Trauma & PTSD · Bangladesh

Trauma & PTSD Counselling in Bangladesh

Flashbacks, nightmares, feeling on edge, or numb after a frightening or painful experience: these are signs of trauma, and they can heal. Work with a licensed, trauma-trained psychologist online nationwide, or in person in Dhaka.

Talk to a trauma specialist See psychologists

★ 4.8Google rating

35,000+sessions delivered

60+licensed psychologists

100%confidential

In plain language: Trauma therapy and PTSD treatment in Bangladesh are available online from anywhere in the country, and in person in Dhaka, with licensed psychologists trained in trauma work. The main treatments are trauma-focused talking therapies, especially trauma-focused CBT and EMDR, usually over about 8 to 12 sessions after a first assessment. After something overwhelming, the brain can get “stuck”, storing the memory as if the danger is still happening. Therapy helps the brain process it properly, so the past stays in the past and stops controlling your present.

The basics

What are trauma and PTSD?

Trauma is the lasting effect of a deeply distressing event. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one way that effect can show up.

After an accident, assault, abuse, disaster, medical emergency, or loss, it is normal to feel shaken for a while. For some people the distress does not fade: the memory stays raw, intrudes as flashbacks or nightmares, and the body stays on high alert. This is PTSD. Trauma can also come from long-term experiences like ongoing abuse or neglect (often called complex trauma). In Bangladesh, trauma from road accidents, gender-based violence, childhood adversity and disaster is common but rarely talked about. Trauma is not weakness, and it is not permanent; with the right therapy, the brain can heal.

Around 70% of people worldwide live through a potentially traumatic event at some point, but only a minority go on to develop PTSD, and feeling supported afterwards lowers the risk (World Health Organization). The burden here is real: in a study of women in Dhaka’s urban slums who had faced violence from a partner, about one in five (21%) had PTSD (Koly et al., 2025). For a full list of symptoms, read our guide to PTSD signs, causes and recovery.

How trauma affects the nervous system

The window of tolerance

After trauma the zone in which you can think, feel and stay present often shrinks, so everyday stress tips you into overdrive or shutdown. Trauma therapy gradually widens that window.

Above the windowHyperarousal: panic, anger, flashbacks, feeling constantly on guard.
Inside the windowYou can feel emotions and still think clearly, connect and respond.
Below the windowHypoarousal: numbness, shutting down, feeling far away or disconnected.

Based on the window of tolerance described by Daniel Siegel (1999). Illustration, not to scale.

How it shows up

Signs of trauma & PTSD

Reliving it

Flashbacks, intrusive memories or nightmares that feel real.

Being on edge

Feeling jumpy, easily startled, irritable or unable to relax.

Avoidance

Steering clear of reminders, places, people or talking about it.

Numbness

Feeling detached, blank, or cut off from others and emotions.

Negative beliefs

Guilt, shame, or a sense the world is unsafe and it was your fault.

Sleep & focus problems

Trouble sleeping, concentrating, or controlling emotions.

Strong reactions in the days and weeks after a frightening event are common, and for many people they ease with time and support. If flashbacks, nightmares, feeling on edge or feeling numb last longer than a month, or get in the way of daily life, it is a good time to speak to a trauma-trained psychologist. You never have to share details before you are ready.

See psychologists who help with trauma →

Getting better

How trauma is treated

Trauma is highly treatable with specialised, paced therapy, and you never have to rush.

Effective options include Trauma-Focused CBT and EMDR, which help the brain reprocess stuck memories so they lose their charge. Good trauma therapy always begins with safety and stabilisation (grounding and coping skills) before any memory work, and moves entirely at your pace. For some, a psychiatrist may support with medication for sleep or mood alongside therapy. Healing does not mean forgetting; it means the memory no longer controls you.

What we help with

Types of trauma we help with

Trauma is not one thing. What happened, how long it went on and how old you were all shape the work. Each guide below explains one kind in depth.

PTSD after a single event

An assault, a fire, a sudden death or a frightening medical emergency that keeps replaying.

Road accident trauma

Fear of buses, CNGs or crossing the road, flashbacks of the crash, and guilt if others were hurt.

Complex trauma (C-PTSD)

Harm that went on for months or years, which can affect self-worth, trust and emotions.

Childhood trauma

Abuse, neglect or chaos at home that still shapes how you love, argue and trust as an adult.

Emotionally abusive parents

Growing up with constant criticism, control or fear, and finding your footing as an adult.

Domestic violence

Physical, emotional or financial abuse at home, and planning for safety and support (Bangla guide).

Flashbacks and triggers

Sudden waves of fear set off by a sound, a smell or a place, and how to ground yourself.

Traumatic loss and grief

A sudden or violent death of someone close, where grief and shock are tangled together.

