Understanding trauma and its impact on mental health
Trauma is deeply personal and has many definitions. Mental Health America defines trauma as "an emotional response to a distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms the individual’s ability to cope."
Studies show that over 70% of people worldwide have experienced one or more traumatic event, with over 30% of people experiencing four or more.
Trauma is difficult to define, as what is traumatic for one person isn't necessarily traumatic for another. However, if you've experienced an event (or series of events) that made it difficult for you to return to a sense of safety, you've probably experienced trauma.
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Are you currently accepting new clients?My practice is currently full. Please fill out the form above to be added to the waitlist or if you need to see someone right away, I highly recommend my colleague Cyla Fisk, LMFT at Her Space Therapy LA.
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Do you take insurance? What is the per-session rate?I choose not to take insurance in my practice to ensure that every decision made about psychotherapy treatment (such as length of treatment, frequency and duration of sessions, therapy modalities, etc.) is between my clients and myself, not a third-party payer. The only way to ensure the highest quality of care and best possible outcomes is to take insurance out of the equation. If you have a PPO insurance plan, I'm happy to provide you with a monthly superbill, if applicable. I also accept HSA and FSA plans to cover the cost of therapy. The rate is $275 per 50-minute therapy session. Longer sessions are pro-rated at the usual rate.
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Do you work with couples, children, teens and families?Nope, I do not. As much as I love the whole fam, I have found that working with individual adults is my true calling. Please see my resources list for amazing therapists with these other specialties.
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What do all of those letters mean after a therapist's name?A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who prescribes psychiatric medication A psychologist is a doctorate level clinician who can provide psychological testing and talk therapy A counselor is a general term for licensed clinicians (such as Licensed Mental Health Counselor or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) as well as people who provide other types of counsel (such as a spiritual counselor) A clinical social worker is a clinician who also has an educational background in social justice A therapist is a general term that could describe a number of different types of healing professionals (such as a physical therapist or massage therapist) A psychotherapist is someone who practices talk therapy and often carries the designation of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and helps people with issues in their life related to mental health and difficulties in relationships A life coach can support people in a number of areas of life but isn't licensed by a state board Phew! I am a psychotherapist with an LMFT license.
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How long is a therapy session? How often do I need to go?Therapy sessions are generally 50 minutes in length. From time-to-time I will recommend longer sessions (70 or 90 minutes) for trauma-focused work or other reasons. We can discuss this further in our phone consultation. Weekly sessions are highly encouraged for the first 6-8 weeks of therapy. If you are only able to commit to every-other week to start, we can discuss further in the call if you're a good candidate for that frequency of meetings. I cannot provide therapy for a frequency less than every-other-week.
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How long does therapy take to work?This is completely dependent on the client's severity of presenting symptoms, goals, strengths, readiness to engage in the process and willingness to make behavioral changes outside the therapy room. Shorter-term therapy that is more focused on resolving a particular stressor or life phase typically ranges from about 12-18 sessions, whereas longer-term therapy that is focused more on developing insight and creating lasting transformational change on a deeper level can last 1-2 years or longer.
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What can I expect in a first therapy session?If you have any questions about confidentiality, we will clear those up before getting started to make sure you feel comfortable sharing. We will get very clear on your goals for therapy. This ensures that your therapy is 100% focused on your unique needs and objectives. I will do everything I can to help you feel safe, heard and supported to build your trust in me. You'll share about what's bothering you and I'll ask clarifying questions so that I understand your history, strengths and areas of opportunity. We'll get to work helping you meet your goals! This is completely tailored to you, so it could include increasing awareness, practicing relaxation techniques, reframing thoughts, improving self-compassion or any number of other tools in my toolbox. Lastly, we'll set an intention together for what you'd like to take from our session and put into practice until our next meeting.
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Is everything I say in therapy 100% confidential?Almost! There are rare instances in which I may need to break confidentiality such as if you are a serious danger to yourself or someone else, if you report suspected abuse or neglect of children, elders (aged 60+) or vulnerable adults or in certain legal situations. Here is a full list of situations in which I would need to break confidentiality in therapy.
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Is virtual therapy as effective is in-person therapy?Yes! Research has consistently shown that online therapy is just as effective for individuals as face-to-face therapy. There are also added benefits such as scheduling convenience, not having to pay for parking and gas, reduced time in traffic and not having to worry about childcare. You can have your therapy session in any location that is both safe and private.
