Top-Rated Trauma Therapy Los Angeles
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”
— Carl Jung
Healing from Trauma
Meet Dr. Adrianna Holness
Trauma Therapist in Los Angeles, CA
I imagine something in your life is bringing you pain. I want you to know that you don't have to walk through this alone. It's my honor to meet you in these vulnerable spaces and support you on your journey towards healing and self-growth.
As a licensed clinical psychologist and Founder of Worth and Wellness Psychology, I've had the privilege of sitting with clients as they navigate life's challenges for over a decade. I practice from an intersectional feminist lens and am deeply curious about the unique ways your identity and experiences shape your world.
My approach is guided by the belief that all women have the innate strength to create the lives they desire. I'll meet you with compassion, authenticity, and a touch of humor as we explore new ways of relating to your emotions, your body, and yourself. Together, we'll dive into the messy, beautiful work of healing—celebrating your triumphs and holding space for your most vulnerable moments.
When you're ready, I invite you to reach out. I'm here to walk alongside you on this transformative journey.
My Approach to Treating Trauma & PTSD
There are a number of evidence-based approaches for addressing trauma and PTSD. While it may seem overwhelming at first, this just means that you have options for finding the right fit. Talk to a Trauma Therapist to see what approach might work for you.
At Worth and Wellness Psychology, trauma therapy and PTSD treatment can include any of the following approaches depending on your unique needs:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Emotion-Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Mindfulness-based interventions
Starting PTSD Treatment can feel like a scary and vulnerable step. My role is to help empower you as you take those steps. Together, we’ll collaborate as you build the tools you need to dive into the harder work. If you’re feeling ready and want more support or even if you’re just curious, I’d love to meet with you for a free 30-minute consultation to share a bit about my approach and to see what would be the best fit for you.
Trauma Therapy & PTSD Treatment in Los Angeles, CA
Trauma can develop due to any situation that causes a physical or emotional threat. Research tells us that half of people will experience a trauma throughout their lifetime and that women in particular are twice as likely to develop PTSD. Trauma is often associated with war, natural disasters, and large-scale violence. It can also develop from daily exposure to verbal and emotional violence in the home or through more covert forms of oppression (e.g., microaggressions) that lead to feelings of unsafety.
How to Start Trauma Counseling in Los Angeles
At Worth and Wellness Psychology you will be supported and empowered as you start trauma therapy. While it can feel overwhelming to reach out for help I am here to support you as you start getting past your past. Get started in PTSD treatment by following these steps:
Step 1
Reach out for a free consultation
Step 2
Schedule your first appointment with a trauma therapist
Step 3
Learn the tools you need to start feeling better
Why Start Trauma Therapy in Los Angeles?
Trauma can develop due to any situation that causes a physical or emotional threat. Research tells us that half of people will experience a trauma throughout their lifetime and that women in particular are twice as likely to develop PTSD. Trauma is often associated with war, natural disasters, and large-scale violence. It can also develop from daily exposure to verbal and emotional violence in the home or through more covert forms of oppression (e.g., microaggressions) that lead to feelings of unsafety.
Verbal abuse and threats
Surgical complications
Miscarriage, stillbrith, or neonatal death
Severe illness or injury
Experiencing threat of violence
Losing someone to suicide
Sexual abuse or molestation
Physical abuse
Exposure to natural disasters
Community violence
Grief/separation
School violence/bullying
Near death experiences
Systemic oppression (e.g., racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, fatphobia)
Childhood neglect or endangerment
Trauma Therapy and PTSD Treatment at Worth and Wellness Psychology can help you create real change.
PTSD Treatment & Trauma Therapy Can Help in the Following Areas:
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You don’t trust yourself, others, or the world.
Your viewpoint may shift to thinking things like, “of course that would happen to me, I can’t trust myself to choose a healthy partner, or people just don’t care about each other.”
The future may feel hopeless.
Your memory feels a little fuzzy, especially for details of the traumatic event.
You feel detached from your family and friends.
