

Tour Trailhead

Group Room

Group Therapy Rooms

Comfortable spaces for open dialogue and therapeutic connection.

Meditation Room

Meditation Room

Quiet sanctuary for mindfulness and breathwork.

Serenity Room

Serenity Room

Private space for decompression and sensory regulation.

Dining Area

Dining Area

Where fellowship happens — shared lunches and community.

Game Room

Recreation Room

Ping pong, foosball, Xbox — recovery can be fun.

Outdoor

Outdoor Space

Fresh air and green space between sessions.

Your Team

The People Behind Your Healing

[Clinical Director]

LCMHC, CCTP

Oversees all clinical operations at Trailhead. Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with specialized training in CPT, trauma processing, and evidence-based treatment for PTSD and complex trauma.

* Years of clinical experience in behavioral health

[Lead Therapist]

LMHC, CPT-Trained

Over a decade of experience in mental health counseling. Specializes in Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, and individual therapy for trauma, PTSD, and co-occurring mood disorders.

* Combines clinical expertise with a client-centered approach

[Nurse Practitioner]

APRN, Psychiatric NP

Manages psychiatric evaluations and ongoing medication management for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other conditions that frequently co-occur with trauma. Available within 24 hours of admission.

* On-site for all PHP and IOP clients
The Local Picture

Trauma in New Hampshire

Trauma is far more common than most people realize. Nationally, approximately 60% of adults have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE)1, and roughly 6% of the U.S. population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives2. In New Hampshire, these numbers are compounded by limited access to trauma-specialized providers, particularly in rural areas, and wait times that can stretch for months.

An estimated 1 in 5 adults in New Hampshire reported a mental health condition in the past year3, and many of those individuals are carrying unresolved trauma that manifests as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or chronic health problems. At Trailhead, we believe that accessible, evidence-based trauma care — grounded in CPT and delivered with patience and respect — changes these outcomes one person at a time.
CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study; CDC Vital Signs Report, 2019.
National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023 prevalence estimates.
SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2022–2023 estimates for New Hampshire.
Coverage

Insurance We Accept

We work with most major insurance providers. Verify your coverage in minutes.

Provider Network Status
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield In-Network
Point 32 Health (Harvard Pilgrim) In-Network
Point 32 Health (Tufts) In-Network
Tricare In-Network
Uprise Health In-Network
WellSense (NH Medicaid) In-Network

Don’t see your provider? We may still be able to help. Call or submit the form below.

Verify Benefits

Check Your Coverage

Submit the form below and our admissions team will verify your benefits within minutes.

Your information is secure and confidential. We will never share your data.

At a Glance

Trailhead by the Numbers

Trailhead Treatment Center maintains an approximate 4:1 staff-to-client ratio, with roughly 16 staff members supporting up to 60–70 clients at any given time. Each counselor carries a caseload of about 12 clients, which means there is space — real space — for the kind of individualized attention that trauma treatment demands. Admissions can be completed within 24 to 48 hours of an initial call, with multiple admission windows available each week. Our facility in Salem, New Hampshire serves adults ages 18 to 80, offering co-ed programming across every level of care. We are licensed in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, with JCAHO and CARF accreditations pending.

The hardest part is the first call

Once you make it, we handle everything else. Admissions, insurance, scheduling — all of it.

For Families

How to Help a Loved One Affected by Trauma

Dear Family Member,

If you are reading this, someone you love is carrying pain that you may not fully understand. That is okay. The fact that you are here, seeking information, means you care deeply — and that matters more than you know.

Trauma changes the way a person experiences the world. It can make safe things feel dangerous, loving people feel threatening, and ordinary situations feel overwhelming. The person you love is not choosing to be distant, irritable, or avoidant — their nervous system is responding to experiences that rewired how they process the world around them.

Start by educating yourself about trauma responses. Learn that hypervigilance, emotional numbness, avoidance, and mood changes are not personal rejections — they are the brain’s attempt to protect itself. Avoid pressuring them to “just talk about it” or “get over it.” Trauma processing must happen at their pace, in a safe therapeutic environment, not at the dinner table.

Let them know you are there. Use statements like: “I can see you are going through something difficult, and I am here whenever you are ready.” Offer specific resources: “I found a trauma treatment program in Salem that takes your insurance — would you be open to hearing about it?” Respect their timeline. Recovery cannot be rushed.

Take care of yourself, too. Consider therapy for yourself, support groups, or our monthly family education groups on Zoom. Supporting someone through trauma recovery is emotionally demanding work. Trailhead offers individual family therapy sessions and ongoing family support — for all family members ages 18 and up, past and present clients.

With hope,
The Clinical Team at Trailhead Treatment Center
When They Are Not Ready

What If They Refuse Treatment?

