Your Guide to the Tufts Covered Trauma Therapy Program

As a Tufts Health Plan member, you have access to a robust tufts covered trauma therapy program designed to support your recovery and resilience. From individual counseling to structured outpatient tracks, psychiatry to teletherapy, this guide walks you through your in-network benefits, provider options, treatment modalities, and practical steps to get started and stay on track.

Understand your coverage

Before you schedule an appointment, it helps to know what’s included under your Tufts behavioral health benefits. That way you can make informed choices, avoid unexpected costs, and focus on your healing.

Eligible benefits

Mental health counseling: You can see licensed therapists, social workers, psychologists, and other behavioral health clinicians for trauma-focused talk therapy [1].
Psychiatric evaluation and medication: Tufts covers psychiatric intake and follow-up visits with approved psychiatrists [2], including medication management [3].
Intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization (PHP): If you need more structure than weekly therapy, you can join an in-network IOP [4] or PHP track [5].
Trauma-informed specialty care: You can access programs for PTSD, complex trauma, and related conditions [6].

Cost sharing and limits

Copays and coinsurance: Most outpatient therapy sessions carry a set copay or percentage coinsurance. Psychiatry visits may have a different cost share—check your summary of benefits for exact amounts.
Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums: Sessions count toward your deductible if they occur before it’s met. After your out-of-pocket maximum, Tufts covers 100% of in-network services.
Prior authorization: PHP and IOP services often require prior approval, so your provider will submit treatment plans and clinical notes for Tufts review.

Find an in-network provider

Working with an approved clinician keeps your sessions covered and lets you tap into Tufts’ negotiated rates. Here’s how to locate the right specialist for trauma care.

Provider types

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), psychologists: They offer individual, group, family, and couples therapy.
Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners: They handle medication management, psychiatric assessment, and can coordinate with therapists [7].
Occupational therapists: Some in-network OT providers apply trauma-informed approaches like sensory processing and functional cognition to support daily living skills [8].

Locating specialists

Visit the Tufts provider search tool on your member portal and filter by “behavioral health” and “trauma”
Call Member Services for assistance finding clinicians with trauma-focused training
Verify the provider’s in-network status before booking to avoid balance billing

Explore trauma therapy options

Trauma recovery often combines talk therapy, skills training, and mind-body techniques. Tufts covers a range of evidence-based, person-centered modalities.

Individual and group therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Teaches you to identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts that stem from trauma [9].
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Offers emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Helps process traumatic memories through guided eye movements.

Trauma-informed modalities

Person-centered, trauma-informed care

Your in-network providers follow principles from Tufts University’s person-centered, trauma-informed care course, which teaches how trauma impacts the brain, emotions, and behavior and how to minimize re-traumatization [10].

Sensory processing and functional cognition

Occupational therapists trained under Tufts’ OT curriculum integrate sensory-based strategies and functional cognition exercises to help you manage triggers and engage in meaningful daily activities [8].

Access structured treatment programs

If your symptoms require a higher level of care, Tufts covers in-network IOP and PHP programs as well as dual diagnosis tracks.

IOP and PHP services

Partial hospitalization (PHP): Typically 4–6 hours a day, 5 days a week, PHP provides group therapy, individual sessions, medication review, and skills workshops.
Intensive outpatient (IOP): Generally 3 days a week, 3 hours per day, IOP focuses on trauma-specific groups, coping strategies, and coordination with outpatient clinicians.

Both levels require prior authorization and clinical documentation from your provider.

Dual diagnosis care

Co-occurring disorders: Programs that address trauma alongside substance use or other mental health conditions are available in-network [11].
Integrated teams: You’ll work with psychiatrists, therapists, and case managers who coordinate medications, therapy, and relapse prevention.

Use telehealth and virtual care

Tufts makes it easy to get timely support from anywhere, with secure video sessions and online resources.

Teletherapy and telepsychiatry

Video visits: Meet your therapist or psychiatrist from home via an approved platform [12].
Phone sessions: Some clinicians offer phone check-ins if video isn’t feasible.

Online workshops and support

Living Well at Home: Free virtual classes through Tufts Health Plan cover coping with stress, trauma recovery skills, and peer support [13].
Teladoc® virtual care: Confidential phone or video visits for anxiety, depression, trauma, or PTSD at no extra cost for eligible members.
AbleTo® online therapy: Eight-week structured program combining coaching calls and digital exercises to manage stress and trauma.
Disaster Distress Helpline: 24/7 crisis counseling at 800-985-5990 for immediate emotional support.

Prepare for your sessions

Getting the most out of your trauma therapy means entering sessions with clear goals and good communication.

What to expect

Intake assessment: You’ll discuss your trauma history, current symptoms, and treatment goals.
Treatment plan: Your clinician outlines session frequency, modalities, homework assignments, and progress review dates.
Documentation: Fill out any Tufts forms or therapy questionnaires before or during your first visit.

Tips for continuity of care

Schedule regularly: Book follow-ups in advance to maintain momentum
Share information: Allow your therapist or psychiatrist to coordinate care with your primary care doctor or other specialists [14]
Track progress: Keep notes on symptom changes, coping strategies that work, and questions for your next visit

By understanding your benefits, finding qualified in-network providers, exploring trauma-focused modalities, and leveraging telehealth, you can make the most of your tufts covered trauma therapy program. With consistent care and evidence-based treatment, you’ll build the skills and support you need to heal and thrive.