Who We Are

The Trauma Institute

A national center of clinical excellence dedicated to the education, treatment, and recovery of trauma, PTSD, and Complex-PTSD.

Our Mission

The Trauma Institute exists to close the gap between those living with the devastating effects of trauma and the evidence-based care that can transform their lives. We are a multidisciplinary national institute bringing together some of the most experienced trauma clinicians in the United States — united by a common commitment to compassionate, rigorous, and effective care.

We believe that trauma is not a life sentence. That PTSD — however complex, however long-standing — responds to skilled, informed treatment. And that every person who has survived the unsurvivable deserves access to the best that trauma psychology has to offer.

Like kintsugi — the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — we honor the fractures in our patients' histories as part of who they are, not something to be hidden or erased. Healing does not erase what happened. It transforms it.

What We Do

  • Clinical services — Individual therapy, consultation, and clinical referral through our national network of licensed clinicians
  • Education — Comprehensive public education on trauma, PTSD, Complex-PTSD, and evidence-based treatment
  • Training — Professional development and training for clinicians in ImTT, EMDR, and trauma-focused modalities
  • Research — Supporting and disseminating research on trauma treatment efficacy and innovation
  • Resources — A freely accessible portal of evidence-based tools, self-assessment instruments, and crisis resources
  • Advocacy — Advancing policy and public awareness around trauma, PTSD stigma, and access to care

Our Approach

"We meet each patient where they are — not where we expect them to be."

The Trauma Institute is not a one-size-fits-all clinical program. We recognize that trauma presents differently in every individual, shaped by biology, history, culture, and circumstance. Our clinicians are trained in multiple evidence-based modalities — including ImTT, EMDR, TF-CBT, Somatic Experiencing, CPT, and Prolonged Exposure — allowing us to match each individual to the approach most likely to help them.

We are particularly distinguished by our expertise in Image Transformation Therapy (ImTT) — a powerful, rapid-acting approach to trauma processing developed by Dr. Robert Miller. Under the leadership of Dr. Suzana Flores, a trained ImTT specialist, the Trauma Institute is one of the leading clinical homes for this innovative modality in the United States.

Our Values

  • Dignity — Every survivor deserves to be seen, believed, and treated with profound respect
  • Evidence — We use what works, informed by rigorous research and clinical experience
  • Accessibility — We are committed to making trauma resources available regardless of geography or income
  • Innovation — We embrace emerging approaches alongside established treatments
  • Community — Healing happens in relationship; we build that relationship with every patient and family we serve
Leadership

Institute Leadership

Director & President

Dr. Suzana E. Flores, Psy.D.

Director, President & Senior Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Suzana E. Flores is the founder, Director, and President of the Trauma Institute. A licensed clinical psychologist with over a decade of specialized experience in trauma, PTSD, and Complex-PTSD, she is internationally recognized as an authority on military-level trauma, narcissistic abuse, and the neuropsychology of traumatic stress.

Dr. Flores is one of the few clinicians in the United States with advanced specialization in Image Transformation Therapy (ImTT), a rapid-acting, imagery-based trauma processing modality. She also holds expertise in EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT, somatic approaches, and narrative therapy.

She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University and a Master of Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and has served as Lead Clinician at Carolinas Healthcare System, Director of Counseling at The Illinois Institute of Art, and Adjunct Professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She currently practices through NOLA Wellness in New Orleans, Louisiana.

15+ Clinicians Nationwide
12+ States Represented
8 Treatment Modalities
24/7 Crisis Resources Available