Trauma Therapist in San Francisco
Feeling stuck after something that happened
Trauma doesn't always look the way people expect. It isn't only combat veterans or survivors of catastrophic events. It can be the childhood you're still making sense of in your 20s. The relationship that left you questioning yourself. The thing that happened that nobody in your life quite understood. The experience you've tried to move past but keeps showing up in your body, your reactions, and your relationships.
If you find yourself bracing for things that haven't happened yet, feeling numb when you want to feel present, or reacting in ways that don't quite match the moment, that is often trauma at work. It is your nervous system doing exactly what it learned to do to keep you safe.The approach I use most often is how EMDR works for trauma, because it gives clients a way to process difficult experiences without having to narrate them in detail.
When therapy hasn't worked before
Many people who come to me have already tried therapy. They've done the work of talking about it. They've gained insight and understanding. And they still feel stuck. This is one of the most common experiences among trauma survivors, and it makes complete sense. Unresolved trauma often surfaces years later as support for chronic anxiety becomes the reason someone first reaches out for therapy.
Talk therapy is valuable, but trauma is often stored below the level of language. It lives in the body, in reflexes, in reactions that happen before the thinking brain has a chance to catch up. EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, was developed specifically to reach what talk therapy sometimes cannot. It works by engaging the brain's natural processing system to reduce the emotional charge attached to traumatic experiences, without requiring you to retell every detail of what happened.
For young adults processing things that happened earlier in life, and for teens navigating trauma in real time, this approach can create movement where other methods have felt like running in place.
Healing from trauma as a young adult
A significant part of my practice is working with people aged 16 to 30 who are dealing with trauma they experienced growing up, or trauma they are navigating right now. This is a population I am deeply committed to. Young people are often told their experiences aren't serious enough, or that they should be over it by now, or that what happened is simply part of life.
It is part of life. And it still deserves care.
Whether you are a teenager finding your way through difficult family dynamics, a college student whose anxiety finally makes sense in the context of earlier experiences, or a young adult in your 20s carrying something you've never fully addressed, trauma therapy can help you stop surviving and start living differently. I also warmly welcome LGBTGAI+ young people and queer families, and when you work with me, we will focus on affirming care and healing that accepts who you are right now.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Therapy
What is trauma therapy?
Trauma therapy is a category of therapeutic approaches designed to help people process and heal from experiences that have left a lasting impact on their nervous system, emotions, and behavior. It goes beyond talking about what happened, it works with how those experiences are stored in the body and brain. Common approaches include EMDR, somatic therapy, CBT, and attachment-based therapy.
What does trauma actually feel like?
Trauma doesn't always look the way people expect. It can show up as bracing for things that haven't happened yet, feeling numb when you want to feel present, reacting with an intensity that doesn't quite match the moment, or carrying anxiety that feels older than your current circumstances. These are signs that your nervous system learned to protect you and that protection is now getting in the way.
Can trauma therapy help even if I don't have a PTSD diagnosis?
Yes. Many people who benefit most from trauma therapy do not have a formal PTSD diagnosis. If something happened, in your childhood, a relationship, or at any point in your life and it still affects how you feel, react, or relate to others, trauma therapy can help. You do not need a diagnosis to deserve care.
How is EMDR used in trauma therapy?
EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is one of the most extensively researched trauma treatments available. It works by engaging the brain's natural processing system to reduce the emotional charge attached to traumatic memories, without requiring you to retell every detail. It is particularly effective for experiences that talk therapy alone has not been able to reach.
Is trauma therapy available without a long waitlist in San Francisco?
At Life Circle Center, Erica Spartos is currently accepting new clients for trauma therapy via telehealth across California and on a limited basis in San Francisco. A free 30-minute consultation is available to assess fit before beginning.
Working with Erica
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, CA License #81057, with 20 years of clinical, counseling, and supervision experience in San Francisco. My background includes providing therapy to youth and families across nine SFUSD public schools, clinical case management in the Tenderloin district, and working at an Intensive Outpatient Program for co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders. I currently serve as Clinical Supervisor at the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ) in San Francisco.
I am EMDR-trained through Sonoma PTI and use an integrative approach that draws on psychodynamic therapy, CBT, DBT, attachment-based therapy, and mindfulness depending on what each person needs. My approach is warm, practical, and grounded. I will meet you where you are.
For some clients processing a specific traumatic event, EMDR intensive therapy can be a better fit than weekly sessions.
Ready to take the first step?
I offer a free 30-minute phone consultation to see if we're a good fit. There's no obligation and no pressure. Just a conversation to see how I might be able to help you.
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