Trauma Recovery Resources: Crisis Support, Apps, and Tools for Healing

Trauma Recovery
Written By Dr. Sheila Vidal

Navigating trauma, PTSD, or anxiety can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to go through it alone. At Next Mission Recovery, we’ve compiled a list of trusted trauma recovery resources to support adults in Virginia living with PTSD, complex trauma, depression, and anxiety. Whether you’re in immediate need or looking to supplement your therapy, these tools can help foster healing, insight, and emotional regulation.

A misty tree-lined path symbolizing the personal journey through trauma recovery, support resources, and healing.

Photo by Leo_Visions via Unsplash

Crisis Support Hotlines

If you’re in crisis, these free 24/7 support lines are available:

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for confidential support.

  • Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 74141 for immediate assistance.

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Call 1-800-950-6264 for mental health support.

  • Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1 for veteran-specific assistance.

  • Trevor Project Lifeline: Call 1-866-488-7386 for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis.

  • Linea Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: Call 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish-speaking support.

  • Words of Encouragement (PepToc): Call 707-873-7862 for uplifting messages.

Free Mental Health & PTSD Apps

These evidence-based mental health apps support trauma recovery and emotional wellness:

  • PTSD Coach: Offers tools for managing PTSD symptoms.

  • PTSD Family Coach: Provides support for loved ones of those with PTSD.

  • STAIR Coach: Focuses on emotion regulation and interpersonal skills.

  • Beyond MST: Designed for survivors of military sexual trauma.

  • ACT Coach: Teaches acceptance and commitment therapy skills.

  • How We Feel: Helps track and understand your emotions.

Educational Trauma Resources

Explore these authoritative platforms to better understand trauma and recovery:

Recommended Reading for Trauma Recovery

Books that explore trauma, complex PTSD, and healing:

  • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

  • Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine

  • Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker

  • It Didn't Start With You by Mark Wolynn

  • The Complex PTSD Workbook by Arielle Schwartz

Support for Marginalized Communities

Access identity-affirming care through these directories:

Grounding Tools & Mindfulness Apps

Next Steps in Your Healing Journey

These resources are meant to complement—not replace—trauma-informed psychotherapy. If you're looking for personalized support from a psychologist specializing in PTSD, anxiety, and complex trauma in Virginia, schedule a free consultation with Next Mission Recovery. You don’t have to navigate healing alone.

Dr. Sheila Vidal

I’m Dr. Sheila Vidal, a licensed clinical psychologist in the State of Virginia and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I provide trauma-informed online therapy for adults across Virginia, offering evidence-based care to help individuals navigate the lasting effects of traumatic stress, PTSD, and complex emotional challenges. Although I currently reside in Northern California, I offer virtual psychological services exclusively to residents of Virginia.

I earned my Master of Arts degree in Diplomacy and Military Studies from Hawaii Pacific University, where I was honored with the "Best Graduate Paper" award for my thesis on interwar revolution in Vietnam from 1954 to 1959. Driven by a passion for understanding human behavior and resilience, I went on to earn a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington, DC.

During my time in Washington, DC, I completed clinical training at the DC Superior Court, providing psychological assessments to at-risk youth, including Spanish-speaking unaccompanied minors. I completed my postdoctoral training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where I focused on behavioral psychology and supported children and families navigating complex trauma and behavioral health challenges.

As a clinical psychologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, I gained extensive experience providing evidence-based trauma treatment to Military Veterans, Reservists, First Responders, Law Enforcement Personnel, and their Caregivers. My clinical work encompassed a wide range of mental health concerns, including those related to PTSD, Moral Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

My extensive academic training, international teaching background, and fieldwork abroad have strengthened my cultural competence in working with diverse and historically marginalized populations impacted by trauma. I specialize in treating PTSD, trauma-related conditions, and the complex intersection of mood and personality disorders that often emerge following prolonged or early-life traumatic experiences.

At Next Mission Recovery, I am committed to providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed online therapy that fosters resilience, promotes healing, and supports sustainable growth. Through a compassionate, evidence-based approach, I strive to create a therapeutic space where clients feel respected, validated, and empowered to move toward meaningful recovery.

https://www.nextmissionrecovery.com/about
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