Trauma
Trauma Therapy
Room to talk about old hurts and how they affect your life now.
Past Experiences
When the Past Still Shapes Today
A difficult or frightening experience can keep affecting you long after it happened. You might notice a strong reaction to something that seems small, trouble trusting people, or a habit of staying on guard.
Trauma therapy is a place to talk about these effects and connect them to the experience behind them, at a pace that makes sense to you.
Setting the Pace
Sharing Only What You Are Ready to Share
You are not required to describe every detail of an experience to begin this work. Your therapist can talk with you about the impact of what happened without asking for a full account right away. Your therapist will check in with you about what pace feels manageable as sessions continue.
Some people want to talk through specifics early on, while others prefer to start with how the experience currently affects their daily life. Both approaches are reasonable.
Questions About the Work
Understanding the Available Approaches
approaches available at our practice include EMDR, CBT, DBT, family systems, and existential therapy. You do not have to choose an approach on your own or arrive knowing how it works. Ask your therapist to explain the options and how they relate to the concerns you bring.
You can also ask what a suggested exercise involves, how to raise discomfort, and how the work will be discussed as sessions continue. These questions are part of making an informed decision about care.
What You Might Notice
Common Effects Worth Naming
People affected by past experiences often recognize some of the following, even when the original event feels far away. Noticing these patterns can be a useful starting point for a conversation, even without a full account of the original event.
- Feeling on edge in situations that remind you of the past
- Avoiding places, people, or topics connected to what happened
- Trouble sleeping or concentrating
- Strong reactions that seem bigger than the moment calls for
- Difficulty trusting closeness with others
Language Access
Care in English or Spanish
Your therapist offers trauma therapy in English and Spanish, which can matter when describing a difficult experience in the language that feels most natural.
You can let us know your preference when you reach out, and we will plan sessions around it. This can make it easier to find words for an experience that feels hard to put into either language alone.
Who You Work With
Our Clinical Care
A therapist on our team provides care at our practice. This clinician is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California License #120707, with 10+ years in practice. This clinician provides care in English and Spanish.
Her areas of focus include trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. You can ask about her background and discuss what you would like her to understand before an appointment.
Before You Begin
A Low-Pressure First Step
A free 15-minute phone consultation is a chance to ask questions about trauma therapy and what working with your therapist might look like, without committing to ongoing sessions.
Session fees are shared during your free consultation.
The First Appointment
Starting with the Present
A first session can focus on a current difficulty, such as feeling tense around other people or finding rest hard to come by. You can tell your therapist what feels manageable to discuss and ask questions about the session.
Appointments are offered in Brentwood or by video while you are in California. There is no fixed schedule for how you should feel as this work continues.
Common Questions
Must I Describe Every Detail Before Asking for Care?
You can start by asking about support for the effects you notice now. Questions about sharing personal history and pacing can be discussed with your therapist.
Can I Ask About EMDR Before Scheduling?
Yes. EMDR is among approaches available at our practice. Use the consultation to ask how this clinician explains it and what the work can involve.
Are Spanish Sessions Available?
Your therapist offers trauma therapy in English and Spanish, in Brentwood or by video in California.
Related Pages
Focused Support
More About Trauma Therapy
