You’re welcome here. I’m LGBTQ affirming and supportive of the many ways of creating your family.I'm Holly, a Pasadena, California-based therapist specializing in trauma therapy and perinatal mental health.
.When I started out as a therapist, mental health challenges for moms and birthing people weren't really talked about.
Through my own struggles during pregnancy and postpartum, I know what it’s like to face the unexpected, and to be changed in ways that felt out of my control. My experiences left me with more awareness of the dramatic shifts and changes that parenthood creates, and led to my focus on helping women and birthing people feel their best during this important developmental stage. A large part of my practice is dedicated to helping parents and parents-to-be navigate the unique emotional and relationship issues that can come along with creating a family.
I can look back and remember wondering why I was struggling, and if I was ever going to feel like myself again.
What I can see very clearly now is what a difference it made to find the right kind of support and to be able to talk openly and honestly about the “other side” of creating a family that can feel so confusing, lonely and hard at times.
As a proud mom of 2 wonderful young adults, I have the benefit of hindsight.
I understand how much it matters to feel like you're getting it right, to do this well, and to know that you can move forward without your trauma interfering with your life, your relationships, and your parenting.
Tending to pain from the past and learning to support your emotional wellness can help you become more present and engaged in the really important things happening in your life right now.
My Specializations
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Therapy for Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Problems with depression and anxiety are the number one complication of pregnancy and childbirth. If your mood or anxiety is getting in the way of caring for yourself and your family, getting support can make all the difference.
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Trauma/PTSD
Unresolved trauma is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy. Symptoms of trauma and PTSD interfere with your daily life and change how you feel about yourself and others. Trauma focused therapies, including EMDR, Attachment Focused EMDR. and Ego State Therapy (or parts work) can help. I treat many kinds of trauma, and work with adults at all stages of life.
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Miscarriage, Infertility and Loss
Perinatal loss can be devastating. You may be grieving a loss, struggling with fertility process, or feel like your body has failed you. Common issues I work with include TFMR, stillbirth or death of an infant, infertility diagnosis, high risk pregnancy/medical complications.
Education, Credentials and Trainings
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Master of Arts, Psychology, Pepperdine University, 2001
Master of Science, Gerontology (the study of aging), Baylor University 1995
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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, California Board of Behavioral Sciences
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), Active Member
Certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) by EMDR International Association
Certified in Perinatal Mental Health by Postpartum Support International (PSI)
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Attachment Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (AF-EMDR)- Trained by Dr. Laurel Parnell, who developed the model for treating complex childhood trauma.
Postgraduate Fertility Counseling Course, Koser and Covington (10 month postgraduate training)
Emotionally Focused Therapy: 4 Day Externship
Advanced EMDR Training for Reproductive Trauma-Trained by Dr. Mara Tesler Stein, Touchstone Institute
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: A Practitioner’s Guide to Supporting Bereaved Parents- Trained by Dr. Deborah L. Davis and Dr. Mara Tesler Stein, Touchstone Institute
Ego State Approaches for Perinatal Mental Health, the Touchstone Institute, Dr. Mara Tessler Stein and Robin Shapiro.
Easy Ego State Interventions, Robin Shapiro
Imaginal Nurturing, April Steele
Internal Family Systems (IFS) for EMDR Therapists, Bruce Hersey
Recently, on the blog.
LET’S TALKSchedule a free 20-minute consultation.
I’d love to talk to you about how I can help.
