- (408) 409-3964
- Located in San Jose, California
Shift out of your trauma reactions to feel better, faster.
Not All Trauma Looks the Same. CBT and EMDR Can Help You Through It.
Trauma takes many forms and affects people in different ways. The mind and body may feel on high alert: jumpy, tense, always watching for what might go wrong. Flashbacks or intrusive memories show up without warning.
Daily life revolves around avoiding certain memories, places, people, or feelings. Disconnection is common, sometimes from others, sometimes from your own emotions or sense of self.
These aren’t signs of weakness, but signs that your brain and body haven’t been able to fully process what happened.
We’re wired to learn what’s dangerous so that we can avoid it.
Reactions to trauma aren’t signs of weakness but signs that you haven’t been able to fully process what happened.
The protective responses can become disruptive and interfere with daily life when they don’t quiet down on their own.
It’s not unusual to wonder if you’ll ever feel normal again. EMDR is a proven therapy that helps you move forward by processing what happened, releasing what’s no longer needed, and strengthening resilience.
EMDR Can Help You Through It.
Medical trauma and invasive procedures
Domestic abuse, including physical, verbal, sexual assault, and controlling behavior
You might be wondering if your experiences warrant professional trauma therapy, or you’re unsure whether what you’re dealing with is actually trauma. Perhaps you’ve been managing on your own but suspect past experiences are affecting your current life more than you realized, or you’re trying to determine if a trauma therapist is the right type of professional for your needs.
The aftermath of a traumatic event can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope. It’s common to get stuck in reliving, avoiding, and reacting to reminders of what happened. You can end up in survival mode and be uncertain how to return to normal. As a trauma therapist in San Jose, California, I help clients recognize when past experiences need professional processing to move forward.
Signs you might benefit from trauma therapy:
Past experiences still affecting present life:
Negative events from your past still affect everything you do. Childhood and young adult trauma can shape people in unhealthy ways. Sometimes, even though you have tried, you can’t shake the enduring negative impact of the past.
If you notice past experiences influencing current relationships, work performance, or emotional reactions in ways that feel stuck or disproportionate, trauma therapy can help.
Specific traumatic experiences you can identify:
You may benefit from trauma therapy if you’ve experienced:
Relationship patterns that concern you:
Negative relationship events have left you insecure, confused, and unable to trust yourself or the important people in your life. Relationship trauma, such as assault, verbal abuse, infidelity, or manipulation, can leave you hypervigilant, confused, and over-reactive to even small events between you and your loved ones.
When things go wrong, you may find yourself resorting to negative behaviors in response. You frequently overreact or shut down.
Physical and emotional symptoms:
When trauma affects intimate life:
Sexual trauma has left an imprint that you didn’t choose, but that you live with every day. After sexual trauma, certain moments, places, or even a casual touch can trigger anxiety, fear, or dissociation. You may feel disconnected from your body, your relationships, and even your sense of safety.
Health-related trauma:
Acute health emergencies, chronic pain, and significant health problems can create anxiety that is hard to manage. The mental and emotional impact of health problems adds extra stress on top of an already challenging situation. Sometimes, worries about being unwell and what will come next can overtake the reality of your situation.
You don’t need a formal PTSD diagnosis:
Many people benefit from trauma therapy even without meeting the full criteria for PTSD. The aftermath of a traumatic event can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope without qualifying as a disorder. If past experiences interfere with your current life, trauma therapy can help.
When self-help isn’t enough:
You might need professional trauma therapy if:
What trauma therapy offers:
In trauma therapy, I will help you process painful experiences, reduce your emotional distress and reactivity, and regain a sense of control. With the evidence-based methods of EMDR and CBT, I effectively promote your healing from trauma and help you establish patterns of long-term resilience.
For different trauma presentations:
Trauma therapy using EMDR and CBT will improve your self-confidence, increase your sense of security, and help you learn healthier communication patterns so that you can improve your relationships and live a happier and more peaceful life.
For professionals in Silicon Valley and the South Bay:
I specialize in working with people in high-pressure situations … Software Engineers, Product Managers, Program Managers, Executives, Engineering Managers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Business Owners, and College Students … who often minimize trauma’s impact due to professional success.
Achievement doesn’t mean trauma hasn’t affected you. Many high-functioning people carry unprocessed trauma that undermines their well-being despite external success.
Accessing trauma therapy in Valley Fair and Santa Row:
My office is located at 2020 Forest Avenue, Suite 3, San Jose, California 95128. I serve clients throughout South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, and the greater San Jose area (95128 and surrounding zip codes). Both in-person and online appointments are available for California residents throughout the Bay Area.
You might be experiencing symptoms but not connecting them to past traumatic experiences, or you’re wondering if what you’re going through matches what others describe as trauma responses. Perhaps you’ve been told you seem different since a difficult experience, or you’re trying to understand if your reactions are normal responses to abnormal events.
