Therapy for Trauma

When painful past experiences are interfering with life today, a trauma therapist can help.

After a painful experience, most of us just want to move forward and get on with our lives. Unfortunately, we often find that our minds and our bodies aren’t cooperating with that plan.

Trauma can make your world shrink. Things that should be simple feel like a minefield of triggers. Energy meant for the things you care about is used up just getting through the day.

Unwanted memories, fear and dread, and a constant state of vigilance are just some of the challenges people typically experience after a traumatic event. And they can make it difficult to be present in our personal and professional lives.

Fortunately, therapy for trauma can help.

A brown skinned Latinx woman with dark hair is photographed close up. She is holding her face in her hands with a serious expression on her face.

It’s not your fault you experienced a trauma. And you deserve support to heal.

Did you know that feelings of guilt and self-blame are some of the most common symptoms people experience after a traumatic event? It’s true. And those feelings often keep us from seeking out the care and support we need to heal.

Sadly, when it comes to trauma, time doesn’t heal all wounds.

Traumatic memories are actually stored differently in our brains and our bodies. That means a traumatic event that happened when you were a kid can feel just as real and painful as if it happened yesterday.

If you’ve been living with the aftermath of trauma for months, years, or even decades, it can be hard to believe that things could be different. But trauma is very much treatable. A trained trauma therapist can help guide you towards recovery. With the right support, painful past experiences don’t have to derail your peace of mind, your relationships, or your life.

 

Trauma Therapy Can Help You:

Eliminate intrusive memories, nightmares, and flashbacks

Regulate your emotional response to trauma triggers

Stop avoiding people, places, or situations

Improve relationships impacted by trauma

Feel more comfortable and secure in your body

Build trust in your own perceptions, feelings, and instincts

Make sense of traumatic experiences so that you can move forward

A young African American woman sits on her bed with a friendly dog. She is attending an online therapy session on her laptop.

Does my experience count as a trauma?

Traumatic experiences are events that threaten our sense of safety and security in the world.

They can be a one time event, such as a car accident or a natural disaster. Trauma can also be ongoing, such as domestic violence or childhood abuse. Our risk of psychological injury increases with the more traumatic events we experience. 

Our clients often start therapy unsure if they’ve experienced a trauma or not. That’s a perfectly good starting place for therapy.

While some events, such as a violent assault, are more easily recognized as traumatic, others, like emotional abuse, may be less obvious. But they can still have profound impacts on our sense of self, our safety, and our relationships with others.

Whether your experience was trauma or something else—if you’re struggling, we can figure it out together. 

Find a Trauma Therapist Near You

Our therapists have current openings and are ready to connect with new clients. Schedule a free, 20-minute phone consultation today, and meet your new therapist within a week! 

 What to Expect from Trauma Therapy at Stella Nova

Every Stella Nova therapist has been trained in trauma-informed approaches to therapy. Some of us have additional, specialized training or certification in trauma therapies, including the treatment of PTSD and C-PTSD. 

You’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to healing after trauma. With support and guidance from your therapist, you’ll get to define your goals and decide the pacing of the work we do together.

We don’t pressure clients to share things they don’t want to, or before they’re ready. But with your consent, we may offer some gentle encouragement to get outside your comfort zone at times.

If you’re interested in learning more about what we offer, or getting matched with a great-fit therapist, you can schedule a free 20-minute consultation with our intake specialist. During your call, she’ll get to know a little bit about your goals for therapy. Then, she’ll use that information to set you up with a therapist who is a great match for your preferences and needs. 

Trauma psychologist Dr. Alexis Lopez and San Francisco therapist Dr. Justine Fan relax on a park bench in Golden Gate Park.

Common Types of Trauma We Treat:

  • Childhood abuse or neglect
  • Accidents or natural disasters
  • Workplace and corporate trauma 
  • Experiences of systemic oppression
  • Illness and medical trauma
  • Physical violence and assault
  • Traumatic grief and loss
  • Emotional or psychological abuse
  • Sexual assault, abuse, and exploitation
  • Immigration trauma

Therapy for Trauma & More Online Throughout California

At Stella Nova, we offer therapy for a wide range of mental health concerns, including trauma, depression, anxiety, burnout & work stress, relationship issues, chronic pain, and more.

Our clinic specializes in the mental health needs of women and nonbinary professionals. We treat individuals age 18+ as well as couples of all genders and sexual orientations.

We are currently seeing clients throughout California via our secure video platform. We also are available for in-person therapy at our San Francisco office, located in Lower Pacific Heights.

Young short-haired professional woman with glasses sits in front of her laptop. She is holding her head in her hands and is smiling.

Set Up A Free 20-Minute Phone Consultation & Connect with a Stella Nova Trauma Therapist Today

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