Maryland Trauma Clinic Expands to Treat More Survivors

Survivors of trauma in Frederick County, Maryland now have better access to specialized care that's helping them reclaim their lives from painful memories.

Trauma Specialists of Maryland opened a new, expanded location in Urbana in late October, doubling their treatment space and adding dedicated rooms for training other therapists. The clinic celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday at their new home on Urbana Pike.

The bigger facility means the practice can see more patients struggling with PTSD, anxiety, and depression stemming from traumatic experiences. It also includes Maryland's first hybrid training center where up to 15 therapists at a time can learn specialized trauma treatment techniques, with the first session scheduled for May.

The clinic focuses on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, a treatment that helps the brain properly process traumatic memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR works directly with the nervous system to reduce the emotional intensity of painful memories.

"In a traumatic experience, the brain doesn't adequately process the memory," explained Katie Honeywell, the clinic's business development director. The brain keeps sending stress hormones through the body, which can create lasting health problems.

EMDR helps move those stuck memories to a different part of the brain, turning off the constant fight or flight response that trauma survivors experience. Patients briefly focus on traumatic memories while using rhythmic movements or stimulation, which reduces the vividness and emotional charge of what happened to them.

The Ripple Effect

The expansion means more than just additional treatment rooms. By training therapists from across the region, the clinic is multiplying its impact far beyond its own walls. Those trained therapists will return to their communities equipped to help countless trauma survivors heal.

The clinic also works with companies and organizations to create trauma-informed workplaces, recognizing that everyone's nervous system responds differently to stress. "If we want to treat trauma, we need to do it in a couple of different ways," Honeywell said, emphasizing the importance of compassion and understanding.

With locations in Frederick, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, Trauma Specialists is building a network of healing that reaches thousands of people working to overcome their most difficult experiences.

More survivors will finally get the specialized help they need to move forward.