Trauma and PTSD Therapists in Torrance, CA

First, you probably need to know this right now... that you were created to be loved! Next, in therapy, real growth and change is influenced significantly by what you feel and think about your therapist. You need to feel safe, understood, validated, cared for, and able to trust the competency and selflessness of your therapist. Please feel free to come for a free introductory meeting with me. With deep care, compassion, understanding, and respect, I help you transition from surviving to thriving in relationships and life. I specialize in broken relationships or those struggling with past trauma or abuse.

Currently accepting new clients for appointments next week! Annie Nardella is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over 11 years of therapeutic experience. She specializes in various areas of treatment, including ADHD, trauma, depression, and anxiety, as well as family and couple therapy. As a part of the Pacific Pain & Wellness Group, her mission is to create a personalized treatment plan that will help guide you on a path towards better living and emotional relief. Call us today to construct a treatment plan aligned with meeting your current goals towards resiliency and healing.

In my practice I tend to work with clients, ages 4 - 85+, dealing with anything from anxiety, depression, trauma, career, social issues, and other things causing turbulence in their life. Also, I work with individuals, couples, and families on how they can best function in the world. Depending on the client's needs I work with them to create a customized treatment plan best for their needs. I am also a collaborative therapist that wants the client to have an active voice in their journey. Therapy is different for each individual and I value helping the client pursue the change they are seeking.

Are you interested in direct feedback and skills that you can bring home and do something with? Do you need to be called out every once in a while? If you need more interaction than someone who nods knowingly and repeats everything you say back to you, I am a good fit for you. I don't believe therapy should be a mystical process. Therapy is a tool that is designed to help you navigate the murky waters, feel connected to all of your emotions, and help challenge behaviors that may have once served you and no longer do.

I believe the journey to healing starts with being fully known and accepted for who we are. I create a safe and non-judgmental space for you to feel invited, understood, and cared for. I help you increase your awareness and make connections to what has shaped you in the past, who you are today, and who you strive to be. My therapeutic approach is individualized and culturally sensitive, based on what you may need and the unique stories you bring. I am deeply committed to supporting individuals navigating through grief & loss, trauma, relationship challenges, and career exploration.

What would it mean to you, to flourish and thrive? How can you use your experiences~all of them~for good? What will we learn from you? How do you want to leave the world a better place because of you? You are that important. I am a Board Certified Diplomat in clinical social work with over thirty-five years of experience. I believe that we learn and teach in every moment, and it is rewarding for me to help clients grow their authentic power. Life is full of lessons, gifts and opportunities, when we learn to receive them.

Do you find yourself shut down or suppress your feelings? Do you struggle in relationships due to your trauma? Are you unsure of where you belong? I work with people of all identities to process unresolved feelings due to trauma. I strive to provide you a safe and non-judgmental space, in order for you to develop coping mechanisms for trauma symptoms (anxiety, depression, addiction, etc.) and to explore aspects of yourself. I can help you let go of past HURTS and develop tools to find RELIEF.

I am licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 123292) since 2020. I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Phoenix in 2014. I received my master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from University of Phoenix in 2018. I am currently a PhD student at Northcentral University (prospective completion, 2024), studying marriage and family therapy, with a specialization in culture, diversity, and social justice. I have a certification in trauma, as a clinical trauma professional, level two (CCTP/II #737620). I am licensed by the California Board

Seeking help can be scary and exciting, and it takes a lot of bravery and courage to take the initial step. You may be feeling like you are depressed and anxious due to your trauma. I aim to meet you where you are mentally and emotionally and help you grow, learn skills, and adapt to new changes. We can work together to identify your goals and needs and address the emotional and behavioral challenges you experience.

Melanie is EMDR Certified, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She earned her MA degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and has over 8 years of experience at Journeys working with clients of all ages and various issues. She has experience with clients struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, family conflict, phobias, marital issues, etc. She also has over 16 years of experience working with teens in a youth ministry setting. Previously, Melanie gained experience in the TV and Music industries. In her free time, she enjoys wilderness backpacking & music.

I believe in providing a supportive and empowering environment in which my clients can feel heard, safe, and confident that their needs are being met. The best therapists combine competent techniques with genuine empathy and connection to help you achieve the goals and outcome you desire. I work primarily with individuals or couples struggling with traumatic backgrounds, anxiety or depression, addiction, relationship problems, and personality disorders. I strive to ensure that the interaction I have with my clients is always honest, sincere, and compassionate yet effective.

We all go through emotional storms where we feel emotionally and physically stuck; we worry too much and lose control of ourselves. Do you find yourself thrown off balance by your childhood trauma? Childhood traumatic experiences such as abandonment, abuse, and neglect lead to social anxiety. My approach is solution-focused and tailored to your needs and goals. I am committed to providing a profound sense of safety and offering compassionate and actionable guidance to all my clients.

The therapeutic process is unique and I aim to build my therapy style around the needs of each client. With over 10 years of experience, I have a passion for working with many populations including veterans, adults with autism, parents of children with autism, working with families in the PHP/IOP setting, students transitioning out of college, and survivors of trauma. I am a level 2 Certified Trauma Specialist with a background in Somatic Reprocessing and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. No matter the challenges you are facing, I am here to provide you with the skills, support, and environment needed to succeed.

There's really something to be said about the challenges of exploring, understanding and harnessing our very active internal lives in the attempt to make sense of it all, to feel safe in our day to day. I'm endeared to the process and feel that in order to heal we have to work with others, be it community, loved ones, or Psychologist, to gather the best parts of ourselves and turn the incredibly complicated, painful and fragile into things elegant, agile, and straight-forward. The therapeutic process as a living and breathing construction. To build and strengthen the scaffolding in order to find authenticity, uniqueness and courage

Sometimes, when faced with many of life's challenges, we can find it difficult to reach out. Often fear or shame get in the way of asking for help. But there is hope. Working with a therapist, you can begin to feel validated and discover that you are not alone. Do you have a fear of abandonment or fear of intimacy? One or the other can mean you're either a Love Addict or Love Avoidant. I can teach you how to love yourself instead of looking for it in someone else, and bring down your walls and be relational.

I utilize a client centered approach in working with adolescents and adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, and life transitions. In a safe, supportive, and non judgemental space we can explore the negative patterns in your life, work through any barriers, and move towards healing, growth, and change.

Feeling stuck? Do you feel as if you have lost control over your life? Have you found it hard getting in touch with your authentic self? There is a tremendous power that lives within you, and I would like to help you find that. You can learn to master your vision through the power of your mind. Feel your best, be your best, and live your best life now. <!-- Professional verification provided by Psychology Today --> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/359747" class="sx-verified-se

Do you experience anxiety, trouble sleeping, or have difficulty trusting that things will work out? Do you tend to distract yourself with food, exercise, work, alcohol, or other people? Do you struggle with being alone with your thoughts and feelings, have difficulty setting boundaries, and find yourself in co-dependent or toxic relationships? Or perhaps you keep people at an arm’s length, put on a mask and come across as happy and having it all together to others because you’re terrified of being vulnerable? If this sounds like you, we would love to have the opportunity to work with you to change these self-destructive patterns.

My mission as a therapist is to support and guide you along your path to finding a healthier you. Change, life transitions, and sometimes trauma, are parts of life. We all have the human capacity to heal and grow. My role is to assist you in achieving a more productive and satisfying life through developing your skills and unlocking barriers within.