Trauma manifests in many ways, and signs can appear immediately after an event or emerge months or years later. As a trauma therapist in San Jose, California, I help clients recognize trauma responses so we can address them effectively.
How trauma shows up emotionally:
Overwhelm and inability to cope:
The aftermath of a traumatic event can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope. It’s common to get stuck in reliving, avoiding, and reacting to reminders of what happened. You can end up in survival mode and be uncertain how to return to normal.
Persistent anxiety and fear:
Trauma takes many forms and affects people in different ways. The mind and body may feel on high alert … jumpy, tense, always watching for what might go wrong. This hypervigilance persists even when you’re objectively safe.
Intrusive memories:
Flashbacks or intrusive memories show up without warning. You might experience:
Emotional disconnection:
Disconnection is common, sometimes from others, sometimes from your own emotions or sense of self. You might feel:
Behavioral signs of trauma:
Avoidance patterns:
Daily life revolves around avoiding certain memories, places, people, or feelings. You might:
Hyperreactivity:
Negative relationship events have left you insecure, confused, and unable to trust yourself or the important people in your life. When things go wrong, you may find yourself resorting to negative behaviors in response. You frequently overreact or shut down.
Changes in relationships:
Physical signs of trauma:
Body staying on alert:
The mind and body remain on high alert … jumpy, tense, always watching for what might go wrong. Physical manifestations include:
Sleep disruption:
Other physical symptoms:
Signs by trauma type:
Childhood trauma signs:
Negative events from your past still affect everything you do. Signs include:
Relationship trauma signs:
Relationship trauma, such as assault, verbal abuse, infidelity, or manipulation, can leave you hypervigilant, confused, and overreactive to even small events between you and your loved ones.
Sexual trauma signs:
Sexual trauma has left an imprint that you didn’t choose, but that you live with every day. After sexual trauma, certain moments, places, or even a casual touch can trigger anxiety, fear, or dissociation. You may feel disconnected from your body, your relationships, and even your sense of safety.
Medical trauma signs:
Acute health emergencies, chronic pain, and significant health problems can create anxiety that is hard to manage. Sometimes, worries about being unwell and what will come next can overtake the reality of your situation.
Why recognizing trauma signs matters:
Validation:
These aren’t signs of weakness, but signs that your brain and body haven’t been able to fully process what happened. Understanding trauma responses helps you recognize you’re not “broken” or “overreacting.”
Healing starts with awareness:
Reactions to trauma aren’t signs of weakness but signs that you haven’t been able to fully process what happened. The protective responses can become disruptive and interfere with daily life when they don’t quiet down on their own.
What treatment offers:
In trauma therapy, I will help you process painful experiences, reduce your emotional distress and reactivity, and regain a sense of control. With the evidence-based methods of EMDR and CBT, I effectively promote your healing from trauma and help you establish patterns of long-term resilience.
I have many years of experience helping people successfully process all different kinds of trauma. I am passionate about this work. I’m confident that I can help you face these negative events and move forward.
For professionals in the South Bay:
I specialize in working with people in high-pressure situations … Software Engineers, Product Managers, Program Managers, Executives, Engineering Managers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Business Owners, and College Students.
High-achievers often mask trauma signs through professional success, but internal struggles persist.
Accessing trauma therapy in Valley Fair and Santa Row:
My office is located at 2020 Forest Avenue, Suite 3, San Jose, California 95128. I serve clients throughout South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, and the greater San Jose area (95128 and surrounding zip codes). Both in-person and online appointments are available for California residents throughout the Bay Area.
You might be wondering if trauma is something you’ll carry forever, or if healing means just learning to manage symptoms rather than actually resolving them. Perhaps you’ve heard conflicting messages about whether trauma can be overcome, or you’re concerned about investing in therapy only to remain stuck with past experiences affecting your present.
True healing from trauma is possible. It’s not unusual to wonder if you’ll ever feel normal again, but with proper treatment, you can move beyond trauma’s grip on your life. As a trauma therapist in San Jose, California, with over 25 years of experience, I’ve witnessed profound healing in clients who thought they’d always be defined by their past.
What healing from trauma means:
Not erasing memories:
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or pretending trauma didn’t occur. The memories remain, but their emotional charge and power over you change dramatically.
Shifting how memories affect you:
With proper trauma therapy, traumatic memories can shift from overwhelming and intrusive to integrated and manageable. You can remember what happened without being consumed by it.
Reclaiming your life:
Healing means that the aftermath of a traumatic event no longer leaves you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope. You stop being stuck in reliving, avoiding, and reacting to reminders of what happened. You move out of survival mode and return to living fully.
Why healing is possible:
The brain’s capacity for change:
Your brain has natural healing capacities that get stalled when trauma overwhelms your system. Trauma therapy helps activate these innate healing processes, allowing your brain to process and integrate traumatic experiences.