The things you used to like just don’t hold the same level of interest for you.
You feel numb.
Positive emotions feel foreign or uncomfortable.
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You have a hard time sleeping.
It feels like you are on edge - as if you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.
You experience anger, frustration, or rage.
You are filled with guilt, shame, and self-blame.
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You have difficulty thinking about the trauma.
You start to avoid people, places, or activities that bring up reminders of the event.
More on Trauma
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Women are at an increased risk of experiencing childhood trauma and interpersonal trauma throughout their lifetimes. Survivors often reflect on their experiences with a sense of self-blame. This can be reinforced by societal messages around all the “shoulds and shouldn’t haves.” Trauma can also be met by well-intentioned family and friends telling you how brave you are, that you’re doing so well, that you’re better than ever, or that it could have been worse. In a society that praises women for being selfless, trauma can often be overlooked or minimized.
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Many survivors struggle with feelings of body betrayal following a trauma. Sometimes our body may produce a fight or flight response during a traumatic event, either helping us to either flee or to say ‘no’ and fight back, advocate for ourselves, or to draw attention to the situation. At times, our body goes into freeze mode as a means of minimizing violence or harm. Many women who go through a trauma who experience the freeze response, struggle with feelings of shame, self-blame, and distance or disgust with their own bodies for not, “doing the right thing.” Trauma Therapy can help you address these thoughts, increase kindness towards your experience, and create a different relationship with your body.
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Intergenerational Trauma can occur when we are continuously exposed to toxic coping patterns that are carried across generations. It could be patterns of numbing emotions (e.g., alcoholism, drug overuse or abuse, or gambling), communication stressors (e.g., passive aggressive comments, verbal abuse, name-calling), or distancing tactics (e.g., black-listing family members, isolating during the holidays, cutting off contact with family).
Intergenerational trauma takes one generation to ask: Where did this come from? How is this serving us? What can we do to shift this pattern? If you want to shift those old patterns and create a new way of relating to yourself and others, you can be the generation to create a new future.
When Another Practice Might be a Better Fit for Your Needs
.While I'm dedicated to providing exceptional trauma-informed care, there may be instances when another practice could be a better fit for your specific needs. Here are a few scenarios where seeking support elsewhere may be advisable:
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My practice is focused on supporting women through trauma, anxiety, depression, and other common mental health challenges. However, if you're struggling with a severe mental illness like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder, you may require more specialized, intensive treatment that goes beyond my scope of practice. In these cases, I recommend seeking care from a practice that specializes in severe and persistent mental illness.
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If you're experiencing a mental health crisis or urgent safety concerns, my practice may not be able to provide the level of immediate, around-the-clock support you need. For crisis situations, I suggest reaching out to your local emergency services or a dedicated crisis hotline (like 988) that can offer the appropriate level of care and intervention.
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While I can provide referrals to psychiatrists for medication evaluation and management for existing clients, I'm not a prescriber myself. If you're specifically looking for comprehensive medication management as part of your mental health treatment, I recommend connecting directly with a prescriber.
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In cases of severe, debilitating mental health conditions or substance abuse issues, outpatient therapy may not be enough. If during our work together we determine that you would benefit more from an inpatient or residential treatment program, I can provide referrals to appropriate facilities that specialize in these higher levels of care.
3 Highly Recommended Trauma Therapists in Los Angeles
If my practice isn't the right fit for you, here are some trusted colleagues I recommend.
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Dr. Katherine has extensive training in trauma and PTSD. As a queer and neurodiverse practitioner, she focuses her practice on celebrating all the aspects of her client's beautiful identities. She is funny, thoughtful, and a fierce advocate for her clients as they work to create lives that align with their values.
Credentials: Clinical Psychologist
License Number: PSY31795
Education: Loma Linda University, School of Behavioral Health
Speciality Area: Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD, LGBTQIA+
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Linda focuses her practice on empowering women as they learn to challenge the narrative and expectations placed on them by others. She is funny, thoughtful, and an advocate for her clients as they learn to create a life in alignment with their values.