Symptoms of trauma and PTSD
Types of trauma therapy in CA
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is based on the idea that stress and past traumas can become trapped within the body due to the nervous system's reactions to threats encountered throughout life. Its aim is to tune in to body sensations in real-time, facilitating the release of accumulated tension and trauma.
Internal Family Systems Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a cutting-edge trauma therapy that helps clients identify and heal the mind's sub-personalities — or "parts" — that take on various roles as a response to traumatic experiences. The goal is to help each part express itself fully and help the parts work together in harmony.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a first-line treatment for trauma that supports the client in sharing the trauma story — or narrative — in a safe environment. TF-CBT also involves correcting unhelpful beliefs that arose as a result of the traumatic experience(s).
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Are you currently accepting new clients?My practice is currently full. Please fill out the form above to be added to the waitlist or if you need to see someone right away, I highly recommend my colleague Cyla Fisk, LMFT at Her Space Therapy LA.
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Do you take insurance? What is the per-session rate?I choose not to take insurance in my practice to ensure that every decision made about psychotherapy treatment (such as length of treatment, frequency and duration of sessions, therapy modalities, etc.) is between my clients and myself, not a third-party payer. The only way to ensure the highest quality of care and best possible outcomes is to take insurance out of the equation. If you have a PPO insurance plan, I'm happy to provide you with a monthly superbill, if applicable. I also accept HSA and FSA plans to cover the cost of therapy. The rate is $275 per 50-minute therapy session. Longer sessions are pro-rated at the usual rate.
-
Do you work with couples, children, teens and families?Nope, I do not. As much as I love the whole fam, I have found that working with individual adults is my true calling. Please see my resources list for amazing therapists with these other specialties.
-
What do all of those letters mean after a therapist's name?A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who prescribes psychiatric medication A psychologist is a doctorate level clinician who can provide psychological testing and talk therapy A counselor is a general term for licensed clinicians (such as Licensed Mental Health Counselor or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) as well as people who provide other types of counsel (such as a spiritual counselor) A clinical social worker is a clinician who also has an educational background in social justice A therapist is a general term that could describe a number of different types of healing professionals (such as a physical therapist or massage therapist) A psychotherapist is someone who practices talk therapy and often carries the designation of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and helps people with issues in their life related to mental health and difficulties in relationships A life coach can support people in a number of areas of life but isn't licensed by a state board Phew! I am a psychotherapist with an LMFT license.
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How long is a therapy session? How often do I need to go?Therapy sessions are generally 50 minutes in length. From time-to-time I will recommend longer sessions (70 or 90 minutes) for trauma-focused work or other reasons. We can discuss this further in our phone consultation. Weekly sessions are highly encouraged for the first 6-8 weeks of therapy. If you are only able to commit to every-other week to start, we can discuss further in the call if you're a good candidate for that frequency of meetings. I cannot provide therapy for a frequency less than every-other-week.
-
How long does therapy take to work?This is completely dependent on the client's severity of presenting symptoms, goals, strengths, readiness to engage in the process and willingness to make behavioral changes outside the therapy room. Shorter-term therapy that is more focused on resolving a particular stressor or life phase typically ranges from about 12-18 sessions, whereas longer-term therapy that is focused more on developing insight and creating lasting transformational change on a deeper level can last 1-2 years or longer.
-
What can I expect in a first therapy session?If you have any questions about confidentiality, we will clear those up before getting started to make sure you feel comfortable sharing. We will get very clear on your goals for therapy. This ensures that your therapy is 100% focused on your unique needs and objectives. I will do everything I can to help you feel safe, heard and supported to build your trust in me. You'll share about what's bothering you and I'll ask clarifying questions so that I understand your history, strengths and areas of opportunity. We'll get to work helping you meet your goals! This is completely tailored to you, so it could include increasing awareness, practicing relaxation techniques, reframing thoughts, improving self-compassion or any number of other tools in my toolbox. Lastly, we'll set an intention together for what you'd like to take from our session and put into practice until our next meeting.
-
Is everything I say in therapy 100% confidential?Almost! There are rare instances in which I may need to break confidentiality such as if you are a serious danger to yourself or someone else, if you report suspected abuse or neglect of children, elders (aged 60+) or vulnerable adults or in certain legal situations. Here is a full list of situations in which I would need to break confidentiality in therapy.