Evidence-based approaches work:
With the evidence-based methods of EMDR and CBT, I effectively promote your healing from trauma and help you establish patterns of long-term resilience. These approaches have strong research support for creating lasting change.
What healing looks like:
For childhood trauma:
Negative events from your past still affect everything you do. Healing means you can acknowledge what happened without it defining who you are today. Trauma therapy using EMDR and CBT will improve your self-confidence, increase your sense of security, and help you learn healthier communication patterns so that you can improve your relationships and live a happier and more peaceful life.
For relationship trauma:
Negative relationship events have left you insecure, confused, and unable to trust yourself or the important people in your life. Healing means you develop the capacity to live more fully in the present. You become clearer, more authentic, calmer, and more assertive in your relationships.
For sexual trauma:
Sexual trauma has left an imprint that you didn’t choose, but that you live with every day. EMDR therapy for sexual trauma will help you process what happened and point the way toward a life less impacted by your past, one in which you can reclaim yourself and your body.
I have many years of experience helping people successfully process all different kinds of sexual trauma. I am passionate about this work. I’m confident that I can help you face these negative events and move forward. It is my privilege to be a part of this special healing journey.
For health-related trauma:
Acute health emergencies, chronic pain, and significant health problems can create anxiety that is hard to manage. Healing means you find ways to cope better with all aspects of your medical stress so that you can enjoy your life more fully.
What changes with healing:
Reduced reactivity:
The protective responses that became disruptive and interfered with daily life when they didn’t quiet down on their own can finally settle. You stop being hypervigilant, jumpy, and constantly on edge.
Freedom from avoidance:
Daily life no longer revolves around avoiding certain memories, places, people, or feelings. You can engage with life fully rather than organizing everything around trauma avoidance.
Emotional reconnection:
Disconnection from others and from your own emotions or sense of self improves. You can feel the full range of emotions again and connect meaningfully with people you care about.
Present-focused living:
You’re no longer stuck in reliving the past or bracing for the future. You can be present in your current life and relationships.
Physical relief:
The mind and body no longer remain on constant high alert. Physical tension, sleep problems, and other somatic symptoms of trauma decrease significantly.
Realistic healing timeline:
Depends on complexity:
The length of treatment depends on your goals, the complexity of the issues we’re addressing, and how you respond to therapy. After our initial assessment is completed, I will be able to give you a clear estimate of the number of sessions anticipated to help you make lasting progress.
General timeframes:
Healing isn’t linear:
Some sessions bring breakthrough moments, others feel like slow progress. This is normal. Healing moves in waves rather than straight lines, but the overall trajectory moves toward resolution.
What supports healing:
Consistency in treatment:
Regular attendance and engagement with trauma therapy accelerates healing. Processing trauma requires momentum that consistent sessions provide.
Willingness to engage:
Healing requires facing difficult material rather than continuing avoidance. In trauma therapy, I will help you process painful experiences, reduce your emotional distress and reactivity, and regain a sense of control.
Support between sessions:
Having stability, safe relationships, and adequate self-care supports the healing process.
For professionals in Silicon Valley and the South Bay:
I specialize in working with people in high-pressure situations … Software Engineers, Product Managers, Program Managers, Executives, Engineering Managers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Business Owners, and College Students.
High-achievers often wonder if they can truly heal while maintaining demanding careers. Yes. Healing doesn’t require putting life on hold … it happens alongside your ongoing responsibilities with proper support.
Accessing healing in Valley Fair and Santa Row:
My office is located at 2020 Forest Avenue, Suite 3, San Jose, California 95128. I serve clients throughout South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, and the greater San Jose area (95128 and surrounding zip codes). Both in-person and online appointments are available for California residents throughout the Bay Area.
You might be curious about what actually happens in trauma therapy and whether it will be effective for your specific experiences. Perhaps you’ve heard various approaches mentioned but don’t understand how they work, or you want to know if therapy goes beyond just talking about traumatic events.
Trauma therapy uses specialized approaches that address how trauma is stored in the brain and body, not just discussing what happened. As a trauma therapist in San Jose, California, I use evidence-based methods specifically designed to process traumatic memories and create lasting healing.
Primary approaches I use:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):
EMDR is a proven therapy that helps you move forward by processing what happened, releasing what’s no longer needed, and strengthening resilience. This specialized approach works directly with how traumatic memories are stored and processed in the brain.
How EMDR works:
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, but also tapping or sounds) while you focus on traumatic memories. This activates your brain’s natural processing capacity that got overwhelmed and stalled by trauma.
The aftermath of a traumatic event can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope. EMDR helps your brain complete the processing that was interrupted, allowing traumatic memories to integrate properly rather than remaining stuck and triggering.
