Therapy for Trauma
Therapist Michela Tripp
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
If you’re constantly overthinking, self-isolating, or realizing you’re repeating behavior patterns in your life, it’s not a mystery—it’s a map. And I can help you read it.
I work with people healing from many forms of trauma. Some that are easier to identify, like loss or abuse, and others like complex trauma that are quieter but just as impactful, like a difficult childhood, emotional neglect, or years of chronic stress.
Trauma’s Ripples Can Result In:
Feeling disconnected from yourself
Avoiding rest or slowing down
Attracting emotionally unavailable or unpredictable partners
People-pleasing, perfectionism, & overworking
Chronic health issues or physical symptoms that seem to have no clear cause (chronic tension, fatigue, GI issues)
Feeling like rest is uncomfortable or “unproductive”
Shutting down emotionally
Having trouble trusting others—or yourself
If you’re nodding along, you’re not broken. You’re responding to life experiences that were overwhelming, unfair, or just too much for your nervous system to process at the time.
WHAT IS COMPLEX TRAUMA?
Complex trauma refers to the kind of trauma that happens repeatedly, often starting in childhood. Rather than a single event, it involves ongoing experiences that can leave a lasting impact on your sense of safety, identity, and relationships. These experiences can be hard to name, especially if they were part of your everyday life growing up.
Examples of Complex Trauma:
Growing up with a parent or caregiver who was emotionally unavailable, critical, unpredictable, or unsafe
Living in a home affected by addiction, mental illness, or chronic conflict
Being emotionally or physically neglected
Repeated bullying or social exclusion
Ongoing emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
Living in an environment where you didn’t feel safe or supported over a long period of time
My Trauma Therapy Process
The first step isn’t jumping into the “deep work.” It’s building safety.
Therapy with me feels different because I’m an active therapist. I don’t just sit back in silence and nod. I’m a participant in the room. I ask questions, offer insight, connect dots, and help you feel seen in ways you may never have before.
Once we’ve built trust, we begin to gently explore its roots:
what formed your sense of safety (or lack of it)?
what did you learn about love, trust, and emotional availability?
where do those lessons still show up in your body, your relationships, your choices?
During our sessions, I use a layered and customized approach that pulls from a variety of research based techniques including:
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Recognizes that we each have different “parts” with unique emotions, thoughts, and roles. By identifying and working with these parts, you learn to resolve inner conflicts and foster self-compassion. It’s a gentle approach that helps you process trauma and feel more integrated.
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Uses bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements) to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories. It reduces the emotions around painful events so you can move forward without being controlled by the past. Research has shown it to be especially effective for PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma responses.
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Explores how early experiences with caregivers shape how you form trust and closeness in adulthood. By understanding attachment styles, you can recognize unhelpful relationship patterns and develop healthier ways of connecting with others.
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Dives into how your unconscious experiences and past dynamics shape your current behavior and emotions. Through self-reflection and insight, you uncover hidden motivations and conflicts that contribute to ongoing patterns.
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Focuses on how your interactions with others affect your emotional well-being. It’s goal-oriented and helps you improve communication, handle conflict, and build more supportive relationships. By strengthening your interpersonal skills you also alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
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Shows you the link between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By identifying and challenging harmful thought patterns, you learn healthier ways to cope with stress, anxiety, and low mood.
Healing That Echoes Into Everyday Life.
The Effects of Trauma Therapy
This is the kind of transformation that starts from the inside and then begins to affect life outside. You’ll begin to notice:
your triggers, and that they don’t hijack your day anymore
conflict feels less overwhelming—and like something you can handle
boundaries feel natural and less like something to fear or avoid
feeling more calm, more present, and more you
less afraid to take risks and show up fully in your life
Hey, I’m Michela
People come to me for help with anxiety, burnout, trauma, and relational challenges. I offer in person & online therapy for adults seeking deeper insight, emotional relief, and a more authentic connection to themselves.
Therapy with me is both insight-driven and grounding. We’ll go deep, but at your pace, it will never be overwhelming. I’ve been told by clients and colleagues that working with me feels different: more personal, more intuitive, and often, more effective.
I believe in therapy that not only helps you heal from the past but also empowers you to live more fully in the present.
Before private practice, I worked in community mental health settings, hospitals, and crisis support services in both Los Angeles and New York City. These experiences sharpened my ability to meet people in complex, high-intensity moments and to do it with compassion.
GETTING STARTED
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Fill out the contact form. I will respond to you no matter what, and if I'm not the right fit, I will always provide a referral to someone who can help.
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We will set up a time to have an introductory call over the phone. If we both feel it's a good fit, we can move forward with scheduling your first session.
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During the first three sessions, we will have the opportunity to learn about each other and see if my style of therapy works for you. This is also a time for me to understand your needs and how we can best work together.