Trauma Therapist in Oakland & San Francisco
Trauma Therapy
You Aren’t Your Past, And You Don’t Need To “Keep It Together.”
Common Myth: If you're “strong,” you can make it through trauma without reaching out for help.
If your present life and well-being are negatively affected by something that happened in the past, you might be suffering from unprocessed trauma or maybe even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Trauma treatment can help.
Here at CAC, we don’t label you as “having a disorder”, we see through the lens of what you’ve experienced as an injury. Whether that be mentally, morally, physically, or emotionally.
We’ll help you see that what you’re feeling isn’t “wrong”.
Do you frequently experience…
Recurring Flashbacks
Panic Attacks
Feelings of Sadness or Hopelessness
Guilt and Shame
Feeling ‘On Edge’
Avoidance of Things That Trigger A Painful Memory
Feeling Disconnected or Numb
Increased Substance Use
You might also...
→ Feel intense unpleasant emotions like fear, anger, or guilt
→ Find yourself thinking about the event when you don’t want to
→ Have nightmares about the event, impacting your sleep
→ Feel unsafe and want to avoid situations that make you feel uncomfortable
Trauma is more common than you think…
70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That's 223.4 million people. You’re not alone.
Trauma is anything that suddenly disrupts your sense of well-being. It can be caused by…
difficult breakup
domestic violence
a car accident
a sudden loss
witnessing or experiencing domestic or other violence
experiencing emotional or sexual abuse
…and much more.
Don’t let trauma derail your life…
In trauma therapy, we’ll help you understand the mechanisms of trauma and your unique triggers through a blend of:
Our approach to treating trauma and PTSD is integrative, meaning we use a combination of therapies that are right for you. Our approach is also evidence-based, which means we prioritize therapies that have been proven effective through repeated academic trials.
We’ll give you powerful tools you can start using as soon as the first session.
Recovery really is possible.
Reach out and get the help you need to stop letting the past dictate your present moment.
Interested in learning more about EMDR? Visit our specialty clinic website to learn more about EMDR Therapy for Trauma in San Francisco.
FAQs
What is trauma therapy?
Trauma therapy is a therapy that works to reprocess traumatic memories and events and help you develop a new relationship with these events. Through trauma therapy, you will work to heal and move forward beyond the difficulties of your past.
What to expect in a trauma therapy session?
At Calm Again Counseling, your trauma-informed therapist will create a treatment plan suited for your specific trauma. We use a combination of methods, including but not limited to EMDR and CBT. See the EMDR and CBT services page to learn more about what a session will look like using these methods.
What therapy is best for trauma?
At Calm Again Counseling, we use evidence-based practices like EMDR and CBT, which have been proven effective in the treatment of trauma.
What are the characteristics of a trauma survivor?
Trauma survivors are often irritable, jumpy, and can be startled easily. With the right therapy, we can help you heal.
Will trauma therapy be triggering?
Discussing your traumatic memories or traumatic events from your past can be triggering. For methods like EMDR, you are not required to talk about the memories at length, as compared to other traditional talk therapy methods. However, see the “How to prepare for trauma therapy?” answer below on how to handle potential triggers.
How to prepare for trauma therapy?
ONE
Practice grounding techniques where you imagine a safe space (which you will also do with your therapist).
TWO
Self-care practices
THREE
Anticipate your needs on the day of the session. Trauma therapy can be triggering. Clearing your schedule, taking a lighter load, or scheduling your session at the end of your work day is recommended.
FOUR
Notify your support system that you will be having a trauma-focused session that day so that they can prepare and be emotionally available if needed.
FIVE
Have faith in the process. While it can be difficult to do this healing work, your past self and future self thank you for having the courage to show up for yourself in this way.
SIX
Better self-care practices.
How does trauma therapy help?
Trauma therapy helps by reprocessing memories from traumatic events, allowing you freedom from your past. Trauma therapy works to provide you with the tools to develop safety within your mind and body again. People who work with a trauma-informed therapist who utilizes evidence-based practices report having better moods, and better sleep, can discuss the trauma without being triggered, and have a renewed sense of hope about the future.
How do I schedule an appointment?
You can call us directly and get in touch with our client coordinator, or fill out our contact form on our website and get a response in less than 24 hours.