What EMDR addresses:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
CBT provides practical tools for managing trauma symptoms and changing patterns that maintain distress. While EMDR processes traumatic memories, CBT helps you function better in daily life and develop skills for emotional regulation.
What CBT addresses:
Mindfulness strategies:
I combine EMDR and CBT with Mindfulness strategies to help you make meaningful changes, let go of the past, and embrace the present with awareness and self-compassion. Mindfulness helps you stay grounded during processing and manage activation between sessions.
Integrated approach:
With the evidence-based methods of EMDR and CBT, I effectively promote your healing from trauma and help you establish patterns of long-term resilience. Using both approaches together addresses trauma comprehensively … processing traumatic memories while building practical skills.
What makes trauma therapy different from regular therapy:
Focuses on processing, not just talking:
Traditional talk therapy often involves discussing traumatic events repeatedly without resolving them. Specialized trauma therapy uses techniques that actually change how memories are stored and experienced.
Addresses the nervous system:
Trauma therapy recognizes that trauma affects your body and nervous system, not just your thoughts. Treatment addresses these physiological aspects, not just cognitive understanding.
The mind and body may feel on high alert … jumpy, tense, always watching for what might go wrong. Trauma therapy helps calm this overactive threat response.
Targets specific memories:
Rather than general discussion, trauma therapy systematically targets specific traumatic memories and processes them to resolution.
How different traumas are treated:
For childhood trauma:
In trauma therapy, I will help you overcome the destructive impact of the trauma, abuse, or neglect that occurred while you were growing up. Trauma therapy using EMDR and CBT will improve your self-confidence, increase your sense of security, and help you learn healthier communication patterns.
For relationship trauma:
When negative relationship events have left you insecure, confused, and unable to trust yourself or important people in your life, trauma therapy helps you process relationship hurts and violations. You develop the capacity to live more fully in the present and become clearer, more authentic, calmer, and more assertive.
For sexual trauma:
I have many years of experience helping people successfully process all different kinds of sexual trauma. EMDR therapy for sexual trauma will help you process what happened and point the way toward a life less impacted by your past, one in which you can reclaim yourself and your body.
For medical trauma:
In health anxiety therapy, we process negative medical events and help you find ways to cope better with all aspects of your medical stress so that you can enjoy your life more fully.
What does the healing process look like?
Assessment and preparation:
Understanding your trauma history, current symptoms, and treatment goals. Building emotional regulation skills to support processing work.
Processing traumatic memories:
Using EMDR to target specific traumatic memories systematically. Processing happens in manageable doses with support to stay grounded.
Integration and skill-building:
As memories are processed, they build skills for maintaining gains and handling future stressors. Addressing any remaining triggers or symptoms.
Expected outcomes:
Reactions to trauma aren’t signs of weakness but signs that you haven’t been able to fully process what happened. Treatment helps you:
My experience:
I have 25 years of experience helping clients overcome trauma using a focused blend of evidence-based therapies, including EMDR, CBT, and Mindfulness. I am passionate about this work and confident I can help you face difficult events and move forward.
For professionals in the South Bay:
I specialize in working with people in high-pressure situations … Software Engineers, Product Managers, Program Managers, Executives, Engineering Managers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Business Owners, and College Students.
Treatment approaches work effectively for professionals who need efficient, evidence-based methods that fit demanding lives.
Accessing trauma therapy in Valley Fair and Santa Row:
My office is located at 2020 Forest Avenue, Suite 3, San Jose, California 95128. I serve clients throughout South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, and the greater San Jose area (95128 and surrounding zip codes). Both in-person and online appointments are available for California residents throughout the Bay Area.
You might be feeling nervous about what to expect in trauma therapy, wondering if you’ll be forced to recount every painful detail, or concerned about becoming overwhelmed during sessions. Perhaps you’re trying to understand the process before committing, or you want to know if trauma therapy will be retraumatizing.
Trauma therapy sessions are structured to help you process traumatic experiences safely and at a manageable pace. As a trauma therapist in San Jose, California, I create a supportive environment where healing happens without overwhelming you.
Initial sessions:
Assessment and history:
We discuss your current symptoms and the traumatic experiences you want to address. The aftermath of a traumatic event can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope. I gather information about how trauma affects your daily life, relationships, and functioning.
Understanding your goals:
What do you hope to achieve? How will you know therapy is working? We establish clear goals based on what matters most to you.
Building stability:
Before processing traumatic memories, we ensure you have adequate emotional regulation skills. I combine EMDR and CBT with Mindfulness strategies to help you make meaningful changes and manage distress effectively.
Creating a treatment plan:
After our initial assessment is completed, I will be able to give you a clear estimate of the number of sessions anticipated to help you make lasting progress. The length of treatment depends on your goals, the complexity of the issues we’re addressing, and how you respond to therapy.
