Finding a Trauma Therapist Online in West Virginia

Why video therapy fits West Virginia

In much of West Virginia, the nearest therapist with trauma training may be a long drive away. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that virtual care can make mental health services more accessible for people who live in remote areas or cannot easily travel, and that it removes travel time from a busy week. NIMH also says virtual care can be effective for several conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

There are trade-offs worth planning for. You need a device, a steady internet connection and a private place where you will not be overheard. Some people use a parked car, a bedroom with a fan running outside the door or a quiet room at a time when the house is empty.

Look for a West Virginia license

The State of West Virginia describes the Board of Examiners in Counseling as the licensing and regulatory authority for professional counselors in the state. Its stated mission is to enforce licensure rules and ethical standards for professional counselors as a way to protect and promote public health and welfare.

The board's licensing rule gives you a few things to look for. A licensee must clearly state their licensure status by using the title Licensed Professional Counselor, or LPC, in professional correspondence, documents, advertisements and announcements. Each license carries the licensee's name, a license number, the date it was issued and an expiration date. The same rule treats engaging in counseling without a license, or continuing to present oneself as a licensed counselor after a license has expired, as a violation of state law.

Trauma therapy is also provided by other licensed professionals, such as clinical social workers. If a therapist holds a different license, ask which West Virginia board issued it and check with that board.

How to verify a counselor's license

1. 1Ask for the name and license numberA therapist or practice should give you the therapist's full name, license type and West Virginia license number without hesitation.
2. 2Check with the boardThe state's page for the Board of Examiners in Counseling links to the board's website, where license verification is offered online. You can also call the board at 304-558-5494.
3. 3Confirm the details matchCheck that the name and license number match what you were told and that the license is current.
4. 4Ask where you need to beAsk the therapist where you must be located during sessions, and what to do if you travel or spend part of the year in another state.

Look for real trauma training

A license tells you a therapist is allowed to practice. It does not tell you how much trauma work they have done. NIMH advises people with PTSD to work with a mental health professional who has experience treating it.

The VA's National Center for PTSD says the talk therapies with the most research support are trauma-focused, meaning they center on the traumatic event and what it means to you. It names Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It also says there is no one treatment that is right for everyone.

Questions worth asking at a first call:

• Which trauma-focused therapies are you trained in?
• If you are certified in a method such as EMDR, which organization issued the certification?
• How do you decide which approach to suggest, and what would the first few sessions look like?
• How do you help someone feel steady before working with a painful memory?
• How do you run these sessions on video, and what happens if the connection drops?

West Virginia crisis and support resources

Therapy is ongoing care. It is not built for emergencies, so it helps to know these numbers before you need them.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911 if there is immediate danger. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and confidential, is open at all hours every day, and can be reached by call, text or online chat.

For children, teens and young adults, the West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health describes the Children's Crisis and Referral Line as statewide and available around the clock. It serves young people from birth to age 21 who are in emotional distress, and their families, and can be reached at 844-HELP4WV. The line can link families with a Children's Mobile Crisis Response team in their region. According to the bureau, the family defines what counts as a crisis, and families do not need medical insurance to use the service.

Our crisis resources page lists more options.

How we can help West Virginians

Locascio Wellness is an all-virtual practice, and we offer trauma and PTSD therapy by secure video. Clients must be physically in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona during a session. If you live in West Virginia, we match you with a therapist who is licensed there, and you are welcome to ask for the license number and check it yourself.

A member of our team is certified in EMDR, and everyone on the team is trained in trauma-sensitive care. Not every therapist uses every approach, so tell us what you are looking for. Our page on online therapy in West Virginia has more about how we work in the state, and you can read about our team.

You can book a free 15-minute consultation on our booking page. Coverage depends on your plan, so see insurance and fees or ask us to verify your benefits. Looking for the right person is a strong first step, and you are allowed to take your time with it.