Trauma Therapy in Pasadena

I offer trauma therapy in Pasadena for adults navigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, and dissociation with a compassionate, attachment-based approach.

“Traumas embed when our system is overwhelmed by pain and fear without having sufficient internal resources or companionship to help integrate the experience… Just as people have internalized those who injured them, that same capacity can bring us [therapists] inside… to resolve this primary wound of being alone.”

– Bonnie Badenoch, LMFT –

What is Trauma?

Trauma is the disruption of our mind and body’s natural release process during and after overwhelming, disturbing experiences. Trauma can come from a single event or a series of experiences over time. Trauma is not just about what happened to you, but the ongoing impact that lives in the body and mind afterward, that can show up in many ways, including:

  • Feeling numb or shut down

  • Persistent anxiety or emotional flooding

  • Flashbacks (of both images/memories or overwhelming waves of emotions) or intrusive thoughts or nightmares

  • Difficulty trusting others or feeling close in relationships

  • Chronic shame, self-blame, or a sense that something is “wrong” with you

  • Constantly alert or hypervigilant for danger

  • Avoiding certain memories, people, or places

  • Or caught in patterns that don’t make sense or feel impossible to change.

Change is possible. Freedom is possible. Healing can be messy, effortful, and repetitious, but with the support of a therapist, the impact of these experiences can be managed and even released.

What is Dissociation?

Dissociation is one of the brain’s most powerful coping strategies. When things feel too overwhelming, your mind may protect you by disconnecting from your thoughts, feelings, body, or even your sense of self. This can look like:

  • “Spacing out” or feeling far away during conversations

  • Losing track of time or having memory gaps

  • Feeling unreal, like you’re watching your life from the outside or experiencing life like you’re watching a movie/television show

  • Switching between different inner states or “parts” of yourself

These responses are adaptive strategies your nervous system developed to survive. But over time, they can make it hard to feel whole, grounded, or present in your life.

How I Can Help

I offer a gentle, collaborative approach to trauma healing that honors your pace and your story. My work is grounded in parts-based therapy approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Ego States Therapy, which help us understand and care for the different parts of you that have taken on roles of protection, survival, or pain. These parts may feel conflicted, stuck, or scared, but each one developed for a reason and carries important wisdom.

I am trained in and use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as a tool to support the brain in reprocessing traumatic memories so they no longer feel so raw, disturbing, or present.

Alongside this, I integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help you explore how emotions and attachment needs show up in your relationships, including your relationship with yourself. This helps build greater emotional clarity, safety, and connection.

Together, we can create space for healing, so you can feel more grounded, whole, and connected.

Ready to Begin?

You don’t have to carry this alone. Healing is possible, and it starts with a single step. If you’re curious about whether therapy with me might be a good fit, I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute introductory call. It’s a no-pressure space to ask questions, share a bit about what you’re looking for, and see if we feel like a good match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trauma therapy is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on helping you process and heal from overwhelming experiences, whether from a single event or ongoing, complex trauma. It supports you in understanding how trauma lives in the body and mind, and works gently to restore a sense of safety, connection, and empowerment in the present.

No. Trauma therapy doesn’t require you to relive or retell every detail of your past. In fact, many approaches I use, like EMDR and parts-based work, allow us to process trauma without going into full narrative detail. We’ll always move at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you. If or when you are ready to share your story, I would be honored to hold space for it.

You don’t need a specific diagnosis to benefit from trauma therapy. If you feel stuck in certain patterns, disconnected from yourself, highly anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure why you react the way you do, these may be signs of unresolved trauma. I can help you explore this with care and curiosity.

Trauma refers to any experience that overwhelms your system’s ability to cope. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one possible outcome of trauma, but not everyone who experiences trauma will meet the criteria for PTSD. Many people experience trauma-related symptoms without a formal diagnosis and still deserve healing and support.

That’s okay, and you’re not alone. I work with many clients who experience dissociation or feel like different “parts” of them are stuck in different times, roles, or emotions. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS)- and Ego States Therapy-informed techniques, we gently build connection, understanding, and safety between those parts.

I use an integrative, trauma-informed approach including techniques from:

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Ego States Therapy

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • Polyvagal Theory

  • Mindfulness, somatic awareness, and attachment-focused techniques

I recommend that all clients expect to be in therapy for at least 6-12 months. Duration of treatment depends on your goals, your history, and how we choose to work together. Some clients feel relief after a few months; others stay in therapy longer for deeper integration and support. If you have a more complex trauma history and are experiencing more extreme symptoms, treatment may take longer. No matter what, we work at the pace of trust. We’ll check in regularly to make sure the work feels aligned and supportive for you.

Curious About Working Together?

I offer a free 15-minute introductory consultation to help us get a sense of fit and answer any questions you may have. This is a low-pressure space to explore what you’re looking for in therapy and how I might support you. You’re welcome just as you are.