EMDR processing sessions:
Preparation phase:
Learn self-soothing techniques and establish internal resources you can access during processing. We identify which traumatic memories to target and in what order.
Processing traumatic memories:
Using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds) while you focus on specific traumatic memories. The mind and body may feel on high alert during processing, but I guide you through it carefully.
What processing feels like:
You remain aware and in control throughout. Processing allows your brain to make new connections spontaneously. Insights and emotional shifts happen naturally rather than through analysis or discussion.
Pacing matters:
We work at a pace you can handle. If processing becomes too intense, we slow down or take breaks. You can communicate at any time if you need to pause.
CBT skill-building sessions:
Learning coping strategies:
Practical tools for managing trauma symptoms between processing sessions. This includes relaxation techniques, grounding exercises, and ways to challenge trauma-related thoughts.
Understanding patterns:
Recognizing how trauma affects your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Identifying triggers and developing strategies for managing them.
Gradual exposure:
When you’re avoiding situations due to trauma, we work on gradually facing them with support. Daily life no longer needs to revolve around avoiding certain memories, places, people, or feelings.
What sessions include:
Check-in:
Brief update on what’s happened since last session, how you’ve been managing, and any changes in symptoms.
Session work:
Either EMDR processing of specific memories or CBT skill-building, depending on where you are in treatment and what’s needed.
Closure:
Ensuring you feel stable and grounded before leaving. Using techniques to contain any unfinished processing until the next session.
Between sessions:
Sometimes processing continues between sessions through dreams, insights, or emotional shifts. This is normal and indicates your brain is working on integration.
For different trauma types:
Childhood trauma sessions:
In trauma therapy, I will help you overcome the destructive impact of the trauma, abuse, or neglect that occurred while you were growing up. Sessions systematically address formative experiences and beliefs created during childhood.
Relationship trauma sessions:
When negative relationship events have left you insecure, confused, and unable to trust yourself, sessions help you process relationship hurts and violations so you can develop the capacity to live more fully in the present.
Sexual trauma sessions:
I have many years of experience helping people successfully process all different kinds of sexual trauma. Sessions proceed carefully and at your pace, with attention to maintaining your sense of safety and control.
Medical trauma sessions:
Processing negative medical events and developing better coping strategies for health-related stress and anxiety.
Safety and control:
You remain in charge:
You decide what to share and when. You can slow down, pause, or stop at any time. Healing happens through collaboration, not force.
Not retraumatizing:
Reactions to trauma aren’t signs of weakness but signs that you haven’t been able to fully process what happened. Sessions are designed to process trauma without overwhelming you or creating new trauma.
Supportive environment:
It’s common to get stuck in reliving, avoiding, and reacting to reminders of what happened. Sessions provide safety to face difficult material with professional support.
Typical session frequency:
Active processing phase:
Usually, weekly sessions are used to maintain momentum. Consistent attendance helps the processing move forward effectively.
Later in treatment:
May space out to every other week as symptoms improve and you’re consolidating gains.
My approach:
With the evidence-based methods of EMDR and CBT, I effectively promote your healing from trauma and help you establish patterns of long-term resilience. I have 25 years of experience creating safe, effective trauma processing experiences.
For professionals in the South Bay:
I specialize in working with people in high-pressure situations … Software Engineers, Product Managers, Program Managers, Executives, Engineering Managers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Business Owners, and College Students.
Sessions are structured to respect your time while creating meaningful progress. Many professionals appreciate the focused, efficient approach.
Accessing trauma therapy in Valley Fair and Santa Row:
My office is located at 2020 Forest Avenue, Suite 3, San Jose, California 95128. I serve clients throughout South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, and the greater San Jose area (95128 and surrounding zip codes). Both in-person and online appointments are available for California residents throughout the Bay Area.
You might be trying to budget time and financial resources for trauma therapy, or you’re wondering if healing will take years of weekly sessions. Perhaps you want realistic expectations about when you’ll feel better, or you’re concerned about committing to an indefinite process.
Trauma therapy duration varies based on the complexity of your experiences and your individual response to treatment. As a trauma therapist in San Jose, California, I provide clear timelines based on your specific situation rather than open-ended therapy.
General timeframes:
Typical treatment length:
It typically takes 12 to 18 sessions for substantial healing from trauma. This represents roughly 3-5 months of weekly therapy for most clients addressing traumatic experiences.
Shorter courses are possible:
Some people can accomplish their goals in 5 to 6 sessions, particularly when addressing single traumatic events or less complex trauma presentations.
Longer treatment is sometimes needed:
Some people attend therapy for longer periods when addressing complex trauma, multiple traumatic experiences, or trauma that occurred over many years (such as childhood abuse or chronic relationship trauma).
Individual variation:
The length of treatment depends on your goals, the complexity of the issues we’re addressing, and how you respond to therapy. After our initial assessment is completed, I will be able to give you a clear estimate of the number of sessions anticipated to help you make lasting progress.
