---
title: "Trauma Therapy After an Accident | McFadden Institute"
url: https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/accident-trauma
description: "Online therapy in Florida after a car crash or other accident: replaying it, jumping at noises, avoiding the road. Robert Cushing, LCSW."
lang: en
---

Image: Sunrise over a Florida causeway above the bay (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/__l5e/assets-v1/971efb9e-c896-4951-a3dc-63e67e321e24/causeway-dawn.jpg)

Specialties

# Trauma After an Accident

It happened in seconds. Weeks or months later, part of you is still in that moment.

Book a free consultation: https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/contact
How RRT works: https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/approach

## What this looks like

You flinch at brake lights or a horn.

You take the long way to avoid the highway.

Being a passenger feels unbearable.

The moment replays when you're trying to sleep.

## How Rapid Resolution Therapy approaches it

RRT works with how your mind is still holding the accident, without making you describe it.

Getting back on the road happens at your pace, not mine.

## The kinds of accidents I mean

Car crashes are the most common, and on Florida roads that's no surprise. But it can also be a fall, an injury at work, a boating accident, a near miss that didn't physically hurt anyone. Size isn't the measure. What matters is whether your system is still reacting.

## Why the body keeps bracing

In the moment of an accident, your system does exactly what it should. It floods you with alarm to get you through. Sometimes it doesn't fully stand down afterward. So you tense at intersections, grip the door handle, jump when someone brakes hard in front of you.

That's a reflex, not a lack of nerve. It's the same pattern I describe on the trauma and PTSD (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/trauma-and-ptsd) page, and it can blur into general anxiety (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/anxiety) or even panic attacks (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/panic-attacks) behind the wheel.

## When the aftermath keeps it live

After an accident there's often a long tail: physical recovery, appointments, insurance claims, maybe a legal process. Each call and form can pull you right back to the day. It's hard for something to feel over when you're still filling out paperwork about it.

I can't give legal or insurance advice, and those decisions are yours. What I can help with is how much the reminders knock you over.

## If you were driving

Guilt is a heavy one. Whether or not the accident was your fault, if you were behind the wheel you may be carrying a sense of responsibility that won't let up, especially if someone else was hurt. That's worth working with, gently, without anyone cross-examining you.

## Without retelling it

You don't have to walk me through the crash second by second. The work focuses on the charge the event still carries, not on the story. Sessions are 90 minutes by video, which gives us room to work without rushing. Here's how a 90-minute session works (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/approach/90-minute-sessions).

Because sessions are online, you don't have to drive anywhere to get help with driving.

## Getting back on the road at your pace

Some people want to be driving the interstate again within weeks. Others are content getting comfortable as a passenger first. There's no schedule to meet. The work focuses on the reaction, and people often find the practical steps get easier as the charge comes down.

If physical injuries are still healing, that's part of the picture too. Pain and limited movement can keep the body on guard. Keep working with your medical team on that side; therapy runs alongside it, not instead of it.

And if your accident was years ago and you've simply organized your life around it, that counts. It isn't too late to look at it.

If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). For emergencies, dial 911.

The accident was brief. The bracing doesn't have to be.

## Questions people ask

### I wasn't badly hurt. Why am I still shaken?

Because the alarm responds to how dangerous a moment felt, not how many injuries you ended up with. A near miss can leave as strong a reaction as a serious crash.

### What if I was the one driving?

Then you may be dealing with guilt on top of the shock, and that's common. We can work with both. You won't be judged or questioned about fault.

### Do I have to describe the accident?

No. You can share as much or as little as you want. The work doesn't depend on a detailed account.

Not sure if what you're carrying fits here?

A free 15-minute call is the simplest way to find out.

Book a free consultation: https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/contact

Rapid Resolution Therapy is a therapeutic approach, not a guarantee of specific results and not a substitute for medical care. Every person's experience is different and individual outcomes vary.

