Trauma-Informed Therapy in Texas Criminal Defense Cases
Co-Founding Partners
Texas Bar verified. Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514) and Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) are the co-founding partners of L and L Law Group, PLLC — based at 5899 Preston Rd, Suite 101 in Frisco, Texas (Collin County), with many 5-star Google reviews, and available 24/7 for criminal defense consultations.
Table of Contents
Trauma-informed care principles
SAMHSA framework for trauma-informed care:
- Safety. Physical and emotional safety priority
- Trustworthiness and transparency. Build and maintain trust
- Peer support. Connection with others with shared experiences
- Collaboration and mutuality. Power-sharing in treatment
- Empowerment, voice, and choice. Respect for individual agency
- Cultural, historical, and gender issues. Recognize identity-based trauma
Trauma-informed approaches recognize:
- Trauma is widespread (60%+ of adults experience trauma)
- Trauma affects mental health, behavior, and physical health
- Many systems (criminal justice, healthcare, education) inadvertently retraumatize
- Recovery is possible with appropriate support
- "What happened to you" frame rather than "what's wrong with you"
Trauma-specific therapies
- EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
- TF-CBT. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- CPT. Cognitive Processing Therapy
- PE. Prolonged Exposure therapy
- Seeking Safety. For PTSD and substance use disorder
- IFS. Internal Family Systems
- Somatic Experiencing. Body-based trauma therapy
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Body-oriented approach
- Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). For complex trauma
- Brainspotting. Newer approach with some evidence
Texas criminal defense applications
For defendants with trauma histories:
- Pre-sentence mitigation. Trauma history documented through forensic evaluation
- Treatment-focused probation. Specifically trauma-informed providers
- Specialty court placement. Mental health court, veterans court, drug court
- Juvenile cases. ACE inventory and trauma-informed disposition
- Family violence cases. Both victims and offenders sometimes
- Domestic violence intervention programs. Increasingly trauma-informed
- Sex offender treatment. Trauma-informed for offenders with own trauma history
- Substance use treatment. Trauma-informed substance use treatment recognized as best practice
Documentation for Texas courts
- Trauma history assessment. Comprehensive documentation
- ACE inventory. Adverse Childhood Experiences score
- Treatment plan. Trauma-informed approach specified
- Provider credentials. Specific trauma-informed training
- Modality identification. Specific therapy (EMDR, TF-CBT, etc.)
- Progress documentation. Trauma-specific outcome measures
- Completion or continuing care. Trauma treatment often longer-term
Provider access in Texas
- VA centers. Trauma-informed care standard
- Community mental health authorities. Increasingly trauma-informed
- Specialty trauma treatment programs. Texas major metros
- University-affiliated programs. Comprehensive trauma services
- Trauma Recovery Network. EMDR community service
- Trauma-informed care training organizations.
- Private practice providers. Many trauma-trained
- Insurance coverage. Standard mental health benefits
Texas Marijuana Charges by Weight
| Weight | Offense | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 oz | Class B misdemeanor | Up to 180 days + $2,000 |
| 2-4 oz | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year + $4,000 |
| 4 oz - 5 lb | State jail felony | 180 days-2 years + $10K |
| 5-50 lb | 3rd degree felony | 2-10 years + $10K |
| 50-2,000 lb | 2nd degree felony | 2-20 years + $10K |
| 2,000+ lb | Enhanced 1st degree | 5-99 years/life + $50K |
| Hemp products with delta-9 THC ≤ 0.3% are legal under HB 1325 (2019) | ||
Have a Texas legal question?
Call L and L Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. We handle criminal defense across Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
Call (972) 370-5060In our practice defending Texas criminal cases, we have represented clients in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County criminal courts on the full Texas Penal Code and Health & Safety Code spectrum. Reggie's prosecutor background in Dallas County means we know the State's evidentiary playbook; Njeri's trial-trained motion practice anchors the suppression-driven defense work.
Key Legal Terms
- Penalty Group
- Texas Health & Safety Code § 481.102-481.105 classification of controlled substances by abuse potential and accepted medical use. Determines weight tiers and punishment ranges.
- Article 38.23
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure exclusionary rule. Evidence obtained in violation of any federal or Texas constitutional or statutory provision is inadmissible against the accused.
- Aggregation
- Texas H&S § 481.002(5) rule that the total weight of any controlled substance, including adulterants and dilutants, counts toward the offense weight tier.
- 3g Offense
- CCP Article 42A.054 list of offenses ineligible for judicial probation and requiring 50% sentence served before parole eligibility (formerly Article 42.12 § 3g).
- Pretrial Diversion
- Pre-charge alternative under CCP Article 32.02 in which the prosecution agrees to dismiss charges upon successful completion of conditions (counseling, community service, restitution).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is trauma-informed therapy?
Therapy recognizing that trauma history substantially affects mental health, behavior, and treatment response. SAMHSA framework: safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, cultural awareness. "What happened to you" rather than "what's wrong with you" framing.
What's the best trauma therapy?
Depends on individual and trauma type. EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) have strongest evidence for PTSD. TF-CBT for child/adolescent trauma. Complex trauma may require longer-term approaches (IFS, somatic therapies). Often best with multiple approaches.
Does Texas court order trauma-informed therapy?
Yes — increasingly specified as treatment requirement. Mental health court, veterans court, juvenile justice, family violence intervention programs all use trauma-informed approaches. Specific therapies (EMDR, TF-CBT, CPT) sometimes specified.
How do I find trauma-informed therapy in Texas?
VA centers (especially for veterans), community mental health authorities, specialty trauma programs in major metros, university-affiliated programs, EMDR International Association directory, private practice providers with trauma training. Insurance directories filter for specialty.
Will Texas Medicaid cover trauma therapy?
Yes for eligible enrollees — trauma-focused therapy covered as standard mental health benefit. Texas Medicaid eligibility limited but covered services include trauma-informed approaches.
