Trauma Therapist Oakland

Trauma Therapy for Anxious Adults

You are looking for trauma therapy in Oakland because…

Trauma has you existing in survival mode.

Your body is in a constant state of fear, and your mind races with thoughts. There’s often a heavy pressure weighing you down, making it difficult to connect with yourself. In moments of stress, you may feel detached, almost as if you're moving away from your own body. You might sense danger even when there isn’t any, lingering long after real threats have passed. This state of high alert can leave you feeling anxious and burnt out, pushing you toward a desire to shut down.

As a result, your body and mind feel disconnected. You may find yourself cut off from your feelings, having coped by suppressing them for so long out of fear that expressing them would worsen your situation. Numbness has become your default state, and when emotions do surface, they can feel overwhelming. To cope, you may seek distraction through mindless activities like eating, drinking, shopping, or scrolling, anything to avoid feeling the sadness or emptiness within.

Trauma tells you, you shouldn’t have needs.

As a child, you longed for the day when you could escape your home. To protect yourself and your family, you learned to suppress your own needs. Admitting them—whether to yourself or others—can feel shameful, even like a betrayal. Many of the choices you’ve made in life have centered around what would be best for others, often at the expense of your own needs and desires. You believe and resent the idea that you should be able to manage everything by yourself.

You Have Trouble Getting Close to People and when you do, it’s draining.

As a child, peace or safety were only possible when you were alone, so you withdrew from those around you. You guarded yourself against hurt by pretending you didn’t need anyone since others reliably let you down. This experience taught you not to trust others—or even yourself—and left you feeling profoundly isolated.

You often took on the role of caretaker for the adults in your life or protector for more vulnerable family members, and this childhood trauma has profoundly shaped your adult relationships. While you genuinely enjoy being there for those you care about, you struggle to let others in and feel uncomfortable sharing your past. 

Trauma has you you feeling lost and confused about who you are.

You often feel lost when trying to understand your own identity, which saddens you deeply. You wonder what might have been if you had received the support to prioritize your own needs instead of always trying to stay under the radar. You frequently compare yourself to others who seem to have it all figured out and seek their validation, which only erodes your confidence and makes it harder to assert your own needs. 

Although you have a keen eye for observing others, you struggle to see yourself in a positive light, often doubting your worth and feeling that no one truly likes you. This internal battle intensifies your sensitivity to criticism; you’re perpetually anxious that something will go wrong and it will be your fault. You second-guess yourself and fear that you’ll crumble under scrutiny. This cycle of self-doubt leaves you grappling with anxiety, making it difficult to accept feedback and deepening your confusion about who you are.

I’m Lara Clayman, a Trauma and Anxiety Therapist in Oakland

As a trauma therapist, I help people like you navigate those deep wounds, providing a space where you can finally feel safe to explore your emotions so that you can find release from the grip of trauma and be present in the life you are creating today. I take a psychodynamic approach, which means we get to the root of things. I’m not afraid to go there with you. I ask direct, sometimes challenging, questions because it’s how we uncover the deeper meaning of your experiences. But I do it with kindness, so you never feel judged or rushed. 

Heal through Trauma Therapy Oakland

Clients often share that they feel truly seen and understood for the first time in therapy, which opens the door to facing long-avoided issues. Many are surprised by the relief that washes over them as they begin to discuss their past and uncover family secrets that have weighed heavily on them. By tending to these old wounds, you too can reconnect not only with yourself but also with your loved ones.

This journey of trauma therapy will allow you to establish respectful and caring boundaries, often leading to unexpected warmth and support in return. As you learn to trust your own abilities to meet your needs and manage your emotions, my hope is that a sense of freedom will start to unfold. Together you will be empowered to embrace life more fully. I have faith in your natural capacity for healing and approach our work through an intersectional lens. This means, we’ll explore your unique identities and how they are influenced by systemic oppression. We’ll also focus on understanding personal, cultural, historical and systemic trauma together. If you’re ready to do this work,  I’ll help you make sense of your pain and find a path forward that feels right for you. Contact me below for a free consultation to start your healing journey through trauma therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Therapy in Oakland

 

Get started with trauma therapy serving Oakland & California by booking your free consult today.