Trauma Therapy in Culver City, CA

No. One of the most meaningful aspects of EMDR is that it does not require you to verbally recount or narrate your traumatic experiences in detail. You hold the memory in mind internally while we work with it together. Many clients find this a significant relief.

This varies considerably depending on the nature and complexity of the trauma. Single-event PTSD may resolve meaningfully in 6 to 12 sessions. Complex or developmental trauma, the kind rooted in childhood or ongoing relational patterns, typically requires a longer course of treatment. We assess this together and adapt the plan as your healing progresses.

This is one of the most common concerns I hear. Trauma is not determined by the severity of an event. It is determined by the impact that event or pattern had on your nervous system. If you are struggling with symptoms that feel disproportionate, persistent, or confusing, trauma therapy may provide meaningful answers and relief.

Trauma is your body and brain's reactions to experiences. Trauma is traditionally thought of as an event that you have experienced or witnessed where you felt in danger. We have also come to understand that there are events we experience when we are young called developmental traumas. These are situations that happen when the people caring for us cannot meet our emotional needs. They can result in us not feeling cared for, feeling unsafe, unseen, or unheard. You might be experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, or unease. You might have nightmares or flashbacks. You might avoid people, places, or situations. Trauma looks different in different people.

I work with clients who have experienced a wide range of trauma, including developmental trauma from childhood, one-time traumatic events such as accidents or medical diagnoses, grief and loss, and complex trauma resulting from ongoing difficult experiences. Whether your trauma feels "big" or "small," your experience is valid and deserving of care.

I use a combination of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Polyvagal techniques, and Psychodynamic therapy. This integrated approach allows me to tailor treatment to your unique needs, addressing both the stored memories in your nervous system and the deeper patterns that developed as a result of your experiences.

EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer feel as distressing. During EMDR sessions, I guide you through recalling difficult memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, which helps your brain process and integrate these experiences in a new way. Many clients find relief from symptoms that talk therapy alone did not fully resolve.

The length of trauma therapy varies depending on your unique history, goals, and how your mind and body respond to treatment. Some clients experience significant relief within a few months, while others with more complex trauma histories may benefit from longer-term work. I will collaborate with you to regularly assess your progress and adjust our approach as needed.

Yes, research supports that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions for treating trauma. Many clients actually find that being in their own comfortable, private space helps them feel safer and more open during difficult work. I provide all my services through secure, confidential video sessions.

We begin with a free 20-minute consultation so I can learn about what brings you to therapy and you can ask any questions. After that, you will complete intake forms, and we will meet weekly. Early sessions focus on building trust, understanding your history, and developing coping skills to help you feel stable and resourced before we begin processing traumatic memories.

Yes. I have been very successful in doing EMDR online with many clients. The bilateral stimulation used in EMDR adapts effectively to virtual delivery through tapping, audio tones, or screen-based eye movement tools. Online therapy offers the additional benefit of receiving care in your own environment, which for many trauma survivors is actually more conducive to the nervous system regulation required for deep processing.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, while TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) uses structured cognitive and behavioral techniques to address trauma-related thoughts and behaviors. EMDR often requires less verbal narration of the traumatic event, which many clients find more comfortable. Both are evidence-based treatments endorsed by major health organizations.

Yes. Many of the women I work with carry what is often called developmental or relational trauma. It is the accumulated weight of being unseen, dismissed, criticized, or unsupported in ways that shaped the nervous system just as powerfully as more recognized traumatic events. You do not need a dramatic single event to benefit from trauma therapy. If the past is affecting the present in your emotions, your body, your relationships, or your sense of worth, that is the threshold.