-
Is virtual therapy as effective is in-person therapy?Yes! Research has consistently shown that online therapy is just as effective for individuals as face-to-face therapy. There are also added benefits such as scheduling convenience, not having to pay for parking and gas, reduced time in traffic and not having to worry about childcare. You can have your therapy session in any location that is both safe and private.
Trauma therapy techniques
Benefits of trauma therapy
Lasting symptom relief
Trauma therapy does more than slapping a band-aid on your issues. It goes in and helps the wound heal properly. What that means is you get to actually cure your trauma wounds, so that you're not chasing symptoms around.
Improved coping skills
The coping skills you learn in trauma therapy go beyond helping you recover from the traumatic experience — you'll find that these coping tools are useful in a myriad of life and relationship situations. Talk about a cherry on top.
More connected relationships
When trauma comes from the hand of someone you love, it can make it harder to trust people. This lack of vulnerability impacts the depth and connectedness of your relationships. Trauma therapy can help you feel safe with others again.
Post-traumatic growth
Did you know that when you heal from trauma, you can experience a phenomenon called post-traumatic growth? Post-traumatic growth is when you feel a greater sense of internal strength as a result of overcoming painful experiences.
Trauma-informed therapy in Los Angeles
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Are you currently accepting new clients?My practice is currently full. Please fill out the form above to be added to the waitlist or if you need to see someone right away, I highly recommend my colleague Cyla Fisk, LMFT at Her Space Therapy LA.
-
Do you take insurance? What is the per-session rate?I choose not to take insurance in my practice to ensure that every decision made about psychotherapy treatment (such as length of treatment, frequency and duration of sessions, therapy modalities, etc.) is between my clients and myself, not a third-party payer. The only way to ensure the highest quality of care and best possible outcomes is to take insurance out of the equation. If you have a PPO insurance plan, I'm happy to provide you with a monthly superbill, if applicable. I also accept HSA and FSA plans to cover the cost of therapy. The rate is $275 per 50-minute therapy session. Longer sessions are pro-rated at the usual rate.
-
Do you work with couples, children, teens and families?Nope, I do not. As much as I love the whole fam, I have found that working with individual adults is my true calling. Please see my resources list for amazing therapists with these other specialties.
-
What do all of those letters mean after a therapist's name?A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who prescribes psychiatric medication A psychologist is a doctorate level clinician who can provide psychological testing and talk therapy A counselor is a general term for licensed clinicians (such as Licensed Mental Health Counselor or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) as well as people who provide other types of counsel (such as a spiritual counselor) A clinical social worker is a clinician who also has an educational background in social justice A therapist is a general term that could describe a number of different types of healing professionals (such as a physical therapist or massage therapist) A psychotherapist is someone who practices talk therapy and often carries the designation of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and helps people with issues in their life related to mental health and difficulties in relationships A life coach can support people in a number of areas of life but isn't licensed by a state board Phew! I am a psychotherapist with an LMFT license.
-
How long is a therapy session? How often do I need to go?Therapy sessions are generally 50 minutes in length. From time-to-time I will recommend longer sessions (70 or 90 minutes) for trauma-focused work or other reasons. We can discuss this further in our phone consultation. Weekly sessions are highly encouraged for the first 6-8 weeks of therapy. If you are only able to commit to every-other week to start, we can discuss further in the call if you're a good candidate for that frequency of meetings. I cannot provide therapy for a frequency less than every-other-week.
-
How long does therapy take to work?This is completely dependent on the client's severity of presenting symptoms, goals, strengths, readiness to engage in the process and willingness to make behavioral changes outside the therapy room. Shorter-term therapy that is more focused on resolving a particular stressor or life phase typically ranges from about 12-18 sessions, whereas longer-term therapy that is focused more on developing insight and creating lasting transformational change on a deeper level can last 1-2 years or longer.
-
What can I expect in a first therapy session?If you have any questions about confidentiality, we will clear those up before getting started to make sure you feel comfortable sharing. We will get very clear on your goals for therapy. This ensures that your therapy is 100% focused on your unique needs and objectives. I will do everything I can to help you feel safe, heard and supported to build your trust in me. You'll share about what's bothering you and I'll ask clarifying questions so that I understand your history, strengths and areas of opportunity. We'll get to work helping you meet your goals! This is completely tailored to you, so it could include increasing awareness, practicing relaxation techniques, reframing thoughts, improving self-compassion or any number of other tools in my toolbox. Lastly, we'll set an intention together for what you'd like to take from our session and put into practice until our next meeting.
