Trauma Therapy
EMDR and trauma-informed therapy for painful memories, intrusive thoughts, and experiences that still feel present and unresolved. Online therapy based in Aptos and serving clients across California.
Past experiences keep showing up in the present
Sometimes trauma is connected to a clear event: an accident, an assault, or a moment where your safety was suddenly threatened. But for many people, trauma develops in quieter ways.
It may come from repeated experiences over time:
growing up in a home where your emotions weren’t understood
being dismissed or not believed when something painful happened
feeling responsible for managing other people’s reactions
relationships where your needs were minimized or ignored
The strategies you learned in response to these experiences were helpful. They allowed you to get through some truly painful moments, but now they don’t fit the life you have today. Trauma doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your mind and body adapted to experiences that were overwhelming or unsafe at the time.
You might notice it now as:
intrusive thoughts and memories
difficulty relaxing or sleeping
feeling constantly on edge
strong emotional reactions that seem to come out of nowhere
patterns in relationships that keep repeating
How trauma can show up in daily life
Trauma often becomes most noticeable in quiet moments. You might find that your mind becomes louder when the day finally slows down, when you're trying to fall asleep, or when there are no distractions left. Memories replay, thoughts loop, and your body stays tense even when nothing dangerous is happening.
Sleep can become difficult, nightmares may appear, relationships can feel complicated because trusting others no longer feels as easy or natural. None of this means you’re weak. These are common ways the nervous system tries to stay alert after something overwhelming has happened.
Trauma requires holistic healing- mind, body, and spirit.
Trauma therapy isn’t about forcing yourself to relive painful experiences. It’s about helping your mind and body process memories that were never fully resolved. My approach is both relational and trauma-informed. We move at a pace that feels steady and safe, building the capacity to explore difficult memories without becoming overwhelmed.
I’m trained in several trauma therapies, including:
EMDR (Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR)
Brainspotting
Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
These methods allow us to work directly with trauma memories and the body’s stress response so that past experiences no longer carry the same emotional intensity.
In our work together we may:
identify memories or feelings that feel stuck
process trauma with EMDR or other methods
notice how trauma shows up in your body and emotions
understand how past experiences shape your current patterns
Over time, many people find that memories feel less intrusive, reactions feel less overwhelming, and they regain a greater sense of safety and control in their lives.
Trauma therapy doesn’t erase the past, it changes how the past lives in your memory.
I offer online trauma therapy and EMDR therapy for people in Aptos and throughout California.
Frequently asked questions about therapy for trauma
Do you use EMDR for trauma?
Yes, I am trained in Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR which is a gentler, more holistic way to approach EMDR that is particularly helpful for people whose trauma developed through ongoing or relational experiences.
Can therapy help with panic attacks?
Yes. Therapy can help you understand the internal and physical processes that fuel panic and develop a steadier response when symptoms arise. Panic attacks can happen after trauma, but they do not have to define your future.
Is online therapy effective for trauma?
Yes. In fact, many of my clients say they enjoy online therapy during trauma work because they are able to be home or in another safe place instead of out in an unfamiliar office. If you want to do EMDR, there may be some tech requirements to make sure you are able to fully participate. We can discuss those tech requirements and any possible adjustments during your free consultation.