Trauma & EMDR Therapy in Sacramento, CA
In-Person Sacramento & Virtually Across California
For self-aware adults who feel stuck in patterns they can’t seem to break
Are you doing well on the outside but exhausted underneath?
You show up for work.
You maintain relationships.
You handle responsibilities.
From the outside, you look capable and composed.
But internally, you might feel:
Constantly on edge
Overwhelmed by small things
Emotionally tired
Stuck in patterns you can’t seem to break
Even when life is “good,” it’s hard to fully relax.
You may replay conversations in your head, apologizing when you didn’t do anything wrong, or feeling anxious when someone is upset with you.
Maybe you tell yourself, “Other people had it worse,” so you shouldn’t feel this way.
But something still feels off.
You want relief; not just coping tools..
Trauma responses are more common than most people realize
Trauma doesn’t always look like one dramatic event.
Often, it’s years of:
Needing to stay alert
Managing other people’s emotions
Learning to be the “easy” one
Trauma responses are learned protection patterns.
You might recognize yourself in thoughts like:
“I’m functioning… so why am I still struggling?”
“I know better, so why can’t I do better?”
“Why do I react so strongly to things that seem small?”
The truth is: trauma doesn’t live in logic. It lives in the body.
And insight alone often isn’t enough to create lasting change.
The good news? What was learned can be gently unlearned with the right support.
Our Dedicated Therapists
Loves supporting adults who feel overwhelmed by stress and find themselves shutting down, overusing food, or avoiding how they actually feel.
Aoife Tessmann APCC 18810
Works best with adults who feel anxious, overwhelmed, and stuck in their heads, and want practical tools alongside deeper understanding
Ashana Chand APCC 20932
Best for self-aware adults who have done therapy before, understand their patterns, and are ready for deeper, root-focused healing that actually creates lasting change
Marisa Ronquillo LMFT 122594
Not sure who feels like the right fit? We’ll help match you
Book a free 15-minute consultation and we’ll help guide you.
You Might Be a Good Fit for Trauma Therapy If…
• You feel anxious or on edge even when life seems stable
• You struggle with overthinking, people-pleasing, or boundaries
• You feel emotionally exhausted from always holding things together
• You’ve done therapy before but still feel stuck in certain patterns
• You want deeper healing, not just strategies to manage symptoms
Many of our clients are thoughtful, capable people who are used to being the one others rely on.
But inside, they’re tired of feeling like their nervous system never fully relaxes.
Trauma therapy helps your body and mind learn that it’s finally safe to let go of survival mode.
Trauma Therapy That Works With Your Nervous System
Many clients notice that as trauma heals:
Emotional reactions feel more manageable
Anxiety decreases without constant effort
Relationships feel safer and more connected
Boundaries become clearer and less guilt-filled
There’s more room for calm, clarity, and self-trust
At Insightful Roots Therapy, we offer trauma-informed therapy that focuses on healing at the root, not just managing symptoms.
Our work together begins with understanding how your nervous system learned to protect you.
In trauma-informed therapy, we don’t rush into your past.
We start with building safety. You won’t be pushed to share more than your body is ready for. Instead, we focus on building safety, awareness, and tools to help you feel more regulated in daily life.
Sessions may include:
Understanding your attachment patterns
Mapping how stress shows up in your body
Practicing emotional regulation tools
Exploring relationship dynamics
Gently processing experiences at a pace that feels manageable
For some clients, we may integrate EMDR therapy, an evidence-based approach that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they feel less overwhelming. EMDR is not required for healing, and we’ll only explore it if it feels aligned for you.
Common Questions About Trauma Therapy
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You don’t need a dramatic story to deserve support. If something feels unresolved or continues to impact your relationships, emotions, or sense of self, that’s enough.
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Yes—it’s absolutely possible to heal. Trauma can shape how you see yourself, relate to others, and respond to the world, but it doesn’t have to define your future. Therapy offers a safe space to make sense of what happened, release what’s no longer serving you, and begin to feel more grounded, empowered, and connected to yourself.
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Trauma therapy moves at your pace. We'll focus on building safety and trust first, then gently explore the impact of past experiences. Our work may include grounding techniques, somatic (body-based) awareness, and therapies like EMDR to support healing. You are always in control of the process.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy approach that helps the brain process and release traumatic memories. It can reduce the emotional intensity of past experiences without needing to talk about them in detail. Many clients find EMDR especially helpful when they feel stuck in old patterns or overwhelmed by past events.
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There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—everyone’s journey is different. Some clients begin to feel relief after just a few sessions, while others benefit from a longer process. We’ll check in regularly about what’s working and make adjustments to support your goals.
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Not at all. You won’t be asked to share more than you feel ready to. Trauma therapy honors your pace and comfort. Some approaches, like EMDR, allow you to process experiences without going into the full story.
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That’s exactly why we offer a free intro call. Therapy works best when there’s a strong relational fit. During the consultation, we explore what you’re looking for and help you determine whether working together feels aligned; no pressure, no commitment.
Investment & Insurance Options
Session Fees
$150 per 50-minute session with Aoife
$140 per 50-minute session with Ashana
$185 per 50-minute session with Marisa
Limited reduced-fee spots available with Ashana & Aoife
Insurance Accepted
We are in-network with Optum, including:
United Healthcare
Western Health Advantage
Not sure about your benefits? We can help verify coverage before your first session.
If you’ve been carrying this quietly, we can help
You don’t need to be “bad enough.”
You don’t need a dramatic story.
You don’t need to be certain this is trauma.
If something feels off, that’s enough.
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