-
Is everything I say in therapy 100% confidential?Almost! There are rare instances in which I may need to break confidentiality such as if you are a serious danger to yourself or someone else, if you report suspected abuse or neglect of children, elders (aged 60+) or vulnerable adults or in certain legal situations. Here is a full list of situations in which I would need to break confidentiality in therapy.
-
Is virtual therapy as effective is in-person therapy?Yes! Research has consistently shown that online therapy is just as effective for individuals as face-to-face therapy. There are also added benefits such as scheduling convenience, not having to pay for parking and gas, reduced time in traffic and not having to worry about childcare. You can have your therapy session in any location that is both safe and private.
Trauma therapy for women in LA
Research shows that women are twice as likely to develop PTSD following a traumatic event compared with men.
This difference is explained by the fact that women experience higher-impact traumas (such as physical and sexual assault) than men, and they often experience them earlier in life.
Trauma therapy for women provides a safe and supportive environment to help you heal from trauma.
My goal as a trauma therapist is to empower and inspire you so that fear doesn't hold you back from anything you want in your life, career and relationships.
Getting started with trauma therapy in California
Misconceptions about trauma therapy
#1 "Digging up trauma makes things worse"
While talking about painful past experiences is uncomfortable in the short-term, it will help you reduce suffering in the long-term. Think of trauma therapy as paying off emotional debt. It sucks now, but you'll thank yourself later.
#2 "You can't heal trauma anyway"
Trauma therapy has gone a long way in its effectiveness in the past couple decades. One scientific review of evidence-based trauma treatments showed that up to 95% of study participants lost their PSTD diagnosis as a result of treatment.
#3 "Therapy is only for severe trauma"
I like to say that "no one gets through life unscathed." Many folks who come into therapy think their trauma is not that bad. Any event that overwhelmed your capacity to cope was likely traumatic and deserves to be healed.
#4 "Talking about the past won't help me now"
Not only will processing trauma help you now, but it will also help you for the rest of your life. Think about how much brighter your future looks when it's not dragged down by trauma symptoms. You deserve to thrive, not just survive.
What to expect in trauma therapy
You get to define trauma for yourself
Everyone has their own definition and experience of what was traumatic for them. What constitutes trauma for someone else might not be traumatic for you and vise versa. In our work together, I honor your definition of what trauma is.
We move at your pace
When it comes to processing trauma, slower is better. Why? Because the 6-word definition of trauma is "too much, too fast, too soon." In trauma work, we move at a pace that makes you feel 100% safe and supported in the healing process.
All emotions are welcome
Trauma recovery can bring up the rainbow of human emotion: anger, shame, fear, sadness, guilt, regret, helplessness, relief, empowerment and more. In our work together, all emotions are welcome. There's a place for all of them.
Silver-linings are completely optional
Trauma survivors, when telling their story, are often met with statements like "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" or "others have it so much worse than you." You don't ever have to find the lesson or the gift in your pain. It's 100% optional.
Finding a trauma-informed therapist
Ask for trauma therapist recommendations
Other health practitioners can be a great starting point when looking for a trauma therapist. If you have a good relationship with your primary care doctor, you can ask them for a recommendation for a trauma-informed therapist nearby.
Research trauma therapists online
If seeking a therapist referral feels uncomfortable, conducting online research for a therapist is an alternative. For a trauma-focused approach, consider searching "trauma therapist near me" on Google to explore available options.
Utilize free 15-minute phone consultations
Whether you seek a therapist referral or discover one online, it's crucial to thoroughly assess your options. Many therapists provide a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to ensure compatibility. Consider scheduling 2-3 consultations to explore multiple choices before making a decision.
Listen to that gut feeling
Locating the right therapist can pose a challenge, and the choice isn't always clear-cut. Trust your instincts during conversations with therapists. Feeling safe is key, so pay attention to those gut feelings when making your selection.
Trauma therapist in Los Angeles, CA
Hi there, I'm Natalie!
I know first-hand how difficult it is to experience trauma and deal with its effects. I've been the client on the receiving end of trauma therapy. Trust me, it's worth the effort.
Different options for different needs
I provide in-person therapy in Los Angeles and online therapy in California. We can also do a blend of both depending on scheduling and convenience.
Are you ready to get started?
Reaching out for help can be tough. Especially if you were taught to handle things on your own. But you don't have to do it alone anymore. That is why I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to all prospective clients.
Join the waitlist to be informed of availability.
