The phrase “trauma informed care” has become a buzzword across therapy websites and social media, but it isn’t actually a model of psychotherapy. It’s a perspective—a reminder to apply existing models with awareness of trauma’s impact. Somewhere along the way, though, marketing took over. What should be a professional standard got repackaged as a trend, confusing the public and pressuring therapists to sound marketable instead of staying precise.

People talk a lot about how important it is to find the “right” therapist, but no one really talks about how hard that actually is. Between fake reviews, influencer culture, and a lot of online noise, even the best therapists can be hard to spot. This article breaks down five reasons the search can feel frustrating—and what you should know going in.