Voyager Recovery Center in Lake Forest, CA offers trauma-informed addiction treatment that addresses PTSD, childhood trauma, and emotional wounds contributing to substance use disorders.
Clinicians integrate evidence-based therapies—such as EMDR, CBT, trauma-informed counseling, and holistic practices—into detox, residential, PHP, IOP, and aftercare programs.
What is trauma therapy for addiction? It is a clinical approach that helps clients safely process traumatic memories while learning healthier coping skills to reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
The center specializes in dual diagnosis treatment, supporting individuals with trauma-related mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD alongside addiction.
Voyager Recovery Center provides a safe, supportive environment that emphasizes empowerment, emotional safety, and long-term healing through personalized, whole-person care.
For many people, addiction doesn’t begin with the first drink or the first high—it begins with pain. At Voyager Recovery Center in Lake Forest, CA, we understand how deeply traumatic experiences can shape a person’s relationship with substances. That’s why our treatment program in Lake Forest integrates trauma therapy for addiction, helping clients heal both the emotional wounds of the past and the physical realities of substance abuse.
Our approach combines evidence-based interventions, compassionate care, and a supportive environment that allows individuals to rebuild their well-being and rediscover peace. Whether you’re facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), childhood trauma, or ongoing mental health struggles, we’re here to help you find strength on your recovery journey.
People often turn to substances as a way to cope with unresolved trauma. Painful events—such as sexual assault, emotional abuse, or natural disasters—can leave long-lasting effects on both the body and mind. When left untreated, these experiences may lead someone to self-medicate, using drugs or alcohol to quiet intrusive thoughts, anxiety, or flashbacks.
Over time, this pattern can spiral into a substance use disorder (SUD). The short-term relief offered by substances quickly fades, replaced by dependence, guilt, and a worsening sense of emotional pain. Studies from SAMHSA and gov resources show that individuals with PTSD symptoms are significantly more likely to develop drug abuse or alcohol addiction than those without trauma histories.
At Voyager Recovery Center, we focus on breaking this cycle. Our clinicians provide trauma-informed care that addresses both the root causes of addiction and the symptoms of trauma—treating the person as a whole, not just their condition.
Trauma therapy is designed to help people safely process distressing memories and regain control over how those memories affect their present life. In the context of addiction treatment, trauma therapy focuses on identifying how past pain drives addictive behaviors and replacing destructive patterns with healthy coping skills.
In our Lake Forest addiction treatment programs, trauma therapy may include:
Our therapists take a gentle, structured approach—never rushing the process. Each session focuses on restoring emotional safety and rebuilding the capacity to experience life without the constant weight of fear or pain.
Whether you’re reaching out for yourself or someone you love, you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to listen, to guide, and to help you take that first step toward something better. Call us, ask questions, or just talk things through — no expectations, no pressure. Healing starts with a conversation. Let’s have it.
Many people don’t realize they’re living with trauma until they begin treatment. Trauma can show up in subtle but powerful ways, including:
These symptoms can make recovery more difficult if they aren’t addressed. At Voyager Recovery Center, we help clients recognize how past trauma has influenced their drug use or alcohol consumption, creating an opportunity to heal from both simultaneously.
A trauma-informed approach ensures that every part of treatment—whether therapy, detox, or group therapy support—is guided by understanding, respect, and empowerment. Rather than focusing on “what’s wrong with you,” we focus on “what happened to you.”
Our trauma-informed philosophy emphasizes:
This method reduces the risk of re-traumatization and helps clients rebuild a sense of stability—something that’s essential for long-term recovery.
At Voyager Recovery Center, we treat trauma and addiction as interconnected—not separate issues. Our addiction treatment programs in Lake Forest combine trauma therapy with addiction recovery techniques to address the full spectrum of challenges clients face.
Depending on individual needs, trauma therapy may be included in multiple levels of care, including:
Each program is personalized, blending therapy, peer support, and holistic wellness to promote full recovery in mind and body.
Many people with trauma also experience mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. When these co-exist with substance use, it’s called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring mental health disorder.
Our Lake Forest clinicians are trained to treat both simultaneously. This integrated approach ensures that symptoms of trauma don’t derail addiction recovery—and vice versa. Clients learn to manage emotional distress, reduce cravings, and build sustainable coping mechanisms that work in everyday life.
When trauma therapy is integrated into addiction treatment, the results extend far beyond sobriety. Clients report lasting emotional and behavioral improvements, including:
By addressing underlying trauma, clients can finally break free from cycles of avoidance, fear, and self-destructive coping—paving the way for true, sustainable recovery.
Healing from trauma requires stability and trust. At Voyager Recovery Center, our treatment center in Lake Forest provides a calm, restorative atmosphere where clients can recover at their own pace. Every aspect of our environment—from our therapy spaces to our group settings—is designed to make clients feel safe, respected, and understood.
We emphasize community connection through peer support and group therapy, helping individuals realize they’re not alone in their struggles. By sharing experiences and victories with others on the same path, clients gain strength, accountability, and hope.
Because trauma affects the mind, body, and nervous system, our team incorporates holistic therapies alongside traditional counseling. Mindfulness practices, yoga, and relaxation techniques help calm the body’s stress response, while behavioral health education supports emotional regulation and coping skills.
For clients with co-occurring disorders, these approaches complement trauma-focused and cognitive therapies, improving both mental health and physical well-being.
Voyager Recovery Center’s licensed clinicians and mental health providers in Lake Forest are trained in trauma-specific care, ensuring every client receives personalized, sensitive treatment. Our staff includes therapists experienced in EMDR, CBT, and trauma-informed interventions, all working under the highest standards of ethical care.
We collaborate with families whenever possible, recognizing that healing relationships can play a vital role in long-term success. By engaging family members in education and communication, we create a unified system of support that strengthens recovery at home.
You don’t have to keep living in survival mode. With the right help, it’s possible to process past trauma, reduce PTSD symptoms, and achieve freedom from substance abuse.
At Voyager Recovery Center in Lake Forest, CA, we specialize in helping clients recover from trauma and addiction through compassionate, evidence-based treatment. Whether you’re beginning recovery or looking to deepen your healing, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Call (949) 415-5104 today or verify your insurance to learn more about Trauma Therapy for Addiction at Voyager Recovery Center.
Trauma therapy helps clients understand how unresolved traumatic experiences influence substance use. By safely processing memories and developing healthier coping skills, clients reduce cravings, emotional distress, and relapse risk.
We provide EMDR, trauma-informed counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychoeducation, and holistic practices to address both emotional and physiological responses to trauma.
Yes. Many individuals experience trauma symptoms without a formal diagnosis. Trauma therapy can support anyone dealing with anxiety, hypervigilance, avoidance, or emotional regulation challenges related to past events.
Trauma-focused care is woven into every level of treatment, including detox, residential, PHP, IOP, and aftercare. Each plan is customized to address both trauma symptoms and substance use behaviors simultaneously.
Absolutely. Our dual diagnosis approach treats trauma alongside conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. This integrated model ensures comprehensive healing and improved long-term outcomes.
Dr. Lori Bohn is the Medical Director at Voyager Recovery Center and a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. With over a decade of experience in integrative medicine, she specializes in addiction psychiatry and women’s mental health.
