Not all therapists who understand trauma are trained to treat it—and that distinction matters. While the terms trauma-informed and trauma-treating are sometimes used interchangeably, they reflect very different scopes of practice.
A trauma-informed therapist is someone who recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and integrates that understanding into how they interact with clients. They create a safe, respectful, and empowering environment, avoid re-traumatization, and acknowledge how trauma may affect someone’s behavior, coping skills, or emotional responses—even if trauma isn’t the focus of therapy. Think of this approach as a foundational lens through which the therapist sees and supports the client.
In contrast, a trauma-treating therapist (often referred to as a trauma specialist) has specific training in evidence-based trauma therapies, such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), or Trauma-Focused CBT. These therapists actively help clients process traumatic memories, reduce symptoms of PTSD, and work through deep-rooted effects of trauma using specialized tools and protocols.
Max came to therapy because he was having a difficult time at work. The trauma-informed therapist he worked with determined that Max had experienced several adverse childhood experiences, and helped him to understand how some of these were getting re-lived in his workplace. Their work together focused on helping Max to feel more stable through teaching and practicing skills to manage his emotions, body, and thoughts when these workplace issues resurfaced. Max didn't feel ready to engage in trauma reprocessing work at this time as he would soon be moving and was already facing enough stress with the workplace issues.
About a year after Max moved and was settled in a new job, he reached out to a therapist who was trained in EMDR. This therapist was able to complete an assessment to determine what had happened and how Max had adapted to it to cope with his childhood. The therapist then prepared Max for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy; a gold standard evidence-based treatment for psychological trauma. Max was able to identify several overwhelming experiences that had impacted him, and to make a list of the memories that often came up when he was feeling activated by things in present day. He and his therapist proceeded to address the root cause of the present day symptoms through desensitizing and reprocessing the memories and events associated with them. Max was then able to feel in his body that he was safe, instead of just knowing it cognitively. After his EMDR sessions he felt like a different person; one who was unburdened by his past experiences, and he was able to thrive in his new workplace.
Both of these roles are incredibly important. A trauma-informed therapist ensures all clients feel safe and understood, especially those with trauma histories. But when someone is ready to dive into healing the trauma itself, a therapist who is trained to treat trauma is best equipped to guide that process.
Knowing the difference empowers clients to choose the right kind of support based on where they are in their healing journey. And for therapists, it reinforces the importance of continued education and clear scope of practice when supporting those impacted by trauma.