Factors affecting timeline:
Type and number of traumatic experiences:
Single-incident trauma:
Recent traumatic events like motor vehicle accidents, sudden deaths, fires and floods, getting fired, or serious injuries often respond more quickly to treatment.
Multiple related traumas:
When you’ve experienced several traumatic events in similar contexts (such as multiple incidents of domestic abuse or workplace toxic stress), processing takes longer as each significant event needs addressing.
Complex developmental trauma:
Negative events from your past still affect everything you do. Childhood neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, and childhood bullying by peers or siblings that occurred over the years typically require more comprehensive treatment.
Severity of current symptoms:
Milder symptoms:
If trauma affects you but you’re still functioning reasonably well, treatment often progresses more quickly.
Severe impairment:
The aftermath of a traumatic event can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope. When symptoms significantly interfere with work, relationships, or daily functioning, more time may be needed to stabilize before processing trauma.
Your response to treatment:
Individual processing speed:
Some people’s systems process traumatic memories quickly during EMDR. Others need more sessions with each memory. Neither is better or worse … it’s an individual difference in how your brain works.
Consistency of attendance:
Regular weekly sessions during active processing create momentum. Frequent cancellations or gaps extend the overall timeline.
Practice between sessions:
Clients who use coping skills and apply insights between sessions typically progress faster.
Timeline by trauma type:
For childhood trauma:
In trauma therapy, I will help you overcome the destructive impact of the trauma, abuse, or neglect that occurred while you were growing up. Childhood trauma typically requires 12-18 sessions or longer, as developmental experiences created deep patterns needing systematic addressing.
For relationship trauma:
When negative relationship events have left you insecure, confused, and unable to trust yourself or important people in your life, processing typically takes 12-18 sessions to address the betrayals, violations, and resulting patterns.
For sexual trauma:
I have many years of experience helping people successfully process all different kinds of sexual trauma. Treatment length varies widely based on the nature and frequency of traumatic experiences, typically ranging from 10 to 20+ sessions.
For medical trauma:
Acute health emergencies and recent medical trauma often respond within 8-15 sessions, while chronic pain and significant health problems creating ongoing anxiety may require longer treatment.
What happens in different phases:
Early treatment (first 4-6 sessions):
Middle treatment (sessions 7-15):
Later treatment (sessions 16+):
Why clear timelines matter:
Not indefinite therapy:
With the evidence-based methods of EMDR and CBT, I effectively promote your healing from trauma and help you establish patterns of long-term resilience. Treatment has clear goals and expected duration, not an open-ended continuation.
an expected approach:
I have 25 years of experience helping clients overcome trauma using focused, evidence-based methods designed to create change efficiently.
Regular progress assessment:
We check progress regularly and adjust treatment plans if needed. If something isn’t working, we change approaches rather than continuing indefinitely without results.
Managing expectations:
Healing isn’t always linear:
Some sessions bring breakthrough progress; others feel slower. It’s common to get stuck in reliving, avoiding, and reacting to reminders during treatment, but the overall trajectory moves toward resolution.
Quality over speed:
While efficiency matters, rushing through trauma processing can be counterproductive. The goal is thorough healing, not just quick symptom reduction.
For professionals in the South Bay:
I specialize in working with people in high-pressure situations … Software Engineers, Product Managers, Program Managers, Executives, Engineering Managers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Business Owners, and College Students.
Many professionals appreciate knowing realistic timelines for planning around demanding work schedules. Treatment is designed for efficiency while ensuring thorough processing.
Accessing trauma therapy in Valley Fair and Santa Row:
My office is located at 2020 Forest Avenue, Suite 3, San Jose, California 95128. I serve clients throughout South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, and the greater San Jose area (95128 and surrounding zip codes). Both in-person and online appointments are available for California residents throughout the Bay Area.
You might be skeptical about whether therapy can actually resolve trauma, especially if you’ve tried other approaches without success. Perhaps you’re wondering if the investment of time, money, and emotional energy will lead to real change, or you want to understand what evidence supports trauma therapy’s effectiveness.
Trauma therapy using evidence-based approaches has strong research support and creates real, lasting change for most people who engage with treatment. As a trauma therapist in San Jose, California, with 25 years of experience, I’ve witnessed countless clients move from being controlled by trauma to living full, meaningful lives.
What “working” means
Not just symptom management
Effective trauma therapy doesn’t just teach you to cope with symptoms … it resolves the underlying traumatic memories so symptoms decrease naturally or disappear.
The aftermath of a traumatic event can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope. Treatment that works means you’re no longer overwhelmed, you can cope effectively, and trauma no longer controls your life.
