Top-Rated Trauma Therapist Orange County
Offering a safe space to address your emotional wounds and reclaim your well-being
As a trauma therapist, I’m dedicated to helping women find healing and resilience. With a compassionate and personalized approach, I walk alongside you as we explore your experiences and develop the tools to overcome challenges. Combining EMDR with other evidence-based therapy methods and a culturally-centered approach, I strive to tailor the therapy experience to your unique needs and goals.
Let's work together to help you feel safe and empowered.
Meet your Orange County trauma therapist
Dr. Adrianna Holness
As a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Worth and Wellness Psychology, I've dedicated my career to helping women heal from trauma and build fulfilling lives. I believe that everyone deserves a supportive space to explore their emotions, heal from past traumatic events, and build a life they love.
My approach to therapy is grounded in compassion, empathy, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges women face. I'm committed to creating an affirming, inclusive environment where you can feel seen, heard, and understood. Whether you're struggling with a specific traumatic event, childhood trauma, or oppression from societal forces like racism and sexism, I'm here to help.
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Credentials: Licensed Clinical Psychologist, California #31501
Education: Ph.D. in Psychology from Loma Linda University in 2017, B.A. in Psychology from Pomona College in 2011
Years in practice: 11+
Modalities: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (AF-EMDR), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Emotion Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Mindfulness-Based Approaches, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE).
Understanding trauma
Trauma is a complex and deeply personal experience. Everyone is affected differently, though there are common symptoms that define post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
First, let's take a look at some of the ways trauma can manifest in your life.
Single-event trauma
Single-event trauma refers to a specific, isolated incident that causes significant emotional or psychological distress. Examples include accidents, natural disasters, violence, and sudden loss.
Complex trauma
Complex trauma arises from repeated or prolonged exposure to harmful or threatening situations. This can include childhood abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or prolonged exposure to war or conflict.
Oppression
Trauma can also stem from experiences of oppression, such as racism, sexism, discrimination, or systemic injustice. These experiences can lead to feelings of powerlessness, marginalization, and deep emotional wounds.
It's important to remember that a person can experience multiple traumatic events and different types of trauma all at the same time. We'll work together to explore your life experiences to determine how trauma shows up in your life.
Common signs and symptoms of trauma
Emotional: Anxiety, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness or despair, numbness, detachment
Behavioral: Substance abuse, avoidance of triggers, hypervigilance, sleep disturbances, impulsive behavior, social withdrawal
Physical: Headaches, digestive problems, chronic pain, fatigue, difficulty relaxing
Cognitive: Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, difficulty remembering details of traumatic events
Trauma therapy services offered
I offer a range of therapeutic services to best support you in your healing journey. No matter which service you choose, my approach is compassionate, supportive, and tailored to your specific needs and goals. And if you're not sure which service to choose, feel free to schedule a consultation so we can make a plan together.
Individual therapy
Through one-on-one sessions, we'll work together to identify and process underlying trauma, shifting thoughts and behaviors to better serve you, and ultimately helping you create a life that's not controlled by trauma. I used a variety of different techniques to help people heal, including cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure (PE), and more.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a proven therapeutic approach that helps people process and heal from traumatic memories. By stimulating the brain's natural healing processes, EMDR can dial down the intensity of trauma symptoms so you can move through your day without feeling overwhelmed by triggers and emotions.
Individual counseling for relationships
Trauma, especially complex childhood trauma, can significantly impact our ability to foster healthy relationships with others. Individual counseling for relationships can help you pinpoint the patterns that are no longer serving you and shift toward new ways of relating with others. Plus, this process can help you cultivate a stronger, healthier relationship with yourself.
FAQs about trauma therapy
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While both therapists and trauma therapists are mental health professionals, there is a key distinction between the two.
Therapist: A general therapist is trained to address a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and stress management. They may use various therapeutic approaches to help individuals improve their overall well-being
Trauma therapist: A trauma therapist specializes in working with people experiencing trauma. They have additional training and expertise in understanding the unique challenges and symptoms associated with trauma, as well as specific trauma-informed therapy techniques.
In essence, while a general therapist can provide support for many mental health disorders, a trauma therapist has specialized knowledge and skills to address the specific needs of people who've had traumatic experiences.
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Trauma therapy is a highly personalized process, and there's no cookie-cutter approach to healing. My approach blends many different methods of trauma-informed care depending on your unique experiences and goals for therapy.
I use many of the methods outlined in the American Psychological Association's PTSD treatment guidelines, including CPT, PE, and EMDR, along with other modalities.
Other therapists may use different methods to treat PTSD, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). While you don't need to know everything about the different methods, I recommend doing a bit of research or scheduling multiple consultations to get a better understanding of which therapy options may be right for you.
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Absolutely. Therapy can be incredibly supportive for people affected by trauma. It provides a safe, supportive space to fully process your past experiences, work through difficult emotions, and learn new skills to help you live a happy, fulfilling life that's not controlled by your past.
Here are some of the ways therapy can help:
Understanding and processing trauma: Therapy can help you understand the impact of trauma on your life and develop healthy ways to process and cope with your experiences.
Improving relationships: Trauma can affect your relationships with others. Therapy can help you develop healthier communication and connection patterns.
Reducing symptoms: Therapy can help reduce symptoms associated with trauma, such as anxiety, depression, and flashbacks.
Keep in mind that each person's healing journey is unique and that it can take time to recover and grow. The most important part is that you're getting support and putting your mental health first.
Local trauma therapy resources
Finding the right fit is a key part of effective trauma treatment. While I'd love to help as many people as possible, I recognize that my practice may not be for everyone. In that case, here are a few local trauma therapists who I highly recommend.
5 highly recommended Orange County trauma therapists
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1. Sarika Seth, Psy.D.
Credentials: Clinical Psychologist
License Number: PSY31328
Education: Rutgers University
Specialty Area: Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and more
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2. Nina Gonzaga, LMFT
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
License number: 112444
Education: Loma Linda University, School of Behavioral Health
Specialty area(s): Trauma and PTSD, Couples Therapy, and more
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3. Linda Baggett, Ph.D.
Credentials: Ph.D. Counseling Psychology
License number: 25870
Education: University of Memphis
Specialty area(s): Sexual Intimacy, Body Image Issues, Trauma and PTSD
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4. Kathryn Dautenhahn, Ph.D.
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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5. Kathryn Williams, Ph.D.
Credentials: Ph.D. Psychology
License number: 25870
Education: Tulane University
Specialty area(s): Anxiety, Family Therapy, Trauma and PTSD
Start your journey toward hope & healing today
You don't have to navigate life after trauma alone. My approach to trauma therapy centers on compassion, curiosity, and crafting personalized treatment plans using evidence-based approaches. Together, we can help you move toward a future you feel good about.