PTSD and Trauma Therapy San Diego, CA

Do you feel like you are stuck in the past, constantly thinking about painful or distressing memories?

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Trauma therapy can help you finally feel free from these negative feelings

Have you experienced a past traumatic event that is negatively affecting you in your present life? Do you find it difficult to focus on daily tasks because you are ruminating about the past? Perhaps you experience physical symptoms such as irritability, hypervigilance, sleep disturbances, or difficulty concentrating. You may replay these past memories and experience negative thoughts about yourself and the world around you.

Many people experience trauma at some point in their lives

There are multiple different types of trauma: emotional trauma, physical trauma, childhood trauma, and more. In fact, 70% of adults in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event. It is important to note that “trauma” is a broad term, and what may have felt traumatic for one person might not have felt traumatic for another. “Trauma” can encompass so many different scenarios. Some examples of traumatic situations including witnessing a death, being in war combat, sexual abuse, losing a loved one, being in a serious accident, or even a break up! If it felt traumatic to you at the time and still ails you today, then it could be considered trauma.

Who is Trauma and PTSD Therapy For?

Trauma and PTSD therapy is for anyone that has experienced a past traumatic event that they would like to process and move forward from. Perhaps the trauma interferes with your daily life by leading to disturbed concentration and haunting thoughts about the past. But maybe that’s not the case, and you just feel sad and distressed any time that you think about the trauma. Either way, seeing a trauma and PTSD therapist could be incredibly useful to help you move forward in your life and leave the trauma behind. Some individuals experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is a condition in which a person has difficulty recovering after being involved in or witnessing a traumatic event. Here are some common PTSD symptoms that are associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:

Even if you haven’t experienced the symptoms above and do not have PTSD, therapy can still be helpful if you feel distressing emotions related to a past trauma. If you’ve recently experienced a traumatic event and would like to learn more about coping, visit the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) website.

Trauma Therapy Can Help

Even if you have experienced trauma, the good news is that seeing a trauma therapist can help. I have utilized trauma therapy in a variety of treatment settings to successfully help clients heal from past trauma and move forward in their lives.

Some benefits of seeing a therapist for trauma include:

What Does a Trauma and PTSD Therapy Session Look Like?

My goal as a trauma therapist is to help you feel comfortable during a time that most may feel uncomfortable – which is typically when discussing past trauma. I will provide a safe space for you to share any thoughts, emotions, or beliefs that you have regarding the past trauma. We will process these feelings and help you gain new understandings about the trauma that perhaps you did not previously have. We will examine any negative beliefs that you hold about yourself and the world related to the trauma, and reframe these into more positive and realistic self-talk. You will learn coping skills and relaxation techniques to keep your mind and body calm that you can utilize during and in between therapy sessions. If you find that you’d like to take it a step further and go beyond talk therapy, we can also introduce Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), which has been proven to be effective in treating trauma. Find out more information about EMDR Therapy in San Diego and Online EMDR Therapy.

Why Book a Trauma Therapy Session with Me?

I have helped a variety of clients in multiple treatment settings to process and overcome their past trauma. I have worked with clients located in school settings, community-based mental health, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities, outpatient clinics, and private practice. Experiencing trauma is very common, and I have successfully helped clients to overcome their trauma in all of these settings. After working with myself as a trauma therapist, these clients have been able to positively move forward in their lives with new thought patterns and belief systems about themselves and the world around them.

In addition to the many different types of clients and treatment settings in which I have helped to overcome trauma, I also utilize mindfulness and breathing techniques that I have learned through my training as a Registered Yoga Teacher. This provides a unique blend of traditional “talk therapy” intertwined with relaxing strategies to help clients feel comfortable during and after session.

Are you ready to leave your trauma in the past and start moving forward?

Contact me to schedule a 15 minute phone consultation and see if Trauma Therapy in San Diego is right for you!

My Standard Rate is $200 Per Session (50 Minutes)

As an out-of-network provider, I have partnered with Mentaya to help my clients save money on therapy. Use the out of network benefits calculator to see if you qualify for reimbursement for my services. Learn more about my rates and insurance.

You may have some questions about seeing a trauma therapist...

Can trauma therapy be harmful or dangerous?

Some may wonder if bringing up past trauma could be dangerous with the concern of “re-triggering” these intense feelings that they experienced during the original traumatic event. Working with a trauma therapist and discussing past trauma is not harmful or dangerous. On the contrary, it can finally allow you to process these difficult emotions and feelings, allowing you to feel significantly freer and more calm in your day-to-day life. If you do feel incredibly distressed during the session, I will be right by your side and will help to relax your mind and body by guiding you through calming grounding and relaxation techniques.

I don’t know if I have experienced trauma... do I need trauma therapy?

The word “trauma” can encompass so many different things. Ultimately, I like to define trauma as: any event that you found to be deeply disturbing. Regardless of how “big” or “small” the event might seem to you…. if you found it to be disturbing and it still ails you to this day, it could classify as trauma. Regardless of how large your trauma history is, you deserve help and can find immense relief and healing through working with a trauma therapist.

