Online Trauma Therapy in Minneapolis + St. Paul, Minnesota
Move from Adversity to Resilience
Helping you rebuild safety, trust, and connection.
Available in 43 states or in-person in Minneapolis.
In Person and Online Trauma-Informed Therapy
Helping You Grow Beyond the Past
A Clearer Path Is Ahead
Trauma doesn’t only live in memories; it shows up in your relationships, your reactions, and the way you move through the world. You might feel overwhelmed by emotions that don’t seem to fit the moment. You might feel numb, stuck, or unsure how to move forward.
It’s important you know that these are common responses to trauma,
not personal failings.
Here, therapy is about using gold-standard, research-backed therapy approaches to help you process what happened and
move forward with resilience.
With both in-person and online therapy, you’ll have a structured plan, measurable progress, and a PTSD psychologist who knows how to guide you through the hard work — so you can live and thrive.
Online Trauma Therapy
How We Can Work Together
Individual Therapy
When trauma, anxiety, or depression disrupt your daily life, we’ll work together using treatments like Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you find presence, confidence, and resilience.
Online Couples Therapy
Relationship strain and unhealthy communication cycles are a dynamic that can change. Couples therapy focuses on improving communication and strengthening connection — so you can move forward together.
Trauma Therapy Training & Consultation
For mental health professionals seeking expert guidance in delivering trauma-focused treatments like Prolonged Exposure therapy.
Online Therapy in Minnesota
Yes—Trauma and PTSD Can Heal
We have decades of research to prove it.
Trauma can change how you think, feel, and relate to the world.
If you experienced trauma, you may feel:
haunted by memories you’ve tried to push away
disconnected from the people you love, like you’re simply going through the motions of life
present on the outside but numb or overwhelmed on the inside
trapped in thoughts about the past or constantly bracing for what could go wrong next
ashamed that you haven’t been able to “fix it” on your own or worried that opening up will make everything worse
stuck in cycles you can’t break or unsure how to move forward
These are common responses to trauma.
And they can get better, because the science is clear
There are three therapies shown to consistently help individuals overcome adversity and rebuild their lives:
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Helps you gently face what you’ve been avoiding—so it stops controlling your life. In PE, we work together to gradually approach those memories and situations in a safe, structured way. You’ll learn that what feels unbearable can become manageable, and that you’re stronger than the trauma makes you feel.
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Helps you make sense of what happened—and how it’s still affecting you. After trauma, it’s common to feel stuck in painful thoughts like “It was my fault,” “I’m not safe,” or “I can’t trust anyone.” These beliefs can shape how you see yourself, others, and the world. In CPT, we work together to explore those thoughts and begin to shift them.
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Provides practical tools to manage distress, shift unhelpful patterns, and reconnect you with a sense of purpose. In CBT, we work together to identify small, manageable steps to re-engage with life in ways that feel rewarding and aligned with your values. Even small changes can begin to shift mood and restore energy.
These therapy approaches are active, structured, and focused on measurable change. (And we track it together!) Because you deserve someone who knows how to guide you through this process with skill, compassion, and expertise.
Trauma therapist Minneapolis
Meet Melissa Polusny, PhD ABPP
Hi, I’m Dr. Melissa Polusny! If you choose to work with me, you’re partnering with a nationally recognized PTSD psychologist whose career has been devoted to helping people move from adversity to resilience. For more than two decades, I served at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a clinician, researcher, and trainer, documenting what gives measurable results and teaching hundreds of mental health professionals across the country how to treat trauma effectively.
That experience shaped a simple belief:
Healing shouldn’t take forever, and it shouldn’t happen alone.
I bring deep expertise in trauma treatment together with a compassionate approach that meets you exactly where you are. Therapy here is structured, collaborative, and grounded in the methods proven to help people get better — including Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and tailored CBT approaches for anxiety and depression.
You’ll always know how therapy is going, because progress is measured and discussed together. When something isn’t working, it’s adjusted. When you reach your goals, therapy ends; leaving you with confidence, skills, and a life that feels like your own again. I’m glad you’re here, and I look forward to meeting you.
Therapist or Clinician Looking for Training and/or Consultation? EMAIL HER HERE
Professional Praise
From respected colleagues and peers
Online Therapist for Trauma + Virtual Anxiety Therapist
Online Therapy Across 43 States
Dr. Polusny is authorized to provide online therapy in more than 40 states through PSYPACT. This is a licensing agreement that allows qualified psychologists to work across state lines.
What This Means for You:
You can access expert trauma care even if you don’t live in Minnesota.
Therapy remains fully confidential and secure through a HIPAA-compliant platform.
You receive the same high-quality, evidence-based treatment, without the travel or waitlists.
If you live in a PSYPACT state, you can work with Dr. Polusny from the comfort and privacy of your own home. Check if your state is included.
FAQs
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Yes, I offer secure online therapy to clients throughout Minnesota and in states that participate in PSYPACT. To see if your state is eligible, visit the PSYPACTMap - Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT).
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Virtual therapy offers the same high-quality, evidence-based care as in-person sessions with added flexibility. Whether you’re at home, in your office, or traveling, secure video sessions make it easy to connect from wherever you feel most at ease. Research shows that teletherapy is just as effective for treating trauma, anxiety, and other concerns, and many clients find it easier to open up in familiar surroundings. If you're unsure whether virtual therapy is right for you, I'm happy to discuss what to expect.
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I specialize in helping adults recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related distress stemming from sexual assault, interpersonal violence, combat exposure, serious accidents, and other life-threatening events. Many people naturally recover from trauma with time and support from loved ones. But for some, the effects linger—showing up as fear, emotional pain, or posttraumatic stress that persists long after the event is over. If that’s your experience, therapy can help. My approach integrates gold-standard treatments like Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to help you reclaim your life and move from adversity to resilience.
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While EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can be helpful for some, I specialize in therapies that have the strongest scientific support for treating PTSD—specifically Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). These gold-standard approaches are backed by decades of research and are recommended by leading organizations like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and American Psychological Association (APA) for trauma recovery. If you're curious about how PE or CPT might help you, I'm happy to walk you through what to expect.
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I am an out-of-network provider, which means I don’t bill insurance directly. However, I offer a detailed superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Many clients receive partial reimbursement depending on their out-of-network benefits. I recommend checking with your insurance provider to understand your coverage. If you need help navigating this process, I’m happy to guide you.