How to choose a trauma therapist

The Florida Department of Health has a public license verification tool. Search the clinician's name or license number there rather than relying only on a biography or directory badge. Check the profession and current status shown in the public record. A license is a starting point for due diligence; it does not tell you whether you will feel able to work with someone. But it is a fact you can check before investing time and money.

I am Alan Romano, LCSW, licensed by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, license SW21072. My work includes trauma and PTSD, complex trauma and related difficulties. I draw on somatic work, psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems, CBT and mindfulness-based work. The approach page explains the principles behind that work; you should be able to ask any therapist how their stated approach appears in an ordinary session.

For video therapy, location matters. I work only with people physically located in Florida at the time of a session. A Florida address on a form is not the same thing as being in Florida when the video call begins. If you travel outside the state, discuss scheduling rather than assuming a session can happen from anywhere. The online therapy page explains that practical rule.

A licensed clinical social worker provides psychotherapy, not medication prescribing. A physician or other qualified prescriber handles medication decisions. If you are working with both, ask what coordination might be useful and what permission you would need to give before information is shared. In this practice, collaboration with another provider happens with your written permission. Neither therapist nor prescriber replaces the other simply by having an interest in trauma.

Some pages use the same word, trauma, to describe very different offerings. Look closely at what actually happens in a session, who is responsible for medical decisions, and whether the description matches the service you want. The services overview distinguishes individual, couples and family psychotherapy from psychotherapy alongside medical treatment. If the website is not clear, ask directly on the phone.

Be cautious with certainty. No ethical description can promise a quick breakthrough, a cure, or the same result for everyone. A person can explain their training and approach, and still acknowledge that outcomes vary. That acknowledgment is not a lack of skill. It is a useful sign that the conversation is about your life rather than a marketing formula.

An individual session is not interchangeable with couples or family work. If the concern is held in an interaction between people who both want to attend, ask whether shared sessions fit better. If you are trying to understand your own history and choices, individual therapy may be the appropriate starting point. Ask whether the therapist offers the format you need and how they decide with you when a different one makes sense.

This practice offers in-person sessions at 100 Vista Royale Blvd. in Vero Beach and video sessions while you are physically in Florida. It is private pay and out of network; no insurer is billed directly, and a superbill is provided for possible out-of-network reimbursement. The rates page lists fees and questions to ask your insurer. Do not assume a superbill means a plan will reimburse you. Ask your plan what it covers before you begin.

Cost and travel can shape whether regular appointments are realistic. Ask about fees, the expected frequency of meetings and the cancellation policy. Here the policy is 24 hours. You can also ask what the free phone consultation covers; it lasts up to 15 minutes. Making those details clear before starting protects room for the clinical conversation later.

You can say: ‘I've tried therapy before, and it didn't help.’ You can say: ‘I'm afraid of opening up’ or ‘I don't know where to start.’ You do not have to persuade a therapist that your concerns qualify. Listen to whether their response addresses your question rather than moving straight to a technique. Ask how they would begin without requiring a full retelling in the first session.

A few specific questions can help: What do you pay attention to when someone goes quiet? How do we discuss whether the pace is right? When might you suggest a different format or additional care? What happens if I disagree with your understanding? How will we decide whether the work remains useful? You are looking for an account of process and limits, not a guaranteed forecast.

A good choice may still feel uncertain at the start. You can use the free consultation to clarify an initial question, then decide whether a first session makes sense. If you need more time, take it. The license can be checked, the fees can be read, and the approach can be discussed. The relationship itself has to be assessed in conversation, with your participation.