How do I prepare for a trauma therapy session?

You do not need to do anything to prepare! Just show up and I’ll talk the lead from there. I will guide you through a series of questions to get to know you and understand your reasons for seeking therapy, as well as the goals that you would like to accomplish in therapy. There is no specific order or sequence of events that needs to take place in therapy for trauma. We will discuss the trauma when you are ready, and I will be with you every step of the way.

Will I have to relive my trauma in session in order to fully heal?

Every client is different, and the level to which they experience distressing emotions and sensations when discussing past trauma may vary. It may be difficult to talk about the trauma, and I will be incredibly sensitive in responding to what you need in the moment and to what level of detail you feel comfortable discussing. It may not be easy, but know that talking about past trauma can be incredibly freeing for both your mind and your body, and it is the first step towards the path of healing.

Will trauma counseling and therapy work for me?

Though you will never truly know if trauma counseling and therapy will work for you without trying it, many clients have shared that it was incredibly helpful just to have a non-judgmental presence to listen to them and validate their concerns and struggles. If you aren’t satisfied with the way that things are going in your life right now and you feel that past trauma may play a part in that, then it absolutely doesn’t hurt to try seeing a trauma therapist and work towards improving your life and overall happiness levels.

What is the best therapy for PTSD?

There are a variety of therapeutic techniques that can be helpful in alleviating symptoms of PTSD. PTSD therapy can encompass multiple things, including traditional talk therapy, helping you to improve coping skills to manage symptoms of PTSD, and even adding in additional modalities such as EMDR therapy. The best thing that you can do to overcome your PTSD is to work through and process the trauma with a trained professional, so that you can alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms and move forward in your life.

Where can you serve clients as a trauma therapist?

I can serve clients in California, Utah and Florida.

If you are looking online trauma therapy in New Hampshire or Maine then check out Christina Enable, LCMHC.

Symptoms Related to Trauma

Oftentimes, those that have experienced trauma may also experience PTSD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or more. Below are a list of common co-occurring trauma symptoms that I often treat clients for in trauma and PTSD therapy:

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - A condition in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Some symptoms may include feelings of distress, physical reminders of trauma (nausea, sweating, pounding heart), intrusive thoughts and memories, flashbacks, nightmares, feeling emotionally detached, loss of interest in life and daily activities, and avoidance of specific events/feelings that serve as a reminder of the traumatic event. Learn more about traumatic stress.
Trauma - Even if you do not meet the full criteria for PTSD (above), trauma therapy can also be incredibly helpful for individuals that have experienced any type of trauma throughout their lives.
Childhood Trauma - Trauma and PTSD therapy can also be very helpful for individuals that may have experienced trauma during their childhood. It will allow you to process difficult past events, no matter how long ago they occurred. Processing traumatic events from your childhood can be incredibly helpful, as they may be having a negative impact on your current life and worldview without you even consciously realizing it.
Panic Attack - Heart palpitations, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, feelings of impending doom.

Other Specified Anxiety Disorder - Symptoms of an anxiety disorder cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning but do not meet the full criteria for another anxiety disorder diagnosis.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - A condition in which an individual experiences excessive worry about a number of different things (personal health, work, relationships, finances, etc) most days, for at least 6 months. The fear and anxiety can cause significant problems in areas of their life including work, social relationships, and more.
Specific Phobia - Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (i.e. flying, heights, spiders, receiving an injection).
Eating Disorders - Eating disorders are characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating-related behaviors that results in the altered consumption or absorption of food and that significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning. Eating disorders can negatively impact an individual’s physical health, relationships, work/school functioning, and overall self-esteem.

Trauma Treatments

EMDR Therapy

In Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, you are guided by your therapist to engage in bilateral stimulation of your eye movements while imagining distressing scenarios. The act of bilateral stimulation will help your brain to fully process the distressing feelings and events, shifting your attention towards more positive thoughts and helping depression to dissipate. EMDR Therapy has been shown to be effective to help with a variety of mental health conditions, including PTSD and trauma. EMDR therapy can help you to view your life and yourself in more positive ways.

Mindfulness Therapy Practices

Mindfulness practices include exercises and therapeutic techniques to help calm our nervous system down, which is essential in relaxing our mind and body. Some mindfulness practices include targeted breathing exercises, guided imagery, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation. Mindfulness-based practices can help you to feel more present, alive, and grateful in your day-to-day life — all of which can be very helpful with overcoming trauma.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that examines the relationship between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It helps you to become more aware of negative thoughts so that you can view difficult situations in a new way and respond to them more effectively. There is strong evidence that CBT is an effective treatment for the reduction of PTSD and trauma symptoms.

PTSD and Trauma Therapy in San Diego, CA

If you’re ready to overcome your trauma and learn more about my PTSD and trauma therapy services, please use the button above or call (619) 800-5393 for a free 15 minute phone consultation.

Self emBody Therapy
EMDR, Eating Disorders, Anxiety
5330 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 120,
San Diego, CA 92121
(619) 800-5393

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