Trauma-Informed Care in Louisville, KY

Trauma takes many forms — emotional, verbal, mental, sexual, physical — and it doesn't always look the way people expect. At Smither Psychiatry, Morgan Smither, PMHNP, has a true passion for working with patients impacted by trauma in any of its forms. Smither Psychiatry strives to offer trauma-informed care in every interaction, from the first phone call through ongoing treatment.

What Trauma-Informed Care Means

Trauma-informed care is an approach grounded in the recognition that many people seeking mental health treatment have a history of trauma — and that the way care is delivered can either support healing or unintentionally re-traumatize. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes trauma-informed care as care that follows six guiding principles: safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural responsiveness.

In practical terms, that means Morgan listens first, explains options clearly, paces the work to what feels manageable, and treats your story with respect. You set the pace; we follow your lead.

Forms of Trauma We Address

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance after a traumatic event. See our dedicated PTSD page for more.
• Complex trauma — the cumulative impact of repeated or prolonged interpersonal trauma, often beginning in childhood.
• Sexual trauma and assault
• Domestic violence and intimate partner abuse
• Emotional and verbal abuse
• Medical trauma — trauma related to serious illness, hospitalization, or invasive medical procedures.
• First-responder, military, and occupational trauma

How Morgan Can Help

Care is individualized, but the core ingredients usually include some combination of:

• Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation that asks about trauma history with care, never pressure
• Evidence-based medication management for PTSD and related symptoms (sleep disturbance, hyperarousal, depression, anxiety)
• Supportive psychotherapy during 30-minute appointments to build skills, regulate the nervous system, and process at a pace that feels safe
• Coordination with outside therapists who do longer-form trauma processing work (EMDR, prolonged exposure, CPT) when that's the right fit

Kentucky Medicinal Cannabis Program for PTSD

PTSD is a qualifying condition under Kentucky's medicinal cannabis program. Morgan is able to issue written certifications for qualifying patients with PTSD as part of an ongoing treatment relationship.

Common Signs You Might Benefit from Trauma-Informed Care

• Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares
• Heightened startle response or feeling constantly "on guard"
• Avoidance of people, places, or conversations connected to a difficult event
• Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in your body
• Sleep disturbance, irritability, or sudden mood shifts
• Numbness, dissociation, or feeling disconnected from yourself or others
• Co-occurring depression, anxiety, or substance use

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Your initial evaluation is a conversation, not an interrogation. Morgan will:

• Ask about what brought you in and what you're hoping for
• Take a careful history (medical, psychiatric, social) at a pace that respects your comfort
• Discuss any current symptoms and how they're affecting daily life
• Talk through treatment options — medication, therapy, referrals, or a combination
• Build an initial plan together, with room to adjust as you go

Related Conditions

Trauma frequently co-occurs with other conditions we treat: