in person in alamo, SAN RAMON & Danville | ONLINE therapy ACROSS CA
Trauma Therapy for women
TRANSFORM YOUR PAIN INTO RELIEF
The pain you carry from your past still shapes your present…
You may find yourself here because something recently happened that caught you off guard. Perhaps it’s a reaction that felt too big, a relationship that mirrors something painful from your past, a moment where you thought ‘why am I still carrying this’? Or maybe there wasn't one big moment, but rather a slow realization that no matter how hard you've worked to move on, the past keeps finding its way back in. You've managed. You've pushed through. But something has shifted, and it's getting harder to ignore.
You find yourself...
Experiencing flashbacks, intrusive memories, or going out of your way to avoid reminders of your past
Working hard to please others — saying yes when you mean no, shrinking yourself to keep the peace and putting your own needs last
Struggling to trust yourself or others, keeping people at arm's length even when you desperately want connection
Having emotional reactions that feel out of proportion: shame, rage, shutdown — and struggling to understand why you’re responding this way
Noticing patterns you can't seem to break: the same relationship dynamics, the same self-sabotage, the same wall going up
Feeling the past show up in your body - tension, hypervigilance or a persistent sense of being unsafe even when you're not
These patterns have a way of showing up when you least expect them — a conversation that suddenly feels loaded, a relationship that pulls you somewhere familiar and painful, a moment of self-doubt that cuts deeper than it should. You're not sure why you keep responding the way you do. Only that you're exhausted from working this hard just to stay afloat.
Trauma has a way of living in the body, in the nervous system, and in the stories we carry about who we are. Without you realizing it, it shapes your closest relationships, your work, and your ability to show up in your own life in a fulfilling and authentic way.
You've managed this far on your own. But managing isn't the same as healing.
How therapy works
You’re In The Right Place
Healing from trauma is possible, even when it doesn't feel that way right now. Using evidence-based approaches including EMDR, Somatic therapy, Attachment work and Narrative Therapy, we'll work together to help you process what happened, understand how it's shaped you, and build a life that no longer feels defined by your past.
Therapy for trauma can help you…
Feel more in control of your emotions and reactions, rather than feeling hijacked by them
Understand the connection between your past experiences and the patterns showing up in your life today
Build fulfilling relationships grounded in trust and genuine connection, not old survival strategies
Calm your nervous system so your body no longer feels like it's constantly bracing for the next threat
Develop practical tools to navigate difficult emotions and triggers without feeling overwhelmed
Move through the world with a greater sense of safety, clarity and confidence
What We’ll Work On
Healing from trauma doesn't require you to relive every painful detail of your story. What it does require is a willingness to look at it differently, and the right support to do that safely. My approach is built on one core belief: the strength to heal already lives inside you. My job is to help you find it, trust it and use it.
01 - UNDERSTAND
We'll begin at a pace that feels right for you, one that always keeps you in control of how deep we go and when. Together we'll explore how your traumatic experiences have shaped your beliefs, left their mark deep in your nervous system and changed the way you move through the world. Often you'll feel it in your body before you can make sense of it in your mind — a tightening, a shutdown, a reaction that seems to come from nowhere. You'll start to see, often for the first time, how your past is showing up in your present: in your reactions, your relationships and the stories you've been telling yourself about who you are and what you're capable of. This isn't about rehashing painful memories. It's about developing the kind of insight that begins to loosen trauma's grip from the inside out.
02 - REBUILD
This is where the real shift begins — in your thinking, your patterns and in your body. At the center of our work is EMDR, a powerful approach that helps your brain do something it hasn't been able to do on its own: process traumatic experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional charge. Because here's what trauma does: even when you logically know the threat is gone, your body hasn't gotten the message. EMDR helps it finally catch up. But trauma healing isn’t just about processing a memory. It's also about the stories you've been carrying, the relationships that shaped you and the strength you may not yet know you have. Our work together weaves all of this into one cohesive approach — gently challenging the beliefs that have kept you stuck, rebuilding trust in yourself and others, and helping you feel your own resilience, not just understand it. Gradually, your body starts to feel safe enough to let go
03 - HEAL
Clients who reach this stage often say the same thing: “I can't believe how far I've come”. The fears that once felt immovable have loosened. The patterns that used to run on autopilot are ones you now catch and consciously choose to change. You trust your own judgment. There's a quiet in your body you may not have felt in years and a steadiness that doesn't depend on everything going right. You'll start to feel it before you can explain it and you'll know you're there because the work starts to feel less like work. You catch the old thought before it takes hold. You feel the trigger without being taken over by it. You make choices from a different place — not from fear or old habit, but from a clearer, calmer version of yourself that was always there. That version of you isn't out of reach and you don't have to find your way there alone.
Ready to stop managing and start healing?
questions about trauma therapy
FAQs
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Many people only think of “Big T trauma” when they refer to events like abuse, accidents, combat or being exposed to violence. However, ongoing and persistent painful experiences of “Little T Trauma” like toxic relationships, abandonment or unresolved family conflict, can be equally damaging. Regardless of the expression, there is no measure for how “big” trauma is, as all pain is the same. If you have experienced something that still feels painful and impacts you today, you are likely struggling with trauma.
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I can help you work through a variety of traumatic experiences such as past abuse, toxic family environments, witnessing violence, being a victim of crime, traumatic loss/death or workplace harassment. There are usually a variety of other traumatic experiences that bring clients to therapy.
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You should not feel retraumatized in therapy. Retelling traumatic events is not a requirement for treatment. We will only work at a pace and level that feels safe and comfortable to you. I will follow your lead on how to approach this. Many clients wish to not retell painful parts of their story, while others feel it is helpful for their healing and when ready to do so, benefit from the support and guidance I offer them.
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There are various complex factors that go into the healing process since each individual experience is different. There isn’t a definitive answer, but variables that affect the process include the extent/severity of the trauma, the level of impact on your life, barriers to overcome during this journey, ability to use skills effectively and the pace you’re comfortable working with. We will routinely review and adjust goals as we go to ensure you reach your desired outcomes.
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Simply contact me here or schedule a free consultation to find out if trauma therapy can help you.