Trauma Therapy Bay Area

Helping Adults Heal from Trauma

You Never Thought You Needed Trauma Therapy

You've always been strong, so it's a new feeling to be so lost and tired all the time, to dread your day.

But you were taught early on to suck it up and do what you have to do.. You feel like you're not doing enough and even like you aren't enough. 

The Home was Never Safe

You always felt like you were walking on eggshells as if an outburst could happen at any moment. You lived in a minefield, never knowing when the next step would cause an explosion. It always felt as if crisis and chaos were the norm. Emotions were always high at home and it was emotionally draining.

When things were calm, you were left alone. You felt safe but alone, and no one tended to you.

You buried yourself in books, in music, in anything that can drown out the underlying tension. Isolation becomes a sanctuary, a space where you can breathe, think, and simply be without the weight of walking on eggshells. But you were alone, isolated, and always wondering when the next bad thing would happen.

Growing Up Didn’t Make Life Easier

You grew up and left the home by working hard and being independent.

You pour yourself into work with a dedication that leaves no room for rest, your days a blur of tasks and deadlines.

Stress is a constant companion. You never feel like you can relax or settle in your own skin.

Emotionally, you're running on empty, using the adrenaline of overachievement to mask the emptiness and fear that lurk just beneath the surface. The moments of quiet are the hardest, when the distractions fade and you're left alone with your thoughts, you feel the emptiness, shame, and guilt about your past.

Trauma Makes Your Relationships Suffer

In relationships, you always feel like you are on alert. You became a master of reading the room and being vigilant. You’re always scanning the room for signs of discomfort or disapproval, anticipating conflict before it arises. It's a draining experience, to maintain this level of alertness, and it often leads to misinterpretations, and more hurt.

This hyper-awareness leaves you exhausted, second-guessing the intentions of friends, colleagues, and even strangers.

You can’t express yourself and you struggle to be open and honest. When you find yourself in a relationship that demands openness and vulnerability, the challenge intensifies. Your friends, and partners want you to be authentic, but you simply can’t risk being hurt.

You Want to Heal from Your Trauma

You've reached a pivotal moment, where the accumulated weight of your unspoken pain and the patterns is too much. Life shouldn't feel like a constant struggle, yet for many, it's an uphill battle filled with uncertainty and pain. If you find yourself tip-toeing around your own emotions or navigating through relationships like a minefield, you're not alone. It's time to take a step towards healing.

I’m Alex, a Trauma Therapist in the Bay Area.

I help seemingly adults who come from broken families find healing, relief, and restoration from their trauma.

As a Trauma therapist, my hope is for you to find deep healing from the pains of childhood that still impact you today.

My practice is centered on understanding and healing from complex trauma, with a focus on individuals who find themselves using achievement and busyness as a way to run away from their painful feelings.

I provide a safe and supportive environment where I prioritize seeing and understanding your story so you can heal.

We'll work to unravel the patterns that have led to overworking and stress, providing you with the tools and strategies to navigate your emotions and experiences more healthily. My goal is to help you move from a place of avoidance and exhaustion to one of emotional restoration and self-discovery.

One Step Further: Healing Trauma in the Body

I also take healing ONE step deeper by integrating trauma healing in the body using Brainspotting. This allows for a deeper, longer-lasting, and more integrative approach to healing trauma.

This means that you don’t only heal your brain, but also the parts of your body that carry trauma.

Discover Transformation Through Trauma Therapy

My hope is this is a place that feels safe and where you feel deeply heard, understood, and given hope with tools to experience change. Get ready for more lightbulb moments, where you have the "aha" and make connections as to how you are here in life and what needs to happen to change it. 

Trauma Therapist Bay Area

I care about your results and transformation and will have ongoing conversations about your therapy outcomes as many of my clients experience great outcomes in therapy. They are able to better manage their anxiety and feelings without needing to suppress them or rationalize them.

They hold on to less shame and guilt, and they know how to navigate through them when they experience it. They learn to set boundaries and are able to express their needs and wants without fear, shame, and guilt holding them back. 

You deserve a life where you are free from the shame and guilt that you inherited. You can find a way to build a life that you want.