Measurable improvements
Evidence supporting trauma therapy
Research-backed approaches
With the evidence-based methods of EMDR and CBT, I effectively promote your healing from trauma and help you establish patterns of long-term resilience. Both EMDR and CBT have extensive research demonstrating effectiveness for trauma.
Real-world outcomes
I have 25 years of experience helping clients overcome trauma using a focused blend of evidence-based therapies. Clients consistently report significant improvements across symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.
Why trauma therapy works
Addresses how trauma is stored
Trauma affects the brain differently from ordinary memories. It’s common to get stuck in reliving, avoiding, and reacting to reminders of what happened. Specialized trauma therapy uses techniques designed specifically to process these stuck memories.
Engages the nervous system
The mind and body may feel on high alert … jumpy, tense, always watching for what might go wrong. Trauma therapy helps calm this overactive threat response rather than just changing thoughts about trauma.
Processes at the root
Rather than just managing symptoms, trauma therapy processes the traumatic memories themselves, creating deeper and more lasting change.
What clients experience
For childhood trauma
Negative events from your past still affect everything you do. Treatment works to overcome the destructive impact. Trauma therapy using EMDR and CBT will improve your self-confidence, increase your sense of security, and help you learn healthier communication patterns so that you can improve your relationships and live a happier and more peaceful life.
For relationship trauma
When negative relationship events have left you insecure, confused, and unable to trust yourself or important people in your life, effective treatment helps you process relationship hurts and violations. You develop the capacity to live more fully in the present and become clearer, more authentic, calmer, and more assertive in your relationships.
For sexual trauma
Sexual trauma has left an imprint that you didn’t choose but that you live with every day. EMDR therapy for sexual trauma will help you process what happened and point the way toward a life less impacted by your past, one in which you can reclaim yourself and your body.
I have many years of experience helping people successfully process all different kinds of sexual trauma. I am passionate about this work and confident I can help you face these negative events and move forward.
For medical trauma
Acute health emergencies, chronic pain, and significant health problems can create anxiety that is hard to manage. Effective treatment helps you find ways to cope better with all aspects of your medical stress so that you can enjoy your life more fully.
Factors that support effectiveness
Proper training and experience
Trauma therapy works best with therapists who have specialized training in trauma-focused approaches. I have been providing EMDR therapy since 2009 and have 25 years of experience with trauma treatment.
Client engagement
Consistent attendance, willingness to engage with difficult material, and practice of skills between sessions all contribute to positive outcomes.
Right approach for your situation
The length of treatment depends on your goals, the complexity of the issues we’re addressing, and how you respond to therapy. Tailoring treatment to your specific needs improves effectiveness.
When to expect results
Early improvements
Some people can accomplish their goals in 5 to 6 sessions, particularly with single traumatic events or less complex presentations.
Substantial change
It typically takes 12 to 18 sessions for significant healing from trauma. Most clients notice meaningful improvements during this timeframe.
Complex trauma
Some people attend therapy for longer periods when addressing complex or multiple traumas. Even complex trauma responds to treatment, though it may take more time.
What makes lasting change
Not temporary relief
Reactions to trauma aren’t signs of weakness but signs that you haven’t been able to fully process what happened. Effective trauma but weakness that results in long-lasting change instead of just short-term symptom relief.
Building resilience
Treatment doesn’t just resolve past trauma … it builds capacity to handle future stressors without developing chronic trauma symptoms.
Life changes
Daily life no longer revolves around avoiding certain memories, places, people, or feelings. Disconnection from others and from your own emotions or sense of self improves. You can engage fully with present life rather than remaining stuck in the past.
Why don’t some people improve
Inconsistent attendance
Frequent cancellations or long gaps between sessions interrupt processing momentum.
Avoidance during sessions
If you disconnect or avoid engaging with traumatic material during processing, therapy can’t work effectively.
Wrong approach
Some therapists use general talk therapy for trauma rather than specialized trauma-focused approaches. Proper training in EMDR and CBT matters for trauma treatment.
Ongoing trauma
If you’re currently in unsafe situations or experiencing active trauma, your nervous system can’t fully process past events while remaining on high alert for present dangers.
My commitment
After our initial assessment is completed, I will be able to give you a clear estimate of the number of sessions anticipated to help you make lasting progress. We track progress regularly and adjust approaches if needed rather than continuing indefinitely without results.
It is my privilege to be a part of this special healing journey. I am confident that I can help you face negative events and move forward.
For professionals in the South Bay
I specialize in working with people in high-pressure situations … Software Engineers, Product Managers, Program Managers, Executives, Engineering Managers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Business Owners, and College Students.
Trauma therapy works effectively for high-achieving professionals who need evidence-based approaches that create real change without years of treatment.
Accessing trauma therapy in Valley Fair and Santa Row
My office is located at 2020 Forest Avenue, Suite 3, San Jose, California 95128. I serve clients throughout South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, and the greater San Jose area (95128 and surrounding zip codes). Both in-person and online appointments are available for California residents throughout the Bay Area.
