How do I know if trauma therapy is right for me?

You do not need a diagnosis of PTSD or a single traumatic event to benefit from trauma therapy. If you feel emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected, stuck in recurring relationship patterns, constantly on edge, or find yourself responding in ways you do not fully understand, therapy may help you make sense of those experiences and move toward something different.

Do I have to talk about everything that happened?

No. Therapy moves at a pace that feels safe and manageable. Building trust and safety is an important part of the process, and there is no pressure to share more than you are ready to share.

What if I do not remember everything that happened?

You do not need a complete memory of your experiences for therapy to be effective. Therapy can focus on what you notice today, including your emotions, relationships, physical responses, and recurring patterns, without forcing memories or filling in missing pieces.

What types of trauma do you work with?

Courtney works with adults experiencing complex trauma, attachment trauma, childhood trauma, generational trauma, relational trauma, emotional abuse, grief and loss, sexual trauma, traumatic stress, and other overwhelming life experiences.

How long does trauma therapy take?

There is no single timeline for trauma therapy. Some people come to therapy with a specific concern, while others want to understand lifelong patterns or heal from more complex experiences. Goals can be revisited regularly as the work develops.

Is online trauma therapy effective?

Many people find online trauma therapy to be meaningful and effective. Through Therapy offers virtual therapy for adults located throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.

Can trauma therapy help if I do not have PTSD?

Yes. Many people seek trauma therapy because they notice recurring patterns in their relationships, emotions, or daily lives, even without a PTSD diagnosis. Therapy can focus on how past and present experiences continue to affect you today.

Can trauma affect relationships?

Yes. Trauma can shape how you experience trust, intimacy, boundaries, conflict, and emotional closeness. Therapy can help you understand these patterns and develop more secure and flexible ways of relating.

Meet Courtney

Relational trauma, complex trauma, chicago teletherapist, cptsd therapist near me, chicago therapist

Hi, I’m Courtney

Currently Accepting New Clients in Chicago and all of Illinois & Milwaukee and all of Wisconsin

Welcome

I’m psychotherapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Wisconsin. I support adults in navigating anxiety, relational and complex trauma (C-PTSD), grief, burnout and stress, and life transitions. Many of the people I work with struggle with self-criticism, people-pleasing, shame, or feeling disconnected from themselves and/or those around them.

You may understand where your struggles come from and still find yourself longing for something to shift. Perhaps you want to feel closer to others, experience your emotions more fully, or rediscover parts of yourself you’ve learned to hold back. In our work together, I bring warmth, curiosity, and a steady willingness to meet you in the places that feel difficult to face alone. We’ll listen closely to your experience, making room for pain while also noticing your strength, desire, joy, and possibility. Over time, our work can help you loosen the grip of shame and develop a fuller, more compassionate sense of who you are.

My Approach

My approach is trauma-informed, relational, and depth-oriented, grounded in compassion, curiosity, and genuine connection. Drawing from psychodynamic therapy, attachment theory, and experiential approaches, I help you explore the patterns, relationships, and life experiences that have shaped you. Together, we’ll deepen your understanding while attending to your emotions and present-moment experience, helping change feel possible both intellectually and emotionally.

I am LGBTQ+ affirming and committed to anti-racist, culturally responsive care, creating a space where all parts of you are welcome. Therapy with me is integrative and flexible, meaning I tailor therapy to your unique experiences, strengths, and goals rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model. Together, we'll work at a pace that feels manageable, helping you develop greater self-understanding, deeper emotional awareness, and more fulfilling relationships.

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Education & Professional Background

I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University. Over the past decade, I’ve supported individuals across a range of settings, including residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient therapy, and community mental health. My work has included assertive community treatment and therapeutic services for individuals and families impacted by systemic challenges such as incarceration and the Flint water crisis.

Areas of Focus

Trauma, complex trauma, and PTSD
Generational Trauma
Emotional abuse and neglect
Burnout
Complex family dynamics and generational trauma
Generalized and social anxiety
Relationship, intimacy concerns and attachment
Perfectionism
Identity and self-esteem
Life transitions and Stress
Grief

Courtney Vogt, trauma therapist milwaukee and wisconsin

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Outside the Therapy Room

When I'm not in session, you'll usually find me riding my bike, doodling, planning a backpacking trip, practicing yoga, knitting, tending to my garden, lifting weights, getting lost in a good book, or catching live music. Spending time in nature helps me feel grounded, and I'm certified in Wilderness First Aid.

I also share my home with an opinionated cat and a very stubborn dog, both of whom seem convinced they're part of the practice. They occasionally make a guest appearance during teletherapy and are still negotiating their official job titles.

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My Therapeutic Philosophy

Healing happens through connection

I believe meaningful change begins with a relationship where you feel safe, understood, and able to be yourself. I bring warmth, honesty, and curiosity to our work, including the moments when it’s hard to find the words.

Meet yourself with curiosity

The ways you cope may have helped you get through difficult experiences. Together, we’ll understand those patterns with compassion and explore new possibilities when they no longer meet your needs.

Healing involves both mind and body

Understanding your experiences is one part of change. We’ll also slow down and notice emotions and bodily sensations, helping you connect what you know with what you feel.

Your own wisdom is important

You bring strengths, lived experience, and valuable knowledge about yourself; I bring clinical training, curiosity, and a collaborative perspective. Together, we’ll draw on what has helped you navigate life, discover strengths you may not yet recognize, and build greater confidence in your feelings, needs, and choices.

Finding your own way forward

Whether you’re setting boundaries, working through painful experiences, or seeking closer relationships, our work will connect to what matters to you. The goal is greater freedom to live in ways that feel fulfilling and your own.

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Evidence-Based Modalities

Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) - Level 1
Certificate in Explicit Attachment Work in AEDP
Attachment-based therapy
IFS informed
Psychodynamic
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness-based
Motivational Interviewing
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Person-Centered
Strength’s-based

I’m genuinely interested in understanding each of my clients. Everyone is unique therefore it is important to blend elements of different therapeutic approaches to find a method that works best for you. Some of the evidence-based approaches and modalities I utilize in psychotherapy are:

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