Trauma Therapy in St. Louis – Telehealth with Dr. Larry Shapiro, PhD
Have you been carrying the weight of something that happened to you — replaying it, avoiding it, or feeling like it never fully went away? Trauma can reshape how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how safe the world feels. It can show up as anxiety, numbness, emotional outbursts, or a quiet sense that something is permanently broken. It is not.
I'm Dr. Larry Shapiro, a licensed clinical psychologist offering telehealth trauma therapy for adults in St. Louis and across Missouri. With more than 30 years of experience, I help individuals process and move through trauma so they can reclaim a life that feels stable, connected, and their own.
Signs You May Be Struggling with Trauma
Trauma does not always look like a single dramatic event. It can stem from childhood experiences, relationship harm, accidents, loss, or prolonged stress. You may recognize some of the following:
Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or distressing dreams
Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself
Hypervigilance or feeling constantly unsafe
Difficulty trusting others or maintaining close relationships
Shame, guilt, or a persistent belief that something is wrong with you
Avoidance of people, places, or conversations that feel triggering
Irritability, anger, or emotional reactions that feel hard to control
Physical symptoms with no clear medical cause
Whether the trauma is recent or decades old, your nervous system may still be responding as if the threat is present. Therapy can help change that.
How Trauma Therapy Can Help
Trauma therapy is not about reliving what happened or talking in circles about the past. My approach is focused and intentional — designed to reduce the hold trauma has on your daily life and help you build genuine safety from the inside out.
In therapy, we may explore:
How trauma is stored in the body and nervous system
Patterns of avoidance, self-protection, or disconnection that developed after the trauma
The relationship between past experiences and current emotional and relational struggles
Stabilization skills to manage distress between sessions
A gradual, carefully paced approach to processing traumatic memories
Sessions are built around your pace, your goals, and your specific history. You will not be pushed faster than you are ready to move.
Why Work With Me
Many clients come to me after years of feeling like therapy was not working — or like they were too damaged to be helped. I specialize in complex and treatment-resistant trauma, including cases involving childhood abuse, relational trauma, and experiences that have not responded to other approaches.
Clients choose to work with me because I offer:
More than 30 years of clinical experience
A trauma-informed and direct therapeutic style
Expertise in complex, layered, and long-standing trauma
Telehealth services throughout St. Louis and Missouri
Healing from trauma is not about forgetting what happened. It is about no longer being controlled by it.
What to Expect from Telehealth Trauma Therapy
All sessions are conducted through secure, HIPAA-compliant video platforms. Telehealth makes it easier to attend therapy consistently — no commute, no waiting rooms, and the ability to process difficult material from the comfort and privacy of your own space.
Many trauma clients find working from home especially helpful, as it allows them to regulate and recover in a familiar environment after sessions. You will receive a personalized treatment plan tailored to your history and goals, with ongoing support every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Therapy
-
Yes. While I'm based in St. Louis, I'm licensed to provide telehealth therapy in 43 states. If you're an adult living anywhere in Missouri — or in most other states — I can offer secure, virtual care from the comfort of your home or office.
-
Yes. Research supports telehealth as an effective format for trauma treatment. Many clients find that being in a familiar, controlled environment actually helps them feel safer when working through difficult material. For trauma survivors, having that sense of control can be especially meaningful.
-
Many of the people I work with have had that experience. Trauma is complex, and not every approach works for every person. I specialize in cases where traditional therapy has fallen short. My approach is direct, individualized, and focused on identifying what has been keeping you stuck.
-
I use a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, and somatic awareness. My goal is to help you build stability first, then work carefully through the experiences that have shaped you. I am straightforward, honest, and focused on real progress — not just surface-level coping.
-
Schedule a consultation call. We will talk about what you have been going through, what you are hoping for, and whether we are a good fit to work together. There is no pressure — just a conversation about next steps.