Anxiety Therapy in San Diego for Trauma, Military, and First Responders

You wake up dreading the day, already wishing it was over so you could finally rest. But even rest feels out of reach. Sleep doesn’t come easily, and when it does, nightmares and panic steal whatever peace you try to find. Mornings start with exhaustion, and your body already feels like it’s carrying the weight of the day before your feet even hit the floor.

Everyday tasks feel impossible, like wading through molasses. You keep showing up because people depend on you, but you’re running on fumes. The people you care about seem far away, even when they’re right next to you. You share a home but feel like strangers passing in the night.

The things that once brought you joy barely register. You move through the day detached, on edge, anxious. You find yourself snapping at loved ones and wondering where your patience went. Memories resurface without warning, bringing guilt and shame that make your body tighten and your breath shallow.

You put on a brave face, trying to hold it together. But inside, you’re exhausted and lonely. The strain of deployments, the pressure of the job, or the weight of old trauma has built up in your body until it feels like too much. Your shoulders ache, your head throbs, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to breathe deeply enough. You want to stop surviving and finally feel like yourself again.

Healing That Lasts: Rewiring the Brain and Body for Safety

I’m a trauma therapist offering anxiety therapy in San Diego for adults, military members, veterans, and first responders who feel stuck in survival mode. My clients often come to me saying they’ve tried to “push through” for years until their body and mind finally said no more.

In our work together, we focus on helping your nervous system learn what safety feels like again. Using EMDR and somatic techniques, we gently process what your body and brain have been holding on to. You don’t have to retell or relive your trauma. Instead, we work directly with how it shows up, in your thoughts, your breath, your muscles, your sense of alertness, to create deep, lasting change.

This process helps your brain and body rewire for calm and resilience, not just relief. The shifts are real and sustainable because they come from within your nervous system, not just your thoughts. Over time, you start to notice more ease in your body, deeper sleep, clearer thinking, and a sense of calm that feels solid instead of fleeting.

My clients often describe it like this:

“The memories are still there, but they feel distant, like an old film reel. They no longer take over my body or my life.”

That’s what lasting, sustainable healing feels like your mind and body finally working together again instead of fighting to survive.

Structured, Private, and Compassionate Therapy

I believe healing happens when you feel safe, seen, and in control of your own process. I offer a structured and clear path forward that balances compassion with direction. You’ll always know where we are in the process and what we’re working toward.

My approach is private and discreet, especially for military and first responder clients who want therapy that’s not connected to their chain of command or workplace. This space is fully yours. No judgment, no pressure, just a chance to breathe and find stability again.

Every person’s story is unique, so your therapy will be, too. Together, we’ll use your body’s wisdom and your brain’s capacity for healing to guide lasting change.

What Transformation Can Look Like

Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means remembering without reliving. It’s the moment you realize you can breathe fully again, that your body no longer braces for impact. It’s waking up without the constant dread, reconnecting with the people you love, and feeling moments of peace you thought were gone for good.

Over time, clients begin to move through the world with confidence and ease. They rediscover the version of themselves who can rest, laugh, and trust that safety isn’t temporary.

As one client said:

“You helped me realize I had everything I needed all along. I just didn’t know how to access it.”

That’s the heart of this work. Reconnecting with the strength that’s always been within you.

Take the First Step

If you’re ready to stop living in survival mode and start feeling safe in your own skin, therapy can help you get there. You don’t have to face this alone.

I offer anxiety therapy in San Diego for trauma survivors, military members, veterans, and first responders who want real, lasting change not a temporary fix.

Reach out today. Let’s begin the process of helping your body and mind finally rest, reconnect, and heal.

FIRST STEP SCHEDULE CONSULT

FAQs: Anxiety and Trauma Therapy in San Diego

  • The first session is about getting to know you and your goals. You’ll have space to share what feels important without pressure to dive into painful memories. We’ll start gently, focusing on safety and pacing.

  • No. Using EMDR and somatic approaches, we work with how your trauma shows up in your body and mind, not just the story of what happened. You don’t need to relive it for healing to occur.

  •   Trauma changes how your nervous system operates. Through therapy, we help your brain and body learn to shift out of survival mode and back into safety, promoting lasting and sustainable change.

  •   Everyone’s process is different. Some clients feel relief within weeks; others need more time to build trust and create lasting change. We’ll monitor progress together each step of the way.

  •   Yes. Everything shared is private and not connected to your workplace or chain of command. Your privacy is fully protected.

  •   Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps your brain process stuck trauma memories so they no longer trigger intense emotional or physical reactions.

  •   Somatic approaches focus on the body’s role in healing. These exercises help you notice and release tension, regulate breathing, and restore a sense of safety in your body.

  •   If you’ve tried to “think your way” out of anxiety or trauma but still feel stuck, this work may be exactly what you need. It’s gentle, structured, and deeply effective for people ready for long-term healing.

  •   Yes. Online therapy is available for clients throughout California who prefer to meet from the privacy of their own space.

    EMDR is effective in the virtual setting as well.