Resistance to trauma treatment is common and understandable. For many trauma survivors, the idea of opening up about painful experiences feels more threatening than continuing to live with them. Below, our clinical team answers the questions families ask most.

Why are they so resistant to getting help?
Avoidance is one of the core features of trauma. The same protective mechanism that helped them survive the original experience now tells them to avoid anything that might bring up painful memories — including treatment. This is not stubbornness; it is their nervous system doing exactly what it was designed to do. Understanding this can help you approach the conversation with empathy rather than frustration.
Should we push them to talk about what happened?
No. Forcing someone to discuss traumatic experiences before they are ready can be re-traumatizing. The best thing you can do is let them know that help exists, that professional treatment happens at their pace, and that they will never be forced to share anything they are not ready for. At Trailhead, trauma processing is always client-led — that distinction can be reassuring to someone who is afraid of losing control.
How do I bring it up without making things worse?
Choose a calm, private moment. Focus on what you have observed rather than what you think happened: “I have noticed you seem to be struggling, and I care about you.” Avoid labels and diagnoses. Offer information gently: “There is a program that specializes in this kind of thing — would you be open to hearing about it?” Plant the seed and give it time. Most people do not accept help the first time it is offered.
What if the trauma happened a long time ago?
There is no expiration date on trauma or on seeking help for it. Many people seek treatment years or even decades after the original experience, often triggered by a life change, a new relationship, or the realization that their coping strategies are no longer working. CPT has been shown to be effective regardless of how long ago the trauma occurred. It is never too late.
What should we do in the meantime?
Take care of yourself. Attend family therapy or a support group. Educate yourself about trauma and its effects on the brain and body. Keep the lines of communication open without pressuring. Create safety in your home — predictable routines, calm environments, and consistent availability. And when there is a window of willingness, even a small one, have the information ready. We can admit clients within 24 to 48 hours of a call.

Your family deserves peace

Our family support program is open to all family members ages 18+, past and present clients.

Service Area

Trauma Treatment Near You

Trailhead Treatment Center is located in Salem, New Hampshire — minutes from the Massachusetts border and easily accessible from communities across southern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts.

103 Stiles Rd, Suites 1 & 2, Salem, NH 03079
Salem, NH Nashua, NH Manchester, NH Derry, NH Londonderry, NH Windham, NH Pelham, NH Hudson, NH Haverhill, MA Lawrence, MA Methuen, MA Andover, MA Lowell, MA North Andover, MA
Call (857) 312-1697
[Map Placeholder]
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Treatment

How do I know if I need treatment for trauma?

If past experiences are affecting your ability to function in daily life — whether through anxiety, nightmares, avoidance, relationship difficulties, emotional numbness, or chronic physical symptoms — trauma treatment can help. You do not need a formal PTSD diagnosis to benefit. Our clinical team can conduct a free assessment over the phone to help determine the right level of care.

• • •

What does a typical day in PHP look like?

PHP clients attend Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. A typical day includes CPT-based group therapy, an individual session with your assigned clinician, psychoeducation on trauma and the nervous system, holistic activities like breathwork, yoga, or art therapy, and lunch. You go home each evening — this is outpatient treatment, not residential.

• • •

What is CPT and how is it different from other trauma therapies?

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and trauma. Unlike exposure-based therapies that focus on retelling the traumatic event, CPT focuses on examining and reshaping the beliefs and thought patterns that trauma created — such as self-blame, helplessness, or the belief that the world is entirely unsafe. It is structured, time-limited, and does not require you to describe the trauma in graphic detail.

• • •

Will I be forced to talk about what happened to me?

Absolutely not. At Trailhead, trauma processing is always client-led. You will never be pressured to disclose details you are not ready to share. Your therapist follows your lead, and the pace of treatment is always yours to determine. Safety is the foundation of everything we do.

• • •

Will my insurance cover trauma treatment?

Most major insurance plans cover mental health treatment including trauma and PTSD. We are in-network with Anthem BCBS, Point 32 Health (Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts), Tricare, Uprise Health, and WellSense (NH Medicaid). Use the verification form above or call our admissions team — we can typically verify benefits within minutes.

• • •

How quickly can I start treatment?

Most clients begin treatment within 24 to 48 hours of their initial call. We have multiple admission windows each week. If your situation is urgent, same-day admission may be available when clinically appropriate.

• • •

Do you treat trauma alongside other mental health conditions?

Yes. Trauma frequently co-occurs with depression, anxiety, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and other conditions. Our clinical team is trained to treat the whole person — not just one diagnosis. Your treatment plan is individualized to address everything you are dealing with, and co-occurring conditions are integrated into your care from the beginning.

This page is information. Treatment is action.

When you are ready to move from reading to healing, we are here.

Call (857) 312-1697