Get Internal Family Systems Therapy you can count on.
Serving San Diego County, Emerald Isle, Linda Vista, and many other cities around San Diego County.
At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, I provide deeply personalized, trauma-informed care for clients seeking a thoughtful and effective path toward healing. My practice is designed to offer a calm, private, and supportive therapeutic environment where individuals, couples, and teens can engage in meaningful inner work with depth, intention, and care.
I believe therapy should be both clinically grounded and highly individualized. My approach integrates evidence-based modalities with a nuanced understanding of trauma, creating a therapeutic experience that is compassionate, attuned, and tailored to the unique needs of each client. Every aspect of care is approached with sensitivity, professionalism, and respect for the complexity of each person’s healing process.
I am committed to offering a standard of care that feels both deeply supportive and exceptionally intentional. My goal is to help clients move beyond patterns of distress and toward greater clarity, resilience, emotional balance, and lasting well-being. Through a refined, relational, and trauma-informed approach, I strive to create a space where genuine healing and meaningful transformation can unfold.
Welcome to Touchstone Trauma Therapy, your trusted partner in mental health support located in Montrose, CA. Our focus on Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) allows us to provide a compassionate and effective approach to healing. Whether you're navigating the complexities of trauma, anxiety, or depression, our dedicated team is here to help you discover a path towards emotional well-being while serving clients throughout San Diego County.
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) is an innovative and holistic approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes the importance of understanding the various "parts" that make up our internal emotional system. Founded by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, IFS operates on the premise that every individual has a complex internal landscape comprised of different parts, each with its own distinct roles, feelings, and perspectives. These parts can include emotions, memories, and even beliefs that have developed in response to life experiences, particularly during childhood.
At the core of IFS is the belief that our psyche is not a singular entity but rather a system of interconnected parts. Some of these parts may serve as protectors, defending us from emotional pain, while others may embody our vulnerabilities and fears. This internal multiplicity can lead to internal conflicts, resulting in feelings of anxiety, depression, or emotional distress. Through IFS, individuals learn to identify these parts, understand their functions, and cultivate relationships among them, leading to greater emotional harmony.
One of the primary goals of IFS is to help individuals access their "Self," which represents their core essence—characterized by qualities such as compassion, curiosity, and calmness. When individuals are Self-led, they can approach their inner parts with empathy and understanding rather than judgment. This Self-led perspective allows for deeper healing, as clients can engage with their parts in a more constructive way, fostering a sense of safety and acceptance.
In practice, IFS involves a guided exploration of one’s internal system. For instance, during a therapy session, a client might identify a part that feels anxious about social situations. Together with the therapist, the client can engage in a dialogue with this anxious part, seeking to understand its fears and motivations. This process can illuminate how the part's protective behaviors may have originated from past experiences, such as traumatic events or significant losses. By recognizing the intention behind the part’s behaviors, individuals can shift from a place of internal conflict to one of collaboration and healing.
This parts work therapy is particularly effective for those in San Diego County who have experienced trauma or are navigating complex emotions. The local culture, with its focus on wellness and holistic approaches, aligns well with the principles of IFS. Many clients find that IFS not only helps them heal from past traumas but also enhances their personal growth and self-awareness. As they begin to understand their internal dynamics, they often discover new pathways for emotional resilience and self-acceptance.
Moreover, IFS can be applied in various contexts, including individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy. For example, in couples therapy, partners can explore their respective internal parts to better understand each other's emotional responses and improve communication. This can lead to more empathetic interactions and a stronger emotional bond. Similarly, families can benefit from IFS by recognizing how different family members’ parts interact, fostering a more supportive and understanding family environment.
As part of the healing journey, IFS practitioners often encourage clients to engage in self-compassion exercises and mindfulness practices to further support their emotional well-being. These practices can help clients remain grounded and present as they navigate their internal landscapes, making the therapeutic process more effective and enriching.
In summary, Internal Family Systems Therapy offers a profound framework for understanding and healing the complexities of the human psyche. By recognizing the distinct parts within ourselves and fostering a compassionate relationship with them, we can embark on a transformative journey towards emotional health and personal growth. At Touchstone Trauma Therapy in San Diego County, we are dedicated to guiding you through this process, helping you to heal your inner parts and achieve a more integrated and fulfilling life.
Experience compassionate trauma-informed therapy designed to support your emotional healing and recovery, helping you navigate psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress with expert guidance and understanding.
Experience compassionate self-esteem counseling that empowers you to build confidence, enhance your self-worth, and improve your body image through personalized therapy tailored to your unique journey.
