Trauma Therapy with a licensed psychologist in San Luis Obispo, CA
Feel safe, stable, and in control of your life
Are you haunted by the past?
It’s hard to feel safe and be in your body. The littlest things can lead to panic or a complete disconnection from yourself. Sometimes it doesn’t even make sense why you’re feeling this way when objectively you know nothing bad is going to happen at this moment. You jump between feeling on edge and feeling completely exhausted. You might be plagued by memories, flashbacks, and nightmares or maybe you can’t really remember what happened.
You struggle in relationships. It’s hard to get your needs met and you also feel guilty for having needs. Sometimes you feel like you’re both too much and not enough all at once. You’re able to succeed at work or school but struggle to not feel like an imposter despite success. Or maybe you used to be a good student or employee but now it’s hard to stay motivated.
Together, we’ll find your path to healing
It may feel impossible now, but you can heal from what happened in the past. Imagine a life where you wake up feeling rested and energized, where you feel like you can handle all of your responsibilities, where your relationships are healthy and supportive. Imagine feeling at peace in your body and your life.
My approach to working with trauma comes from a place of patience and compassion to help you regain your sense of power and control. I want you to feel fully in control of your story during our sessions. I make a commitment to work at your pace and never to push you to talk about anything unless you want to. Talking about the events of the past happens only when you are ready. One of the most difficult parts of a traumatic experience is having your autonomy taken away from you and it is important to me that you feel empowered during the therapy process.
I work with trauma using an evidenced-based approach called the Trauma Resiliency Model. This model teaches you how to track physical sensations to better understand what is happening in your brain and nervous system. From this awareness, I will teach you skills to help stabilize your nervous system, manage your triggers, and increase sensations of well-being in your body. Once a solid coping foundation is built and you feel like you are functioning well, then we can begin to work through your past traumatic experiences.
Specialized Trauma Treatment helps you to:
Understand the impact trauma has had on your brain and nervous system
Learn coping tools to re-stabilize your nervous system and heal your brain
Heal your relationship with yourself and the world
Process what happened in the past, so you can move on and no longer be defined by what happened to you
Trauma and the harm caused by others doesn’t have to be your story.
I can help you write your next chapter.
FAQs
Q: What are trauma therapy sessions like?
A: Initially, we focus on coping. Using the Trauma Resiliency Model, I will help you start to notice subtle shifts in your nervous system so that you can better manage triggers and start to feel healthy and stable. Once a solid coping foundation is built, we will then start to work through the past experiences that caused the trauma. This happens at your own pace and I will never push you to talk about anything you do not want to talk about yet.
Q: What is your therapeutic style?
A: My style has been described as patient and nurturing while also holding you accountable by gently pointing out unhealthy patterns and helping you to transform them. I strive to hold an empathetic space for clients where they feel fully seen and understood.
Q: How do I know if trauma therapy will work for me?
A: My approach to trauma therapy is backed by science. Many clients just like you start to feel more in control of their lives using the evidence based coping tools I will teach you. It takes time and dedication on your part to use the tools in your every day life. Once you are ready to process through the traumatic events, those same tools will support you in that process as well help your brain and body understand that you have truly survived from the trauma and can move on.
Q: How do we get started?
A: Call or email me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. I will answer any additional questions you have to help you determine if I’m the right therapist for you. If we decide to work together, we will then schedule your first session. It’s up to you whether we meet in-person or virtually.
“My life is more true and beautiful because I had the opportunity to work with you.”
-Past Client