Credentials: Ph.D. Counseling Psychology
License number: 25870
Education: University of Memphis
Specialty area(s): Sexual Intimacy, Body Image Issues, Trauma and PTSD
Website: https://www.wellwomanpsychology.com/
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Nina is a first generation Filipina American who works with clients to piece apart the layered systems of oppression in which they were raised. She is relational, transparent, and deeply involved in helping clients heal from trauma as they work to create the lives they want.
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
License number: 112444
Education: Loma Linda University, School of Behavioral Health
Specialty area(s): Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD
Website: https://www.ninagonzaga.com/
FAQs about Trauma-Informed Therapy in Los Angeles
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If you've experienced a traumatic event—whether it was a one-time incident or ongoing exposure—and are struggling with any of the following, trauma therapy may be beneficial:
Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or nightmares about the event
Avoidance of people, places, or activities that remind you of the trauma
Negative changes in mood, such as persistent feelings of fear, guilt, or detachment
Hyperarousal symptoms like irritability, difficulty sleeping, or being easily startled
Significant disruptions to your daily functioning, relationships, or sense of self
Keep in mind that you don't need to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to benefit from therapy. If you're not sure whether trauma-focused therapy is right for you, I encourage you to contact me for a free consultation.
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There are a few evidence-based approaches that are highly effective for treating trauma and PTSD. Some of the most common and well-researched options include:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): This integrative therapy uses rapid eye movements to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): CPT focuses on identifying and challenging the negative thought patterns that develop after a traumatic experience, replacing them with more balanced perspectives.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy: In PE, you'll gradually face trauma-related memories, situations, and feelings in a safe environment, allowing you to reduce avoidance behaviors.
The "best" approach really depends on your unique needs, symptoms, and personal preferences. In my practice, I use these methods along with several other approaches depending on your situation. We'll work closely to determine the right fit for you.
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While all therapists are trained to provide general mental health support, a trauma therapist has specialized knowledge, training, and experience in working with individuals who have experienced trauma.
Being a "trauma therapist" isn't a credential in the same way as being a licensed clinical social worker or licensed clinical psychologist. It's a term that describes a therapist's specialized training and experience in treating trauma.
Trauma therapists (like me!) understand the unique impact of trauma on the mind and body. We're trained in using evidence-based modalities like EMDR, CPT, and somatic approaches to help people process traumatic experiences, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and cultivate self-compassion.
In contrast, a general therapist may not have the same depth of understanding or specialized techniques for working with trauma. They can still provide valuable support, but a trauma therapist is often better equipped to address the complex symptoms and relational challenges that can arise from traumatic events.
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Absolutely. Trauma therapy can be challenging, but the healing benefits are profound and life-changing. Through evidence-based treatments, you'll have the opportunity to:
Process and integrate traumatic memories in a supported way
Develop healthy coping strategies to support nervous system regulation
Challenge negative core beliefs about yourself and the world
Cultivate self-compassion and a nurturing relationship with your body
Break free from intergenerational patterns of trauma and oppression
Rediscover your innate resilience, worth, and capacity for joy
The journey isn't always easy, but with the right therapist by your side, you can reclaim your wholeness and create the life you deserve. Many of my clients report feeling more grounded, empowered, and connected after engaging in trauma therapy.
Start PTSD Treatment & Trauma Therapy in Los Angeles, CA
The fact that you're here says a lot—it takes immense courage to seek treatment for trauma and PTSD. Whether you're grappling with the effects of early trauma or have recently been through a traumatic experience, I'm here to support you. Reach out today for a free consultation and begin your healing process.
Other Counseling Services I Offer in Los Angeles, CA
Not sure if you've experienced trauma? I can help with other life struggles and mental health issues as well. At Worth and Wellness Psychology, I offer in-person therapy in Los Angeles and online throughout California. This includes individual therapy for relationship issues, dating, and anxiety. In addition to therapy for therapists women of color, and Highly Sensitive People. Reach out to learn more about how I can support you.