Hannah Dunsmore, M.A.

Do you feel stuck in patterns that you know aren’t working for you anymore, but feel powerless to change them? Have you experienced persistent anxiety or depression for so long it’s starting to feel impossible to find relief? For clients who have trauma histories, sometimes talk therapy isn’t enough to fully heal from the past. Traumatic experiences can get stuck in our nervous system, sending a constant signal to our bodies that we are in danger, even long after the danger has passed. Unfortunately, what we know on a mind level we don’t always feel in our bodies. I practice attachment focused EMDR, a treatment that allows the body to release past pain and leads to healing on a deeper level. I enjoy utilizing EMDR with clients who have experienced acute traumatic events, or complex trauma (repeated neglect or abuse over a long period of time.) Feel free to reach out to me with any questions about the EMDR process, or how it could aid you in your healing journey. It is my belief our body has an amazing capacity to heal itself when given the correct tools to do so.

Erin Hunter, TLMFT

Does chaos always seem to feel a little too close? Maybe it feels like life is just happening to you. Something is off; it’s not like it’s supposed to be. You stopped feeling in control a while ago, and at times, it feels safer just to emotionally check out. 

Maybe you come off as really capable to others but inside, you feel like things are falling apart. Or you might have overwhelming emotions and reactions that don’t seem to fit the situation, or you’re not feeling emotions at all. Or maybe you’re skimming in all of your most important relationships and your career, and something needs to change.

Your fears and beliefs about your world have changed because that’s what trauma does. It changes the way the brain works and how we see and experience the world around us, robbing our ability to feel our emotions in a safe way.

As a marriage and family therapist, trained in Somatic and Attachment based EMDR therapy, I help adults reduce symptoms of stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety; improve focus & motivation and help clients rewrite negative beliefs that hijack their feelings. The result is clients who feel more confident and in control, so their day-to-day emotions feel less charged, and more predictable.

Alyssa Durdunji, LMFT

Our brains are powerful, protective, adaptive, and inclined to heal themselves. However, when we experience trauma, it gets stored in a way that often leads us to be in a perpetual state of fight, flight, or freeze. The saying goes, “If it’s hysterical, it’s historical”, meaning if the intensity of your reaction does not seem to match the precipitating event, it is probably activating something from your past. Eye Movement Desensitization Re-processing (EMDR) is an empirically supported approach that allows us to access the memory networks where the trauma is stored and rightfully place them as past events rather than present threats. I’d be happy to do a short phone consultation to further discuss EMDR and determine whether or not it could be beneficial in your therapeutic work.

Winn Simmons, LMFT

I work with adults struggling from painful childhoods, trauma, past sexual/physical/emotional abuse, shame and low feelings of self-worth. Trauma and painful experiences change the brain and nervous system, blocking your ability to move forward. The way forward might mean addressing difficult experiences from the past or overcoming feelings of anxiety or depression that don't seem to go away.

Each year I am honored to conduct therapy with trauma survivors, street children and teenagers, in Kenya. We work together through their painful trauma to alleviate disturbing symptoms they are experiencing and learn to move forward without their pain. This experience working in a high stress environment with an underserved population initiated my passion for trauma work with clients.

My primary goal as we work together, is to provide a non-judgmental environment where you can feel safe to open up and work through your past or current difficulties in a collaborative way. I have seen trauma therapy work in powerful ways to heal clients from trauma and repeated painful life experiences. Getting to the root causes and alleviating the disturbing symptoms allows clients to create a life of purpose and clarity without the old patterns that no longer serve you.

Russell Durdunji, LMFT

Is something from your past keeping you from enjoying the present or being excited about the future? With EMDR, I can help you address and process through emotions tied to past experiences by processing them in a healthy way and ultimately reducing your symptoms. We will implement specific techniques to activate the memory of the traumatic experience and help you then reintegrate it in a more adaptive way.

Together, we can use EMDR to target your past experiences, current triggers, and potential future challenges. Possible outcomes you may experience can include a decrease or elimination of distress from a disturbing memory or memories, an improved view of yourself, relief from bodily disturbances, and resolution of present and future anticipated triggers.

Overall, EMDR is a heavily research-supported approach that aims to alleviate human suffering. It’s time we alleviate yours. Connect with me today and let’s get started.

Wynne Whitley, Intern

Hi, I’m Wynne, and I’m trained in Brainspotting for children, adolescents, and adults. Brainspotting is a profound and targeted therapeutic approach that focuses on identifying, processing, and releasing the deep-rooted neurophysiological origins of emotional and physical pain, trauma, dissociation, and various challenging symptoms. What makes Brainspotting truly unique is its utilization of the natural connection between where you look and how you feel, as it aligns specific eye positions with unresolved issues and bodily sensations. This results in a rapid and highly effective mind-body centered therapy that goes beyond cognitive understanding, tapping into your body's inherent wisdom for self-healing. If you’re interested in Brainspotting, I’d be honored to embark on a healing journey with you.

Alyssa Birmingham, LMFT

Your past is part of you, but it doesn’t have to define you. Trauma can come in many forms: physical or sexual abuse, a toxic relationship or work environment, a neglectful childhood, the death of a loved one, or perhaps witnessing a traumatic event. Trauma changes us, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I am here to offer a safe space for you to process your trauma – I will validate your experience and use the latest research-based techniques to guide you towards healing. Deciding to deal with the traumatic experiences in your life takes immense courage, and I would feel honored to walk with you through this process.

Stephanie Bashirian, LMFT

What if I told you that there’s nothing wrong with you, but rather, are functioning in a way that is entirely understandable given your story and our evolutionary processes? But the thing is, those survival mechanisms tend to get in the way of us living the lives we want to live. Whether your story involves an abusive or neglectful childhood, the loss or absence of a healthy attachment figure, sexual or physical violence, a failed relationship, harassment or bullying, the death of a loved one, or even repeated exposure to trauma such as that experienced by first responders, your coping mechanisms are valid, and your reality matters. Together, we will work to re-process your experiences through trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy and narrative development in order to move you out of survival mode, and into a place of greater health, meaning, and peace.

Gracie Self, LMFT

I have a passion for working with trauma and seeing client’s lives transformed. These events may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, and combat history but could also include a relationship breakup, the death of loved one, or the child who needed their parent to comfort them but instead was given the message, “you are not important.” An individual’s life history, emotional support, and current coping skills all factor into if an event becomes traumatic for one person and not another. I use EMDR therapy to target client’s trauma as they move towards the difficult, yet beautiful process of healing.

Morgan Gardner, LMFT

Many of us have endured trauma in one way or another. Trauma can impact our mind, body, and relationships in ways we may not understand. I am here to walk alongside you in the journey of processing, and understanding your traumatic experiences. I strive to create a safe and grounding space for you to process your trauma, so you can begin to live life fully.