You might be experiencing physical symptoms that won’t resolve despite no medical explanation, or you notice your body stays tense and on guard even when you’re trying to relax. Perhaps you’ve heard that “trauma is stored in the body” and want to understand how to release it, or you’re looking for approaches that address the physical manifestations of trauma.
Trauma creates real physical symptoms because it affects your nervous system and how your body responds to perceived threats. As a trauma therapist in San Jose, California, I use EMDR, CBT, and Mindfulness strategies that address both the psychological and physical aspects of trauma.
How trauma manifests physically
Chronic nervous system activation
The mind and body may feel on high alert … jumpy, tense, always watching for what might go wrong. This isn’t just psychological … your nervous system literally stays in a heightened state of arousal after trauma.
Physical symptoms of unprocessed trauma
Why the body holds trauma
The aftermath of a traumatic event can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to cope. When trauma overwhelms your system, your body gets stuck in defensive responses … the fight, flight, or freeze reactions that were activated during trauma don’t complete and discharge naturally.
How EMDR releases trauma from the body
Processing at the neurological level
EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help your brain process traumatic memories. As memories are processed, the physical activation associated with them decreases naturally.
What happens during EMDR
You may notice physical sensations during processing: tension releasing, temperature changes, deeper breathing, and muscles relaxing. This is your body discharging the stored trauma activation.
Long-term physical relief
With the evidence-based methods of EMDR and CBT, I effectively promote your healing from trauma and help you establish patterns of long-term resilience. As traumatic memories resolve, chronic physical symptoms often decrease significantly or disappear.
Clients report:
How CBT addresses physical symptoms
Learning body-based coping skills
CBT provides practical techniques for calming your nervous system and releasing physical tension:
Progressive muscle relaxation
Systematically tensing and releasing muscle groups to reduce chronic tension and teach your body what relaxation feels like.
Breathing techniques
Specific breathing patterns that activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your body’s relaxation response) and reduce physical arousal.
Grounding exercises
Techniques that bring awareness into your body in the present moment, interrupting the trauma-related activation and helping you feel safe in your physical self.
How Mindfulness releases body-held trauma
Body awareness practices
I combine EMDR and CBT with Mindfulness strategies to help you make meaningful changes. Mindfulness helps you:
Developing body trust
Trauma often creates disconnection from your body. Mindfulness practices help you reconnect with and trust your physical self again.
For different trauma presentations
Childhood trauma physical release
Negative events from your past still affect everything you do. Childhood trauma often creates deep-seated tension patterns formed during development. Processing these early experiences releases physical holding patterns established years ago.
Relationship trauma physical release
When negative relationship events have left you insecure and hypervigilant, your body stays braced for threat. Processing relationship violations helps your body finally relax its defensive posture.
Sexual trauma physical release
Sexual trauma has left an imprint that you didn’t choose but that you live with every day. You may feel disconnected from your body. EMDR therapy for sexual trauma helps you reclaim yourself and your body, releasing the physical freezing that occurred during trauma.
I have many years of experience helping people successfully process all different kinds of sexual trauma and the physical symptoms they create.
Medical trauma physical release
Acute health emergencies and medical procedures can create physical trauma responses. Processing these experiences helps your body distinguish between past medical events and current safety.
What physical release feels like
During processing
After treatment
It’s common to get stuck in reliving, avoiding, and reacting to reminders of what happened. As this resolves, your body stops living in constant defense:
Integrated approach
Why combining methods works
EMDR processes traumatic memories, creating physical symptoms. CBT provides tools for managing body sensations and reducing physical activation. Mindfulness helps you stay present with your body during healing.
Together, these approaches address trauma held in the body comprehensively rather than just teaching you to ignore or manage physical symptoms.
Timeline for physical release
Some people notice physical relief quickly … tension releasing within the first few processing sessions. Others experience gradual physical improvement as traumatic memories are processed over weeks or months.
The length of treatment depends on your goals, the complexity of the issues we’re addressing, and how you respond to therapy. Physical symptoms often improve alongside emotional symptoms as trauma resolves.
For professionals in the South Bay
I specialize in working with people in high-pressure situations … Software Engineers, Product Managers, Program Managers, Executives, Engineering Managers, Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Business Owners, and College Students.
Many professionals push through physical symptoms without recognizing them as trauma-related. Treatment addresses both psychological and physical manifestations of trauma.
Getting started
My office is located at 2020 Forest Avenue, Suite 3, San Jose, California 95128. I serve clients throughout South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, and the greater San Jose area (95128 and surrounding zip codes). Both in-person and online appointments are available for California residents throughout the Bay Area.
Want to learn more about my background and approach to therapy? Visit my About page to understand my experience and credentials. If you have questions about insurance, pricing, or session logistics, check out my FAQ page.