About Trauma Therapy with Alex Ly

Types of Trauma Therapy that I specialize in

My clients come in for therapy with these issues:

  • Growing up with an Abusive Household

  • Growing up with Critical Parents

  • Church and Spiritual Trauma

  • Neglect and Abandonment in Childhood

  • Intergenerational Trauma

  • Cultural Specific traumas


Symptoms of Trauma

My clients often don’t know what trauma looks like in their lives. However these are some signs that you may be carrying unprocessed trauma:

  • Persistent Anxiety and Panic Attacks:

  • Intense Self-Criticism and Perfectionism

  • Difficulty Trusting Others

  • Emotional Numbness or Disconnection

  • Unexplained Physical Symptoms

  • Overworking or Compulsive Busyness

  • Control Issues

  • Mood Swings and Irritability

  • Difficulty with Intimacy

  • Substance Use or Other Addictive Behaviors

FAQ about Trauma Therapy with Alex Ly, Bay Area Therapist

  • Trauma therapy typically spans one to two years, a necessary duration to foster deep and lasting change. In my practice as a trauma therapist in the Bay Area, I focus on addressing the root causes of trauma, not just symptom management. This depth of work ensures profound, sustainable healing. I understand concerns about the time and financial investment involved.
    However, the tangible outcomes—improved relationships, self-esteem, and overall quality of life—are invaluable. Healing cannot be rushed; it requires patience, self-compassion, and a commitment to safety and efficacy. View this journey as a significant investment in your well-being, leading to a more empowered and peaceful life.

  • Absolutely not. As a trauma therapist in the Bay Area, I deeply understand the fear of being retraumatized. This concern is valid, yet it's crucial to distinguish between misconceptions and the reality of effective trauma therapy.

    Many carry stories of therapy exacerbating their trauma, but in a proper therapeutic setting, this shouldn't occur. A foundational aspect of my approach is building a relationship based on trust and safety before delving into deeper therapeutic work. This ensures that the process is gradual, respectful, and, most importantly, safe.

    The outcomes of trauma therapy, when conducted correctly, are profoundly positive. Clients often experience significant improvements in their emotional well-being and daily functioning. The journey through trauma therapy can indeed be challenging and uncomfortable at times, but it is designed to heal, not harm.

    Embrace this path with hope and reassurance. In our sessions, your safety and comfort are paramount, and we will navigate your healing at a pace that feels right for you. Trauma therapy is about empowerment, not retraumatization.

  • Trauma therapy differs significantly from traditional talk therapy, particularly in its approach to healing. As a Bay Area trauma therapist, I focus on healing trauma not just cognitively but at the bodily level. Unlike talk therapy, which often centers on symptom management and cognitive understanding, trauma therapy delves into the physiological aspects of trauma, addressing how it's stored in the body.

    Methods like Brainspotting directly target the physical manifestations of trauma, offering a more integrated healing process. This is crucial since trauma affects both mind and body, and addressing only the cognitive aspects can lead to increased dissociation and a disconnect between thoughts and physical experiences.

    In contrast, trauma therapy provides a holistic approach, ensuring that healing encompasses your entire being. It's more than understanding your trauma; it's about a transformative healing process that reconnects you with yourself in a deeper, more integrated way.

  • Absolutely, you can begin trauma therapy even if you're not ready to dive deep into your traumas. As a trauma therapist in the Bay Area, I emphasize the importance of building safety and trust in our therapeutic relationship first. Good trauma therapy isn't just about confronting past traumas head-on; it's also about addressing your present issues and establishing a sense of security. We'll work at a pace that feels comfortable for you, gently challenging and guiding you towards healing, while respecting your boundaries and readiness to confront deeper issues. Your journey to healing is a collaborative and gradual process.

  • In trauma therapy, the first session is pivotal. It sets the stage for our journey together, focusing on defining the positive outcomes you aspire to achieve. As a dedicated trauma therapist, I ensure each session is client-led, providing a safe and open space for you to express your needs and concerns.

    Our sessions are intricately tied to your therapy goals. This approach ensures that every conversation, every insight, contributes meaningfully to your healing journey. Trauma therapy is not just about talking; it integrates both mind and body to address trauma stored physically, using techniques like brainspotting.

    Expect each session to be a balance of safety and challenge. This dynamic environment is essential for deep healing. We'll navigate your experiences at a pace that respects your comfort yet encourages growth and transformation. Your journey to healing starts here, in a space designed for your empowerment and renewal.

  • Absolutely, yes. As a trauma therapist in the Bay Area, I want to reassure you that complete recall of every detail is not necessary for healing. Trauma therapy focuses primarily on how you feel and on processing the emotions that reside within your body. It's not uncommon for dissociation, a natural protective mechanism of the mind, to blur specific memories of traumatic events. This is a normal response to trauma and does not hinder the therapy process.

    In our sessions, the emphasis is on understanding and working through the emotional and physical responses that arise, even without a complete narrative. The journey of healing is about reconnecting with yourself, learning to understand and manage your feelings, and ultimately, transforming these experiences into a source of strength.

    Remember, your path to healing doesn't require perfect clarity of the past. It's about moving forward with compassion and understanding, one step at a time.

Bay Area Therapy Specialties