Medi-Cal Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA

HH & Co. is a therapy practice with EMDR available, located in Santa Cruz, CA. We believe that growth and sustained change happens when people experience genuineness (openness, self-disclosure), acceptance (being seen with unconditional positive regard), and empathy (being listened to and understood). Holly is a general practitioner who treats people, not problems, so we encourage you to come just as you are. Together, we will work to define your goals, identify thoughts and behaviors that may may hinder the achievement of these goals, track progress⁠, and tap into your inner strength and resilience.

We all go through difficult times and it takes courage to reach out for support. You may be wondering how therapy can help you. Perhaps you want support with a challenging issue, to relieve anxiety, recover from trauma or to change patterns that no longer work for you. You may want to improve a relationship or get support with parenting or working through loss. You can make changes, break patterns, and heal. Therapy is a place to get support, to explore new strategies for coping better with life, and to view things from an expanded perspective. Our challenges present us with opportunities to heal as well as grow.

I believe the therapeutic relationship creates healing through the power of connection. Whether you're navigating life transitions, facing challenges in relationships, or seeking personal growth, I honor the relationship with each of my clients and tailor each session to each individual’s unique needs.

My aim is to listen with empathy and show up for you with no judgement. Whether it’s environmental changes, depression, substance, and/or major life changes, unexpected life events can affect us all. I am committed to providing a safe space for you and allowing you to be yourself. Being vulnerable can be difficult and I strive to work at your pace. My intention is to put you at the center and work on a strength-based approach by having you as the driver. I work with you to develop your goals, so you’re better equipped to maneuver the ups and downs of life.

Welcome! I value you taking the first step in this new chapter of your life. Recognizing a desire for change and reaching out for support isn’t an easy process, but so many doors open when we’re in a space where we feel safe, seen, heard, understood, validated, and truly cared for. We could all use more compassion, empathy, and encouragement in our lives, especially during difficult times. My approach to counseling is warm, collaborative, curious, and non-judgmental. I am passionate about learning what your unique gifts are and supporting you in living a more authentic life.

Why are you seeking a therapist? Gaining an understanding of your needs is the first step we take together to develop your personal therapy. Yes, you read that right. I encourage my clients to be active participants in the development of their therapy. What is effective for one person is not necessarily effective for another. The strength of my therapeutic approach is in its transparency and my focus on guiding and empowering you, the client, in becoming an agent of change in your own life.

You are uncomfortable - Something is bothering you. You need resolution about an issue, event, experience or relationship. I work in a collaborative/relational model with people who have had experiences that they have not fully integrated yet. I use talk therapy, imagery, metaphor, hypnosis, EMDR, Positive Psychology, and Sensorimotor. Often clients report being disinterested in a formerly distressing topic after treatment. I'm comfortable working many types of issues including trauma, PTSD, ACA, sexual abuse, panic attacks or phobias, anxiety or depression, losses or relationship breakups, people with mysterious physical ailments.

I view therapy as a collaboration where therapist and client work together to connect with an inner healing intelligence and unconditional positive regard within each of us. We can then tend to trauma, grief, resentments, and limiting beliefs that are contributing to symptoms. With humility and reverence for the resilience, courage and vulnerability it can take to heal ourselves, I create a nonjudgemental, kind and compassionate space with room for humor, absurdity and fun.

I like to work with people of all ages. Often with adults I am interested in getting beyond everyday conversation into deeper layers of self, incorporating an inward focus of the body, mind and spirit. I am eclectic and offer a strength-based approach to help with depression, anxiety, transitions, relationship challenges, overall stuckness and other challenges. My approach is humanistic and compassionate, providing the support needed to get through hardships into a more empowered, creative and celebratory self.

