Support for the Harder Parts of Becoming a Parent
Virtual Trauma Therapy and EMDR for Women and Birthing People in California
I offer specialized care for the emotional and psychological aspects of coping with fertility journey, pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. This includes anxiety, depression, the grief and trauma following a complicated pregnancy or birth, miscarriage and recurrent losses, failed fertility cycles, infant loss, TFMR; as well as childhood or other unresolved trauma that can often resurface during this stage of life.
You’re welcome here. I’m LGBTQ affirming and supportive of the many ways families are created.
all sessions are held online and available to anyone living in California.
Specializing in pregnancy and postpartum mental health, reproductive/birth trauma, childhood trauma and treatment of PTSD.
Gentle, grounded, trauma-focused care
If this has all been more difficult than you thought it could be…
So much of what happens during fertility journey, pregnancy, and postpartum isn’t talked about or acknowledged openly and honestly.
Whether you’re grieving a loss, struggling to make sense of a traumatic birth, overwhelmed by how heavy life feels, or determined to break the cycle of trauma in your family, I’m glad you’re here. This is a place for you to bring all of your experiences, thoughts and feeling (no matter what they are) as you navigate the unexpected difficulties of becoming a mom.
Using a combination of traditional talk therapy, EMDR therapy, practical self-care and an attachment focused approach, I help women and new moms process what’s happened and become emotionally prepared for fertility journey, pregnancy, postpartum and early parenthood.
Supporting women and moms through perinatal grief and loss, trauma recovery, early parenthood and the identity shifts that follow…
Women often hold grief, stress, guilt, and identity loss alone, especially when things don’t go as expected. Therapy can give you the support that may be missing, and dedicated time and space to tend to yourself -
to safely process emotional pain and trauma,
to grieve your losses,
to get to know yourself all over again as you take on new roles and responsibilities and learn new ways to cope with your emotions.
Therapy is meant to help you create meaningful changes so that anxious, scary thoughts stop demanding so much attention. The overwhelm and emotional intensity eases up, and you’re able to manage difficult situations without bracing yourself. You feel more present (and less triggered) during your day to day. You stop telling yourself, “There’s something wrong with me” and start noticing “I can handle this”.
You want to do this well. But the tangle of emotions, identity shifts, relentless inner pressure to get it just right —along with the unexpected things that can happen— make having a baby so much more complicated than you imagined.
You may be feeling lost and not quite like yourself. And it can be hard to shake the feeling that your efforts are not quite “good enough”.
And that voice telling you you’re not good enough gets a little bit quieter.
EMDR Therapy
A therapy backed by evidence-based research and found to be effective in treating trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety and fears at any stage of life, including pregnancy.
Perinatal Mental Health
Therapy for women, birthing people and couples who are struggling with the unique challenges of fertility journey, pregnancy, postpartum and early parenthood.
Miscarriage
& Infant Loss
Including fertility journey, infertility diagnosis, miscarriage, birth trauma and medically complicated pregnancies, NICU experience, TFMR, stillbirth and infant loss.
Reproductive Trauma Therapy
Birth and reproductive trauma, Complex PTSD (childhood physical, sexual emotional abuse and neglect), traumatic loss, and painful childhood experiences as well as single incident traumas (accidents, medical traumas, rape/assault).
Hi there, I’m Holly Evans.
I'm a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in reproductive trauma, EMDR therapy, and helping women and new moms heal from experiences that continue to impact daily life.
Maybe you’ve tried talk therapy before, but some part of you still feels stuck. Even though you logically understand that the trauma is in the past, the anxiety, panic and self-blame show up anyway.
That’s where our work begins.
We’ll start by getting to know each other and understanding what’s bringing you here. No pressure, just a conversation with someone who understands how complicated healing can be.
Along the way, you’ll learn practical tools to help you feel more grounded and supported in your day-to-day. And when you’re ready, we’ll gently help your body and mind process the experiences that still feel stuck-so that they no longer take up so much space in your present.
If Any of These Sound Familiar, You’re in the Right Place…
Miscarriage and pregnancy loss
Birth Trauma
Infant loss and stillbirth
Fertility treatment, Infertility and Reproductive Trauma
Postpartum Anxiety or Depression
Childhood trauma (physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect)
Feeling disconnected from yourself, your relationships, or your life
Panic attacks or overwhelming worry
Childhood experiences resurfacing now that you’re raising your own children.
Identity shifts and adjusting to life postpartum/early parenthood
Pregnancy after loss
Or maybe you simply feel exhausted from carrying so much.
That’s reason enough, too.
EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD
Sometimes talking about what happened isn’t enough.
When you’re living with the effects of trauma, talking it through, using logic and reason usually aren’t enough to keep the past from interfering in the present.
Maybe it’s a thought telling you that it was your fault, that you’re weak or not good enough. Your chest tightens and your heart races even though everything seems “fine”. Or an unwanted memory plays on repeat, leaving you feeling like it’s happening right now.
EMDR therapy helps your mind and body process disturbing experiences in a deeper way, allowing distressing memories to lessen their intensity and take away their power to overwhelm you.
The memory stays a memory, something that happened in the past.
I offer standard EMDR therapy, as well as Attachment-Focused EMDR which helps to reprocess and repair attachment wounds stemming from early relationships and life experiences.
FAQs
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The first step is to schedule your introductory call (free consultation). We’ll meet on a video call or talk over the phone to determine if we’re a good fit. During your free consultation we’ll talk about:
What's happening right now that you need help with.
What concerns you most about how you’re feeling.
What kind of changes do want to make? Imagine what you want to notice after working together for 3 months, 6 months, a year.
My approach to therapy, and how I’d tailor therapy to you.
Any questions you may have- no question or concern is too small.
To begin the process, send me an email at hollyaevansmft@gmail.com
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I have an online therapy practice and only see clients virtually. I’m licensed in the state of California and can work with people who are living anywhere in the state.
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Yes! EMDR therapy can be effectively done online from the comfort of your home. To learn more about online EMDR therapy, click here.
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No, I do not.
If you have a PPO, I can provide the paperwork necessary for you to submit a claim.
Getting started with a reproductive trauma therapist in Pasadena, California.
Reaching out for help is a big step and I want to make the process as comfortable and easy to understand as possible. To get started, just call or email me to schedule your free consultation. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
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