Therapy for
Complex Trauma + PTSD
with Tessa Wooden, LMFT
Trauma therapy with me is relational and individualized. We go at your pace so your body is not pushed faster than it is ready to go.
Does the world sometimes feel foggy or unreal?
Do you look fine on the outside, but feel unsteady inside?
You might feel isolated even when you’re not alone. You may notice repeating patterns in relationships, frequent emotional spirals, or a constant sense of being on edge. Complex trauma often develops from having to adapt for a long time without safety or escape.
Clients Come To Me When They Experience
Frequent triggers
Emotional spirals
Relationship instability
Anxiety or depression
Feeling stuck
Impulsivity
Angry outbursts
Self-injury
Isolation
These responses make sense given
what your nervous system learned to do to survive.
How Trauma Therapy With Me Works
In our work together, you do not need to relive or retell every detail of what happened. You have already survived it. My role is to help your body and mind release the grip trauma still has on you safely, gently, and at your pace.
Therapy is integrative, evidence-based, and deeply compassionate. We focus on helping your mind and nervous system learn that the danger has passed, so you can respond to the present rather than the past.
Modalities I Use
-
Reworks the painful beliefs trauma left behind about safety, trust, and self-worth.
-
Helps understand and heal the parts of you that learned to protect through hypervigilance, shutdown, or control.
-
Supports nervous system regulation so triggers feel less overwhelming and easier to recover from.
-
Identifies trauma-driven thinking patterns that keep you stuck in fear or self-blame.
-
Builds emotional regulation and distress tolerance when reactions feel intense or unpredictable.
From Survival ➜ Safety
Understanding where trauma began can loosen its grip and create more space for safety, connection, and choice.
Therapy With Results
After therapy my clients report:
More stable relationships
Increased sense of safety
Fewer emotional spikes
Healthier coping
Improved sleep + focus
Less isolation
Fewer re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive images)
About Me
My therapy is designed for people living with the long-term effects of trauma, not just single events. We work beneath the symptoms to address attachment wounds, nervous system responses, and the patterns that formed to keep you safe.
Sessions are collaborative, grounded, and paced. I show up warm and direct, focusing on compassion without avoiding what matters. This work can be serious, but we also leave room for humor. It does not all need to feel heavy all the time.
Outside of therapy, I’m a fourth-generation Santa Monican and my favorite sport is napping. I have a 12-year-old Pit Lab mix named Kora, enjoy spending time with friends and family, and despite all the cookbooks in my office, my husband does most of the cooking.
Availability: Telehealth available across California.
Education, Credentials, & Trainings
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), California
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, Chapman University
Former Clinical Director at Monte Nido
Extensive experience in residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient levels of care
Treating eating disorders, body image concerns, and trauma since 2020
Advanced training in CBT, DBT, Internal Family Systems, Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy and trauma-informed care
3 Steps To
Get Started
-
Fill out the contact form. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll help connect you with someone who might be.
-
We’ll talk briefly to see if this feels like a good match and discuss next steps.
-
We’ll start building safety, understanding patterns, and creating a plan together.