Trauma Therapy in California for Women Who Feel Stuck in Survival Mode
You’ve carried the weight of the past long enough. Even if you’ve learned to push through and stay “strong,” old wounds can still ache. Trauma therapy with me can help you release the pressure and finally feel safe in your own body again.
You’ve Been the Strong One for Too Long
Always the one holding it together. Always the one others leaned on. But inside? You’re exhausted.
You bury your past because you don’t want to “go there.”
You avoid conversations or places that trigger old memories.
No matter how much you achieve, it still never feels like “enough.”
These are the hidden ways trauma shows up — not just in your thoughts, but in your nervous system. Trauma therapy in California gives you a safe place to stop surviving and start living.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Trauma doesn’t just live in memories…it lives in your body, your reactions, your relationships. My clients often share:
Feeling on edge or hyper-aware, even in safe moments
Avoiding people, places, or reminders of the past
Struggling to open up, fearing they’ll be misunderstood
Emotional outbursts or shutting down without knowing why
Overthinking every decision, waiting for the worst outcome
Feeling disconnected or numb, like life is happening outside of you
If this sounds like you, you’re not broken. Your nervous system has been protecting you. But you don’t have to live in survival mode forever.
I often share reflections on trauma, boundaries, and healing on my Treasure Talks blog.
It’s Not Just Trauma…It’s Old Survival Patterns
Trauma isn’t about what happened to you. It’s about what your body had to do to survive.
Many women come to me saying, “I just want to stop feeling anxious or overwhelmed.” But beneath the surface are old survival patterns (people-pleasing, overthinking, hyper-independence, perfectionism, emotional shutdown) that trace back to times when your feelings weren’t safe to express.
This is why trauma therapy isn’t just about calming your mind for the moment. It’s about gently rewiring your nervous system so you no longer feel hijacked by overthinking, guilt, or the “what ifs.”
The Cost of Staying in Survival Mode
Left unprocessed, trauma doesn’t fade. It compounds.
You might notice:
• Anxiety and panic attacks that come out of nowhere
• Burnout that makes it hard to function even when you’re “getting things done”
• Relationship struggles because it feels easier to shut down than risk being hurt again
• Shame and guilt for not being able to “just move on”
• Disconnection from yourself—your wants, needs, and even your identity
And maybe the hardest part is you begin to wonder if this is just who you are now.
But here’s the truth: you are not broken. You’re carrying unprocessed pain that your body still thinks it has to protect you from. Healing is possible.
How Trauma Therapy Helps
Trauma therapy gives your nervous system the safety and tools it needs to finally release what it’s been holding.
In my work, I combine:
EMDR therapy – to reprocess the stuck memories and beliefs keeping you on high alert.
Nervous system regulation – to help your body learn it doesn’t always have to be braced for impact.
Emotional intelligence coaching – so you can listen to what your emotions are trying to tell you instead of suppressing them.
This isn’t about talking your trauma to death. It’s about actually moving it through your system so you can breathe again.
Want to know what an EMDR session actually looks like? Read my blog on What to Expect in EMDR.
What Healing Can Feel Like
When you process trauma, you start to notice shifts like:
Your chest feels lighter; your body doesn’t carry constant tension
Sleep comes easier, without racing thoughts keeping you awake
You feel calmer and more present in your relationships
You stop needing to be perfect to feel safe or loved
You trust yourself again (your boundaries, your choices, your voice)
Healing doesn’t erase your story. It changes the way it lives in you.
Why Work With Me
You’ve probably read other therapy websites that sound clinical or detached. Here’s what sets me apart:
I get it. I don’t just know trauma from textbooks—I’ve lived through my own, healed through EMDR, and now guide other women through it with compassion and honesty.
I blend therapy + coaching. Most therapists will either process emotions or give you tools. I do both—helping you heal and equipping you with nervous system and emotional intelligence skills for everyday life.
I speak your language. My clients are high-achieving women—overthinkers, people-pleasers, perfectionists—who are tired of holding it all together on the outside while falling apart on the inside.
You don’t have to keep carrying this alone.
Too Busy for Therapy?
If you’ve thought, “I don’t have time for therapy”, you’re not alone. Trauma survivors are often the ones juggling it all.
That’s why I offer EMDR Intensives for clients who want focused, accelerated healing without waiting months to feel relief.
Curious? Explore EMDR Intensives here to see how half-day or multi-day sessions can fit into your life.
And if you want to start small, check out my digital workbook From Head to Heart in my shop—designed for women who intellectualize their emotions but want to feel more connected to themselves.
What We Can Work on Together
Trauma therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Together, we can explore:
• Healing the impact of childhood emotional neglect
• Untangling patterns of people-pleasing and perfectionism
• Releasing the shame and fear tied to past abuse or abandonment
• Processing grief and heartbreak that still lingers in your body
• Learning how to regulate your nervous system so you can feel safe
Looking for support specifically with grief? See my Grief Therapy page.
Communities I Serve
I provide trauma therapy and EMDR online across California, including Santa Monica, Westwood, and Culver City. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, grief, or the weight of old survival patterns, my therapy services are available wherever you feel safe logging in from home.
FAQs about Trauma Therapy
If you’re considering trauma therapy in California, you may have questions. Here are some of the most common questions I hear. Take a look at my FAQ page or reach out.
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I don’t do surface-level therapy. We won’t just talk about coping… we’ll get to the patterns underneath that keep you stuck in survival mode. I use EMDR and trauma-informed tools to help you process what’s been stored in your body, not just your mind. You won’t have to rehash everything — just come as you are, and we’ll work with what’s showing up now.
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Nope. Many of my clients come in saying, “I don’t even know where to start.” That’s okay. You don’t have to have a list or a plan. My job is to help you make sense of what’s going on underneath the stress, anxiety, and burnout and help you feel more like you again
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There’s no pressure to perform here. Some sessions are quiet. Some are reflective. Some are emotional. You don’t have to come in ready to talk about everything. We move at your pace with tools that help when words don’t come easy.