Wondering what actually happens in the room? Read how trauma therapy works.

Care in Bangladesh

Trauma therapy in Bangladesh: how it works at Chum

What trauma therapy involves here, from the first session to the last.

Assessment first

Your first session covers what you are struggling with now, your sleep, your safety and your support. You do not have to tell the whole story on day one.

Trauma-focused CBT

Works on the memory and the beliefs it left behind, such as “it was my fault” or “nowhere is safe”. Offered by psychologists on our team who are trained in trauma work.

EMDR

Helps the brain reprocess a stuck memory with less retelling. It is offered by psychologists on our team who are trained in it, so mention EMDR when you book.

Online or in person

Secure video sessions from anywhere in Bangladesh or abroad, or in person in Dhaka and some other cities. Your psychologist first checks that online trauma work is right for you.

Bangla or English

Talk in the language you think and feel in. Painful memories are often easier to put into words in your first language.

Clear fees

Sessions usually cost ৳1,000–৳4,500 depending on the psychologist, and the exact fee is on each profile before you book.

The World Health Organization names trauma-focused CBT and EMDR as the psychological treatments with the most evidence for PTSD. The UK’s NICE guideline on PTSD recommends both for adults, typically over 8 to 12 sessions, and more after multiple traumas. Sessions are usually weekly or every two weeks. The NHS also notes that PTSD can be treated successfully even when it starts many years after the event.

What to expect

What recovery looks like

Safety first

Building grounding and coping skills so you feel steady.

Process the memory

Gently reprocessing the trauma with EMDR or trauma-focused CBT.

Rebuild beliefs

Letting go of guilt and shame, and restoring a sense of safety.

Reconnect

Sleeping better, feeling present, and re-engaging with life.

In a crisis, call 999

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, or you feel unsafe, this is a medical emergency. Call 999 (national emergency) or go to the nearest hospital. Online counselling is not a crisis service.

Fees

What trauma counselling costs

৳1,000–৳4,500per private session

Clinical Psychologist

Speaks Bangla, English

BCPS-verified11+ yearsFrom ৳2,500

Book a session

Browse all 60+ psychologists →

বাংলায়

ট্রমা ও পিটিএসডি

ভয়ংকর বা কষ্টদায়ক ঘটনার পর বারবার সেই স্মৃতি ফিরে আসা, দুঃস্বপ্ন, সবসময় আতঙ্কে থাকা বা অসাড় অনুভব করা, এগুলো ট্রমা বা পিটিএসডির লক্ষণ। এটি দুর্বলতা নয়, আর সঠিক থেরাপিতে ভালো হয়। ইএমডিআর ও ট্রমা-ফোকাসড সিবিটি এতে কার্যকর। চাম ওয়েলনেসে বাংলা বা ইংরেজিতে অনলাইন কাউন্সেলিং নেওয়া যায় সারা বাংলাদেশ থেকে।

বাংলায় পড়ুন: মানসিক ট্রমা কি, ছোটবেলার ট্রমা এবং ট্রমা বন্ডিং কি।

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to talk about the trauma in detail?

Not before you are ready, and not always in full detail. Good trauma therapy starts with safety and coping skills, and approaches like EMDR need less verbal retelling than traditional talk therapy. You stay in control of the pace.

Can PTSD be cured?

Trauma is highly treatable. With trauma-focused therapy, most people see a major reduction in flashbacks, anxiety and avoidance, and many recover fully.

What if my trauma was long ago or in childhood?

Therapy helps whether the trauma was recent or years ago, including complex or childhood trauma. It is never too late to heal.

Do I need medication?

Many people recover with therapy alone. A psychiatrist may help with sleep or mood alongside therapy for some, and that is always discussed with you first.

Is EMDR available in Bangladesh?

Yes. EMDR is offered by a small number of psychologists in Bangladesh who have completed EMDR training, including some on the Chum team, online and in person. Trauma-focused CBT is more widely available and is equally well supported by evidence, so your psychologist will suggest what fits you.

How many sessions of trauma therapy will I need?

For trauma linked to a single event, trauma-focused CBT and EMDR are typically given over 8 to 12 sessions. Repeated, long-term or childhood trauma usually needs longer, often starting with a few sessions focused only on safety and coping skills.

Is counselling available in Bangla and online?

Yes. Many Chum psychologists work in Bangla or English, online from anywhere in Bangladesh, with in-person sessions in Dhaka. Suitability of online trauma work is assessed first.

How much does it cost?

Private sessions usually cost about ৳1,000–৳4,500 depending on seniority, and student sessions are ৳1,000. The exact fee is shown before you book.

The past can stay in the past

Book a confidential session with a licensed, trauma-trained psychologist, or browse verified specialists across Bangladesh, online anywhere, or in person in Dhaka.

Book a session Browse psychologists