I specialize in individual, couples and family therapy. With over 20 years experience, I work with a broad spectrum of clients. I have presented at international trainings on how the body stores emotions and trauma, the transforming work of inner identities and living from one's Essential Self. I am an interactive and dynamic therapist. I provide support and practical feedback to help address life's challenges. I integrate complimentary modalities and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach. With compassion and understanding I work with each individual to help build and attain the personal growth they're striving for.

I believe in the power of change and the positive impact a supportive therapeutic connection can have in promoting growth and transformation. As a holistic therapist, I will utilize a blend of cognitive and somatic approaches, paying particular attention to breath and mindfulness. I can assist you in self discovery, teach you new tools for self acceptance, and help you build stronger self-esteem, and resiliency. I offer compassionate caring to clients seeking tools for increased coping, greater self-understanding and relief from emotional distress.

Perhaps you've come to believe that your whole self isn't welcome. Experiences of disconnect and conditionality might leave you feeling isolated and unseen. Maybe anxiety and shame have convinced you of an "other-ness" when these differences are, instead, essential clues into your own creativity and liberation. The right therapeutic relationship can allow for the retrieval of self and soul. I support individuals in developing meaningful insight into what may have been lost or left behind, honoring the fragmented pieces asking for reclamation. In the words of poet Paul Éluard, "there is another world, and it is in this one."

At Bridges Therapy Group of California, we’re dedicated to matching you with the perfect therapist for you and ensuring that your insurance will truly pay for your sessions. We are contracted, in-network providers with all the insurers listed below. We verify your benefits before you start so there are no surprises to you.

We all aspire to lead lives of fulfillment, contentment, and presence. The complexities of modern living often obstruct these pursuits, leaving us feeling challenged and at times, as if achieving the life we desire is an insurmountable task. The entanglement in cycles of challenging behaviors, dysfunctional relationships, and anxious thoughts becomes a barrier to our well-being. As a therapist, my purpose is to assist you in navigating through this noise, gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, and fostering self-love and self-compassion.

You or a loved one may be struggling with substance use, depression, anxiety, loss, or life transitions (emphasis on the life part). Maybe you just need someone to ask you how you are really doing and be able to hold space for that. You may try talking yourself out of your pain or experience by telling yourself “someone else has it worse” or “I don’t deserve to be happy after everything I’ve done”. We often tell ourselves that our feelings, conflicts, or stories must look a certain way for them to deserve attention. I am committed to allowing you to show up to therapy exactly as you need to without making any changes.

Updated August 2024. I currently have a few openings and accept medi-cal. I have worked with individuals and families for over 35 years combined as an early childhood educator and a licensed therapist. I work with symptoms of anxiety, panic, depression, and thoughts and feelings that get in the way of liking other people and self. It is absolutely possible to heal emotional and psychological injury and gain “getting along” skills. I accept Central California Alliance Medi-cal, Blue Shield Magellan, and Anthem Blue Cross insurances.

I view each of our lives as a journey of discovery: of the self, the world around us, and all the experiences that move through us. We are learning how to be who we are, how to be human, and how to traverse the terrain ahead of us. The journey brings with it a full range, from ecstatic bliss and deep peace to agonizing shame and despair, and everything between. Each individual’s journey is unique, yet we share some overlapping themes and needs. Perhaps we are seeking support along our journey, for further growth, healing, or connection with our authentic self and others.

My holistic approach to therapy emerged out of my passion for health and my connection to nature. While I combine several modalities in my practice, at the heart of my work is empathy and authenticity. I believe in working together to help resolve the challenges or circumstances with which you are currently facing so that you may develop an enhanced relationship with yourself and those around you.

You MATTER, you BELONG, and you make SENSE. We all do. Are you looking for a safe space to speak your truth, understand why you feel what you feel, be validated, and seen with compassion? Wanting emotional relief and better relationships with yourself and others? I love watching my clients reconnect with themselves and learn how deeply they make sense. Together, you can name what you truly want, practice asking for it or saying 'no' with integrity, and celebrate as things fall into place. More presence and connection is possible.