Support for the Harder Parts of Becoming a Parent
Virtual Trauma Therapy and EMDR for Women and Birthing People in California
You’re welcome here. I’m LGBTQ affirming and supportive of the many ways families are created.
all sessions are held online and available to anyone living in California.If this is all much harder than you expected it to be...
So much of what happens during fertility journey, pregnancy, and postpartum isn’t talked about or acknowledged openly and honestly. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the heaviness of how life feels, exhausted by trying to get it all just right, grieving a loss, or determined to change the cycle of trauma in your family, I’m glad you’re here.
Having a safe, supportive space to bring your experiences, thoughts and feelings (no matter what they are) can make all the difference. Using a combination of research-based therapy, practical self-care and a trauma focused approach, I help women and new moms overcome the effects of trauma and become emotionally prepared for fertility journey, pregnancy, postpartum and early parenthood.
Specialized therapy for reproductive trauma, infertility, childhood trauma/attachment wounds, and the unique transitions of pregnancy, postpartum and early parenthood.
Supporting women and moms through grief, trauma recovery, and identity shifts.
This stage of life can feel different than it does now…
You want to do this well. But reckoning with a tangle of emotions, identity shifts, relentless inner pressure to get it just right —along with the unexpected things that can happen— make having a baby so much more complicated than you imagined. You may be feeling lost and not quite like yourself. And it can be hard to shake that feeling that your efforts are not quite “good enough”.
Women often hold grief, stress, guilt, and identity loss alone, especially when things don’t go as expected. Therapy can give you support that may be missing, and the space (and skills) to tend to yourself - to help you process old pain and trauma, to feel more connected to yourself as you take on new roles and responsibilities and learn new ways to cope with your emotions.
In therapy, small steps lead to bigger changes, and help you move forward feeling more settled, more confident, and more like yourself again.
Anxious, scary thoughts stop demanding so much of your attention. The overwhelm and emotional intensity eases up, and you’re able to manage difficult situations without bracing yourself. You feel more present (and less triggered) during your day to day. You stop telling yourself, “There’s something wrong with me” and start noticing “I can handle this”.
And that voice telling you that you’re not good enough gets a little quieter.
Gentle, grounded, trauma-informed care for parents and parents-to-be
Maybe you’ve tried talk therapy before, but some part of you still feels stuck. Even though you logically understand that the trauma is in the past, the anxiety, panic and self-blame show up anyway.
That’s where our work begins.
I'm a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in reproductive trauma, EMDR therapy, and helping women and new moms heal from experiences that continue to impact daily life.
We’ll start by getting to know each other and understanding what’s bringing you here. No pressure, just a conversation with someone who understands how complicated healing can be.
My approach to therapy integrates:
EMDR/Attachment-Focused EMDR therapy for trauma processing
Attachment-focused exploration of how early relationships and experiences are impacting you present day
Ego State/Parts Work to understand inner conflicts and emotional patterns, and build new ways of coping
Trauma focused therapy tailored your unique experience and needs.
Along the way, you’ll learn practical tools to help you feel more grounded and supported in your day-to-day. And when you’re ready, we’ll gently help your body and mind process the experiences that still feel stuck-so that they no longer take up so much space in your present.
If Any of These Sound Familiar, You’re in the Right Place…
Miscarriage and pregnancy loss
Birth Trauma
Infant loss and stillbirth
Fertility treatment, Infertility and Reproductive Trauma
Postpartum Anxiety or Depression
Childhood trauma (physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect)
Feeling disconnected from yourself, your relationships, or your life
Panic attacks or overwhelming worry
Childhood experiences resurfacing now that you’re raising your own children.
Identity shifts and adjusting to life postpartum/early parenthood
Pregnancy after loss
Or maybe you simply feel exhausted from carrying so much.
That’s reason enough, too.
EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD
Sometimes talking about what happened isn’t enough.
Disturbing experiences can cause strong emotional and physical reactions long after the experience is over- keeping you feeling stuck, caught in the past. And as much as you’ve tried, talking it through, using logic and reason usually can’t keep the past from interfering in the present when you’re living with the effects of trauma.
Maybe it’s a thought telling you that it was your fault, that you’re weak or not good enough. Your chest tightens and your heart races in a seemingly ordinary moment. Or an unwanted memory plays on repeat, leaving you feeling like it’s happening right now.
EMDR therapy helps your mind and body process disturbing experiences in a deeper way, allowing distressing memories to lessen their emotional charge and take away their power to overwhelm you.
The memory stays a memory, something that happened in the past. It doesn’t get to take over your life anymore.
I offer standard EMDR therapy, as well as Attachment-Focused EMDR which helps to reprocess and repair attachment wounds stemming from early relationships and life experiences.
FAQs
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The first step is to schedule your introductory call (free consultation). We’ll meet on a video call or talk over the phone to determine if we’re a good fit. During your free consultation we’ll talk about:
What's happening right now that you need help with.
What concerns you most about how you’re feeling.
What kind of changes do want to make? Imagine what you want to notice after working together for 3 months, 6 months, a year.
My approach to therapy, and how I’d tailor therapy to you.
Any questions you may have- no question or concern is too small.
To begin the process, send me an email at hollyaevansmft@gmail.com
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I have an online therapy practice and only see clients virtually. I’m licensed in the state of California and can work with people who are living anywhere in the state.
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Yes! EMDR therapy can be effectively done online from the comfort of your home. To learn more about online EMDR therapy, click here.
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No, I do not.
If you have a PPO, I can provide the paperwork necessary for you to submit a claim.
When you’re ready to talk…
Reaching out for help is a big step and I want to make the process as comfortable and easy to understand as possible. To get started, just call or email me to schedule your free consultation. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
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