Back to home: https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/

Free consultation · no pressure

## Structured data

```json
[
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
      {
        "@type": [
          "MedicalBusiness",
          "ProfessionalService"
        ],
        "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#practice",
        "name": "McFadden Institute",
        "legalName": "McFadden Institute, LLC",
        "url": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/",
        "description": "Online psychotherapy for adults in Florida using Rapid Resolution Therapy, for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and burnout. Telehealth only.",
        "medicalSpecialty": "Mental Health",
        "priceRange": "$225",
        "currenciesAccepted": "USD",
        "paymentAccepted": "Private pay; superbills provided on request for out-of-network reimbursement",
        "isAcceptingNewPatients": true,
        "availableLanguage": "English",
        "areaServed": [
          {
            "@type": "State",
            "name": "Florida"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Miami"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Orlando"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Tampa"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Jacksonville"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "St. Petersburg"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Fort Lauderdale"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Sarasota"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Naples"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Tallahassee"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Fort Myers"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Gainesville"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "West Palm Beach"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Port St. Lucie"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Lakeland"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Ocala"
          },
          {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Pensacola"
          }
        ],
        "openingHoursSpecification": [
          {
            "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
            "dayOfWeek": [
              "https://schema.org/Monday",
              "https://schema.org/Tuesday",
              "https://schema.org/Wednesday",
              "https://schema.org/Thursday"
            ],
            "opens": "07:00",
            "closes": "19:00"
          },
          {
            "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
            "dayOfWeek": [
              "https://schema.org/Friday"
            ],
            "opens": "07:00",
            "closes": "17:00"
          }
        ],
        "makesOffer": [
          {
            "@type": "Offer",
            "name": "Free 15-minute consultation",
            "price": "0",
            "priceCurrency": "USD",
            "itemOffered": {
              "@type": "Service",
              "name": "Initial consultation",
              "serviceType": "Telehealth consultation"
            }
          },
          {
            "@type": "Offer",
            "name": "90-minute therapy session",
            "price": "225",
            "priceCurrency": "USD",
            "itemOffered": {
              "@type": "Service",
              "name": "Rapid Resolution Therapy session",
              "serviceType": "Telehealth psychotherapy"
            }
          }
        ],
        "availableService": [
          {
            "@type": "MedicalTherapy",
            "name": "Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT)"
          },
          {
            "@type": "MedicalTherapy",
            "name": "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)"
          },
          {
            "@type": "MedicalTherapy",
            "name": "Mindfulness-based therapy"
          }
        ],
        "employee": {
          "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#robert-cushing"
        },
        "founder": {
          "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#robert-cushing"
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Person",
        "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#robert-cushing",
        "name": "Robert Cushing",
        "honorificSuffix": "MSW, LCSW",
        "jobTitle": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker",
        "description": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida, trained in Rapid Resolution Therapy, offering online therapy to adults across the state.",
        "url": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/about",
        "knowsLanguage": "English",
        "knowsAbout": [
          "Trauma",
          "PTSD",
          "Anxiety",
          "Depression",
          "Grief and loss",
          "Stress and burnout",
          "Rapid Resolution Therapy",
          "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy",
          "Mindfulness-based therapy"
        ],
        "hasCredential": {
          "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential",
          "credentialCategory": "license",
          "name": "Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Florida license SW19059",
          "recognizedBy": {
            "@type": "State",
            "name": "Florida"
          }
        },
        "alumniOf": {
          "@type": "CollegeOrUniversity",
          "name": "Saint Leo University"
        },
        "worksFor": {
          "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#practice"
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "WebSite",
        "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#website",
        "name": "McFadden Institute",
        "url": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/",
        "inLanguage": "en-US",
        "publisher": {
          "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#practice"
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "WebPage",
    "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/accident-trauma#webpage",
    "url": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/accident-trauma",
    "name": "Trauma Therapy After an Accident | McFadden Institute",
    "inLanguage": "en-US",
    "isPartOf": {
      "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#website"
    },
    "about": {
      "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#practice"
    },
    "provider": {
      "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#practice"
    },
    "primaryImageOfPage": {
      "@type": "ImageObject",
      "url": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/og-image.jpg"
    },
    "description": "Online therapy in Florida after a car crash or other accident: replaying it, jumping at noises, avoiding the road. Robert Cushing, LCSW."
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "MedicalWebPage",
    "name": "Trauma Therapy After an Accident | McFadden Institute",
    "description": "Online therapy in Florida after a car crash or other accident: replaying it, jumping at noises, avoiding the road. Robert Cushing, LCSW.",
    "url": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/accident-trauma",
    "inLanguage": "en-US",
    "about": {
      "@type": "MedicalCondition",
      "name": "Trauma After an Accident"
    },
    "audience": {
      "@type": "Patient",
      "geographicArea": {
        "@type": "State",
        "name": "Florida",
        "address": {
          "@type": "PostalAddress",
          "addressRegion": "FL",
          "addressCountry": "US"
        }
      }
    },
    "provider": {
      "@type": "MedicalClinic",
      "name": "McFadden Institute",
      "areaServed": {
        "@type": "State",
        "name": "Florida"
      }
    }
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 1,
        "name": "Home",
        "item": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 2,
        "name": "Specialties",
        "item": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 3,
        "name": "Trauma After an Accident",
        "item": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/accident-trauma"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "mainEntity": [
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "I wasn't badly hurt. Why am I still shaken?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Because the alarm responds to how dangerous a moment felt, not how many injuries you ended up with. A near miss can leave as strong a reaction as a serious crash."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "What if I was the one driving?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Then you may be dealing with guilt on top of the shock, and that's common. We can work with both. You won't be judged or questioned about fault."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Do I have to describe the accident?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "No. You can share as much or as little as you want. The work doesn't depend on a detailed account."
        }
      }
    ]
  }
]
```