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Is It Anxiety or Nervous System Dysregulation?
Anxiety, Holistic Therapy Laurel van der Toorn Anxiety, Holistic Therapy Laurel van der Toorn

Is It Anxiety or Nervous System Dysregulation?

You’re feeling on edge. Maybe your heart races for no clear reason, or you can’t concentrate no matter how much you try to “calm down.” You’ve Googled anxiety. You’ve tried meditation apps. But nothing really connects with how pervasive your unease is.

What if what you’re experiencing isn’t just anxiety, but a deeper issue rooted in your nervous system?

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Post-Wedding Depression: Why You Might Feel Low After The Big Day And What To Do About It
Couples and Relationships, Big Life Events Laurel van der Toorn Couples and Relationships, Big Life Events Laurel van der Toorn

Post-Wedding Depression: Why You Might Feel Low After The Big Day And What To Do About It

You planned. You celebrated. You made it through the wedding. Maybe you even had the honeymoon of your dreams. And now… you feel off. Wedding-related depression can show up across all relationship styles and structures, and your emotional world deserves care, no matter how your celebration looked.

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What I Learned Caring For Clients With Cancer: Reflections From A Trauma Therapist
Diagnosis, Self Advocacy Daniella Mohazab Diagnosis, Self Advocacy Daniella Mohazab

What I Learned Caring For Clients With Cancer: Reflections From A Trauma Therapist

During my year training at Cancer Support Community Los Angeles, I worked directly with cancer patients and their loved ones. During that time I lost my mother to breast cancer myself, and I found that working in space brought a sense of belonging and community that I realized was very important for my clients to find for themselves as well.

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How to Build And Update Your Love Maps: 10 Questions to Strengthen Your Relationship
Couples and Relationships, Attachment, Communication Laurel van der Toorn Couples and Relationships, Attachment, Communication Laurel van der Toorn

How to Build And Update Your Love Maps: 10 Questions to Strengthen Your Relationship

A Love Map is your mental and emotional blueprint of your partner’s inner world. It includes everything from their favorite foods to their biggest life goals, current stressors, fears, and childhood memories. The stronger your Love Maps, the better equipped you are to handle conflict, support each other through life’s ups and downs, and stay connected for the long haul.

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Do You Have to Process Every Trauma in Your Life with EMDR Therapy To Feel Better?
EMDR, Trauma Laurel van der Toorn EMDR, Trauma Laurel van der Toorn

Do You Have to Process Every Trauma in Your Life with EMDR Therapy To Feel Better?

Most trauma isn't simple. We often experience a series of related traumas, or experiences that are thematically linked. These themes may be loss, death, abandonment, or something more nuanced like realizing the adults taking care of you were not doing a good enough job. These themes create complex trauma networks. When considering EMDR therapy, clients often wonder if they need to process every traumatic event in their life with EMDR to feel better. The answer is simple: no, you don’t have to process everything. Here's why.

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How The Enneagram Can Help Couples
Enneagram Therapy, Couples and Relationships Laurel van der Toorn Enneagram Therapy, Couples and Relationships Laurel van der Toorn

How The Enneagram Can Help Couples

Because it focuses on motivation rather than behavior, the Enneagram helps us understand why our friends and loved ones do the things they do. When we understand someone's motivation, it makes things less personal and increases empathy. This is hugely helpful to couples when addressing communication and conflict.

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How To Overcome The Challenges LGBT Couples Face When Planning a Wedding
LGBTQ, Couples and Relationships, Self Advocacy Laurel van der Toorn LGBTQ, Couples and Relationships, Self Advocacy Laurel van der Toorn

How To Overcome The Challenges LGBT Couples Face When Planning a Wedding

Planning a wedding is can be exciting. But for LGBT couples, the process often comes with challenges that straight couples may not have to consider. Here are our LGBT therapist approved tips for couples to plan a wedding that truly reflects your love while minimizing stress.

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Does EMDR Therapy Work For Complex Trauma?
EMDR, Attachment, Healthy Coping Laurel van der Toorn EMDR, Attachment, Healthy Coping Laurel van der Toorn

Does EMDR Therapy Work For Complex Trauma?

Complex trauma is pervasive and requires a skilled therapist to heal. From attachment wounds to emotional reactivity to nervous system dysregulation, it's a tough lot. EMDR therapy has proven time and again to be effective for trauma, but most research has explored how it works for single incident traumas. So does it work when the trauma is complex?

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Should You Use AI as a Therapist? Current Opportunities, Limitations, and Concerns
Healthy Coping, Healthy Tech Use, Teletherapy, Therapy Talk Laurel van der Toorn Healthy Coping, Healthy Tech Use, Teletherapy, Therapy Talk Laurel van der Toorn

Should You Use AI as a Therapist? Current Opportunities, Limitations, and Concerns

The idea of AI replacing human therapists has sparked quite the debate. While some argue that AI could be a helpful tool for specific therapeutic tasks, others, including industry leaders like Sam Altman, highlight crucial ethical and practical concerns. In a recent statement, Altman candidly admitted that "AI is not confidential." While AI can help in some ways, it falls short in many areas critical to the work of a licensed therapist. Here are the risks it poses to clients:

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Why Is My Trauma Showing Up Now?
Trauma Laurel van der Toorn Trauma Laurel van der Toorn

Why Is My Trauma Showing Up Now?

It's entirely possible (and common) for trauma symptoms to appear long after the event occurred. In fact, delayed PTSD is a well-documented response.

Here's why trauma can show up later, what might trigger it, and how working with a trauma therapist—especially one trained in EMDR therapy—can help you find lasting relief and healing.

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How Long Does It Take to Recover from Burnout?
Burnout Laurel van der Toorn Burnout Laurel van der Toorn

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Burnout?

If you're feeling completely drained, disconnected, and wondering how long it will take to feel like yourself again, welcome. As therapists who work with high-achievers, we've seen firsthand how devastating burnout can be to your motivation, health, relationships, and self-esteem. So how long does it take to recover from burnout?

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Our Holistic Therapy Services In California & Florida

We offer individualized teletherapy for a wide range of mental health and relational issues. Our San Francisco & Los Angeles therapists can help with anxiety, trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, LGBT gay and lesbian therapy issues, holistic therapy, enneagram therapy, therapy for lawyers, couples therapy, therapy for burnout, and therapy for teenagers. We serve many people in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles, as well as throughout California and Florida. Our team is anti-racist, body positive, LGBT and trans affirming and sex positive. You deserve to feel good!