Invitational language
Instructors offer movement options rather than commands — 'you might try' instead of 'do this.' The goal is to hand choice back to people whose choice was often taken from them, whether by trauma or by active addiction.
Trauma-informed yoga therapy · Arlington, VA
Trauma-informed yoga therapy in Arlington, Virginia
Invitational, choice-based movement and breathwork offered as complementary programming within PHP and IOP — built to rebuild body awareness and a sense of choice after trauma or long-term substance use.
- Optional, never required
- Chair-based options available
- Part of PHP & IOP program days
Medically reviewed by the VABH Medical Team
Trauma-informed principles
What makes a yoga session trauma-informed
Movement, breath, and choice — designed to give clients back a sense of agency in their own bodies.
Choice at every step
You choose how much of any pose to do, whether to move at all, and whether to close your eyes. Eyes open is always permitted and never questioned — for many people with trauma histories, closed eyes in a room with others feels unsafe, not relaxing.
No hands-on adjustments without consent
Instructors don't touch clients to correct alignment unless a client has explicitly opted in beforehand, session by session. Consent isn't assumed and isn't permanent — it can be withdrawn at any time.
Breathwork
Simple, paced breathing exercises are woven into sessions to support nervous-system regulation. These are offered as skills practice, not as claims of a specific physiological cure.
Interoception and body awareness
Trauma and long-term substance use often disconnect people from physical sensation — hunger, fatigue, tension, even pain. Slow, attention-based movement gives clients low-stakes practice noticing what's happening in their bodies again.
Chair-based and accessible options
Every sequence has a seated or standing-support alternative. Mobility limitations, physical injury, or simply not wanting to get on the floor are all accommodated without singling anyone out.
A skills-building complement, not a treatment
Yoga therapy supports body awareness and self-regulation alongside your clinical treatment. It does not replace trauma therapy, medication, or any part of your individual treatment plan.
Always optional
You can sit out, modify anything, or step outside the room without explanation. Participation has no bearing on your standing in the program.
Where it fits in your program
A complementary piece of a full clinical program
Yoga therapy is layered into the PHP and IOP day alongside — never instead of — individual therapy, group therapy, and psychiatric care.
015 days/week · ~6 hrs/day
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Built into the PHP schedule as a regular session, often positioned to help clients transition between more demanding therapy blocks or to close out the day.
023–5 days/week
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Offered on select IOP days as a complementary session, giving clients a structured, embodied practice alongside CBT, DBT, and group work.
03Weekly · ongoing
Outpatient therapy & medication management
Not part of standard weekly outpatient visits, but clients in ongoing care can ask whether periodic group sessions are available.
04Ongoing
Aftercare
Many clients continue a modified home or community yoga practice after completing PHP or IOP, carrying the interoceptive and regulation skills forward.
Across the river from Maryland
Convenient for Maryland commuters
Our Arlington center is a short drive from Bethesda, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County. Maryland clients regularly attend in-person PHP and IOP here, including days that include trauma-informed yoga sessions. Telehealth sessions for individual therapy and medication management are available for Virginia residents.
Common questions
Trauma-informed yoga therapy questions, answered
What makes this 'trauma-informed' rather than just a regular yoga class?
Trauma-informed yoga uses invitational language instead of commands, never assumes physical touch is welcome, permits eyes open at all times, and offers modifications without singling anyone out. The aim is to give people back a sense of choice and safety in their own bodies.
Will an instructor touch me to correct my form?
Only if you explicitly say yes beforehand, and that consent applies to that session only — it isn't assumed to carry over. Many sessions involve no hands-on adjustment at all.
Do I have to close my eyes or lie on the floor?
No. Eyes open is always permitted, and every sequence includes a chair-based or standing-support option. Mobility limits, injuries, or simply not wanting to be on the floor are accommodated without question.
Does yoga therapy treat trauma or substance use disorder?
No. It's offered as a complementary practice that supports body awareness, breath regulation, and self-regulation skills alongside your clinical treatment — it does not replace trauma therapy, individual counseling, or medication management.
Is it required as part of my program?
No. Participation is entirely optional. You can modify, sit out, or step outside at any point without needing to explain why or affecting your standing in the program.
How does yoga therapy fit into PHP or IOP?
It's woven into the program schedule as one session among many — individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric care, and skills groups remain the core of treatment, with yoga therapy offered as a regulation and body-awareness complement.
Is yoga therapy available through telehealth?
It's offered in person at our Arlington center as part of the PHP and IOP day. Individual therapy and medication management are available by telehealth statewide in Virginia; in-person programs serve Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC residents.
In-person care at 5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA for VA, MD, and DC residents. Telehealth for Virginia residents only.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
Get help today
Talk to someone who's done this before
Whether you're calling for yourself or for someone you love, the first conversation is free and completely confidential.
- Admissions — 24/7(571) 586-2883
- Location5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA
Insurance accepted
Insurance coverage for programs that include yoga therapy sessions
PHP and IOP program days that include trauma-informed yoga sessions are billed as part of your standard behavioral health benefit — not as a separate wellness charge. Most major commercial plans cover our programs, including Anthem, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Sentara Health Plans, UMR, and Johns Hopkins Health Plans. Send us your card and we'll confirm your benefits before you begin.
Don't see your plan? Call us — we also work with out-of-network benefits and self-pay.