As trauma therapists based in Los Angeles – one (if not the) epicenter of the health and wellness boom – we receive numerous calls from individuals specifically interested in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing). From those who have learned about this effective approach through a podcast, a loved one, or another therapist specializing in a talk-based modality to those who have never been in therapy at all, EMDR has inspired interest, and for good reason!  With the well-earned buzz around this evidence-based approach to healing trauma, there are also plenty of misunderstandings ..read more

Microaggressive trauma describes the excessive and continuous exposure to subtle interpersonal and systemic discrimination that leads to trauma symptoms like sensitivity to threat, anxiety, and hyperarousal. Here is a related blog post that dives into what racial trauma is and the four levels of racism.  Microaggressions faced by Asian Americans  What are some common microaggressions faced by Asian Americans? It can be helpful to look at microaggressions for Asian Americans through the intersection of gender because different gendered stereotypes can determine whether an individual i ..read more

“ The cry we hear from deep in our hearts comes from the wounded child within.” — Thich Naht Hahn Historically, psychotherapeutic approaches have focused on immediate solutions. This approach fits within our society’s desire for an accelerated pace and quick, tangible outcomes.  Our collective imagination does not see psychotherapy as a journey, a journey of returning to the inner wisdom that resides within us, a journey of infinite possibilities. On the contrary, society sees psychotherapy as a treatment-focused cure, where an expert provides magical strategies to regulate anxiety or mit ..read more

What is a situationship, you ask? According to the “slang” section of dictionary.com (sidenote: did anyone know this was a thing?? Like urban dictionary but “classier” maybe??), a situationship “is often discussed as being similar to a friends-with-benefits relationship, which usually involves sexual activity without a commitment to be exclusive to each other. The definition further explains that “a situationship is often described as a relationship that is more than friendship but less than a committed relationship.” So what are we to do if we find ourselves in one of these? Below are some id ..read more

We’re in our shrooms era. That’s right. I said it. Psilocybin is having a glow-up in the psychotherapeutic community, fax no printer. You might not know that psilocybin, or 4-phosphorioloxy-N, the active ingredient in psychedelic (read: magic) mushrooms, has been legal for therapeutic use in Oregon since 2020, or decriminalized in Oakland, California since 2019.(5) You also might not know that mental health researchers have been trying to figure out how it can help the brain since the 1950s.(3) You might not even know how psilocybin was recently part of a TikTok scandal involving a certain hoc ..read more

I want to be my full Asian American self in therapy.  How do I make sure I’m not just turning more White in therapy? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “I felt like my White therapist just didn’t get it” or “I quit therapy when my therapist told me to just set boundaries with my immigrant parents.” Don’t get me wrong, I think any therapist of any race can be culturally inclusive with the right training, consideration, and sensitivity. For example, I trust the diverse team here at Woven to be thoughtful of issues of (de)colonization, Asian American frame switching, and being fle ..read more

Throughout my practice as a somatic trauma therapist, I see patients whose painful experiences muted their connection to the body. For trauma survivors, focusing on their body sensations - even if only for a brief second - can become extremely overwhelming because it brings them back to their experiences of being neglected, abandoned, or abused.   I’m writing this piece to explore the concept of somatic awareness and to help trauma survivors understand why this practice holds the key to understanding emotions, traumas, and overall well-being.    Somatic awareness helps ..read more

You did your research, made a call, and booked an intake… now what? Congratulations on taking the first steps toward healing from trauma. In many ways these initial actions are the most challenging, so go ahead and give yourself some props! You’ve already started the process of healing by recognizing you could benefit from some support and following through on asking for it. This is a courageous act of self-care.  You may be feeling vulnerable, hopeful, anxious, excited, uncertain, fearful, or any combination of emotions as you await your first session. Questions like what to expect durin ..read more

According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network* (RAINN), the largest nonprofit anti-sexual assault organization in the United States, an American is sexually assaulted once every 68 seconds. In children, assault occurs once every 9 minutes. As adults, survivors of child sexual abuse are about 3 times more likely to experience a major depressive episode and 4 times more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Youth of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth experience child sexual abuse at disproportionately higher rates.** Sexual misconduct or abuse rarel ..read more

How does racism show up in our body, thoughts, and emotions?  People who are familiar with racism may know that it is acknowledged as a public health crisis by the American Public Health Association. But how do daily experiences of racism, discrimination, and microaggressions affect us psychologically and in our trauma symptoms? How does it show up in our bodies, thoughts, and emotions?  First, it’s important to understand the definition of racism. The American Psychological Association defines racism as “a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on phenotypic pro ..read more