Online trauma therapy based in Aptos and serving all of California
Does it feel like you can’t trust anyone anymore- even yourself?
Trauma leaves us feeling vulnerable, and our natural response to that is often to pull back so we can feel safe. Over time, that starts to feel lonely and yet opening up again feels like too big a risk.
Maybe your relationships- with friends, family, coworkers- are chaotic and messy with intense emotional highs and lows that leave you feeling drained but still chasing the kind of connection that will finally make you feel seen, known, and understood.
Or maybe you don’t let anyone that close. People try to get to know you, but every time you give in and share a part of yourself, it doesn’t end well. You’ve learned it’s better to not even try.
Maybe your trauma has left you feeling anxious, always scanning for threats and trying to anticipate any danger that might come. When you’re on edge all the time, everything starts to look like a potential problem.
Or maybe it’s left you exhausted and giving up on trying to manage things. People are going to try to hurt you or take advantage of you and you can’t stop it, so you distance yourself from life. If you’re living in your head, you don’t have to experience the hurt.
Feel safe and confident to build the life you want to live
Imagine if you could…
Respond to stress, uncertainty, and emotional triggers in a way that feels more in proportion to what’s currently happening
Stay present even during difficult conversations, moments of grief, or periods of anxiety instead of shutting down or becoming overwhelmed
Feel an internal sense of safety, even when things feel out of control
Relax, rest, and sleep in peace without nightmares, panic, or intrusive thoughts
Feel safer being emotionally close, vulnerable, and connected in healthy relationships
Pause and choose how to respond in a way that feels aligned with your values instead of reacting automatically from fear, overwhelm, or survival mode
Your past won’t feel like it’s running your life anymore. You’ll have more space, flexibility, and trust in yourself to move through life with greater presence, connection, and emotional freedom.
My approach to trauma work
Often, the lasting pain of trauma is from broken relationships:
the person who didn’t help you or didn’t believe you
feeling like you weren’t welcome or wanted
being betrayed by someone close to you
being dismissed or mistreated by a doctor when you needed care
…so healing from trauma happens in relationship too.
Therapy is about working through those experiences in a safe, healthy space with a therapist who is committed to understanding you and caring about you.
Depending on your comfort level, we can either work through the impact of the past without having to tell me the story of what happened (with EMDR or Brainspotting), or by talking through the experience, including what you remember thinking, feeling, and doing at the time and how things changed afterward (using CPT or WET).
We’ll focus on building trust with yourself so you feel safe as you engage with the world again. Then we’ll work toward helping you build the life you want on the outside, however that looks for you. You’ll have the confidence to move toward your goals, trusting yourself to be able to handle whatever comes your way.
Trauma therapy can help you…
Pause before reacting automatically and be able to choose a response that fits the way you want to live
Build healthy, supportive relationships with people you trust so you can feel safe even when you’re choosing to be open and vulnerable
Build up a strong sense of internal safety and stability so you can trust yourself to stay grounded and present even when difficult things come up
Let’s help you move from survival mode into a fuller, more connected life
I offer online trauma therapy and EMDR 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. Learn more about EMDR here.
Do I have to talk about what happened?
No. I am trained in several trauma-focused therapy methods that do not require you to share the story or details of what happened. EMDR is one example of a therapy method that asks you to hold your memory in mind while we work, but you do not need to tell me the details. We’ll work on the emotions, thoughts, and core beliefs about yourself that have been affected by your experiences without you having to talk through the content.
What if I don’t remember what happened?
You don’t have to have specific or detailed memories to focus on for trauma therapy. Instead, we’ll work on the effects of trauma that are showing up in your current life. As we work, you may start to remember more details or not. Either way is fine. What matters is that we start to see improvements in your life moving forward- healthy relationships, fewer nightmares, less panic and anxiety, and confidence in yourself and your ability to navigate the world.
How does trauma affect my relationships?
Trauma can make it difficult to trust yourself, others, and the world around you. When you can’t trust anyone, it’s hard to be open. And when you can’t be vulnerable with others, you can’t have deep, meaningful relationships. Your boundaries might be too rigid, not letting anyone in. Or they may be too loose, allowing harmful and unsafe relationships to continue even when you know it’s not what you want.
Can trauma therapy help if I’m still dealing with the person who hurt me?
Yes. Trauma therapy can help you navigate difficult or harmful relationships, set healthy boundaries, and correctly identify whether a relationship is truly safe or not. Many of my clients decide to go through a divorce or separation after growing to trust themselves more and building their confidence to handle things on their own. But others are caregiving for a parent or spouse who harmed them and don’t want to leave. That’s okay too. I’ll never push you into any choice, we’ll just explore your values, needs, and goals so you can make the decision that feels most aligned for you.
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.
What is trauma therapy like?
Therapy for trauma may involve talking, observing your body’s responses, working with memories, or using specific trauma therapy methods like EMDR, CPT, WET, or ACT. Our depth and pace are in your control. Some people like to dive straight in and confront the worst memories directly. Other people need a more gentle approach. Either way, you’ll be supported with resources to help you manage any difficult emotions or memories both in and out of sessions.
What kinds of trauma do you work with?
I work with a variety of forms of trauma, from helping you feel confident driving again after an accident to processing a painful childhood to working through combat or torture experiences. The pain of trauma is often in the ways it continues to affect us even years after it happened, so I don’t differentiate between “big” or “small” traumatic events. And if you’ve experienced multiple traumas or have a complicated life history, we can start wherever you feel most comfortable.