Experience compassionate anxiety therapy designed to help you manage anxiety disorders, overcome challenges, and find peace through personalized support and effective treatment strategies.
Choosing Internal Family Systems Therapy at Touchstone Trauma Therapy offers numerous benefits, including:
At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, we believe in a personalized approach to therapy. Our experienced practitioners are trained in Parts Work Therapy, which emphasizes the importance of recognizing and nurturing the various aspects of your psyche. Through sessions that focus on Ego State Therapy, we guide you in exploring your inner self, helping you to:
Clear, practical answers for people considering Trauma Therapy and looking for a thoughtful next step.
Touchstone Trauma Therapy is a mental health practice located in Montrose, CA, specializing in trauma therapy. We provide personalized care to help clients navigate challenges such as trauma, anxiety, and depression through holistic, trauma-informed approaches.
Our services are designed for individuals, couples, and teens who are facing mental health challenges. Whether you are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use concerns, relationship difficulties, self-esteem issues, emotional overwhelm, chronic stress, perfectionism, or feelings of disconnection, we are here to support you on your healing journey.
At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, we offer a range of trauma-informed therapies tailored to individual needs. Our approaches may include EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness and Somatic therapies, and other holistic methods aimed at promoting healing and resilience.
If you are experiencing persistent feelings of anxiety, depression, or distress related to past experiences, trauma therapy may be beneficial. Our team can help assess your needs and guide you toward appropriate support.
During your first session at Touchstone Trauma Therapy, you will meet with a therapist who will discuss your background, current challenges, and goals for therapy. This initial assessment helps us create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Yes, therapy sessions at Touchstone Trauma Therapy are confidential. We adhere to strict ethical guidelines to ensure your privacy and safety, allowing you to share your experiences in a secure and supportive environment.
Somatic Therapy is a form of body-centered therapy that emphasizes the connection between the brain, mind, and body. It utilizes body awareness as a therapeutic tool to explore and resolve the somatic (physical) symptoms of psychological issues. This approach helps individuals recognize and release the physical tension that remains in the body due to past trauma and stress.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a transformative therapeutic model of psychotherapy that helps individuals understand and harmonize the various parts within themselves. According to IFS, we all have different parts within us that carry different thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. These parts can sometimes conflict with each other and create internal struggles and difficulties in our lives. IFS is commonly utilized to work with trauma memories or difficult childhood experiences.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured approach that treats trauma by safely reconnecting individuals with the traumatic images, thoughts, emotions, and body sensations they experienced, leveraging the brain’s natural healing process—Adaptive Information Processing (AIP).
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which often focuses on the traumatic event itself, EMDR targets the emotional disturbances and symptoms stemming from the trauma. The goal is to process these troubling memories, reduce their impact, and help clients develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Through EMDR, memories are transferred from the emotional part of the brain (limbic system) to long-term storage, transforming them from intrusive relived experiences into memories of past events that no longer wield disruptive power.
Our services cater to a diverse audience, including individuals, couples, and teens in San Diego County. If you are facing challenges such as:
...Touchstone Trauma Therapy is here to support you on your journey to healing. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that each session is tailored to your unique circumstances, promoting a safe and nurturing environment.
When seeking mental health therapy, it’s essential to choose a practice that resonates with your needs. Here’s why Touchstone stands out in San Diego County:
Experience compassionate depression counseling and effective clinical depression therapy tailored to your needs, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you overcome major depressive disorder and mood disorders.
Experience compassionate EMDR therapy tailored for healing from PTSD, anxiety, phobias, grief, and abuse recovery, helping you navigate complex trauma and reclaim your life with confidence.
Experience healing through Somatic Experiencing Therapy, a holistic approach that combines body-oriented psychotherapy and mind-body techniques to alleviate stress and anxiety, promoting deep relaxation and emotional well-being.
At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, seeking support is an important first step toward healing. Whether you are navigating Trauma Therapy, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm, this is a calm place to begin with trust, care, and intention.
Talk with a trusted therapist and take the next step forward with confidence.
Trauma-informed care is an approach to therapy that recognizes how past trauma can affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, relationships, and physical responses. It focuses on creating a safe, supportive, and respectful environment where clients feel heard, empowered, and never pressured. At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, trauma-informed care means tailoring treatment to each person’s needs while using approaches that support healing at a pace that feels manageable and safe. At TTT, we utilize Evidence Based modalities such as EMDR, IFS and Somatic/Mindfulness that are effective in addressing and healing from trauma, including complex trauma.
Starting therapy begins with reaching out to schedule an initial consultation or first appointment. During that first step, we will talk about what brings you to therapy, your goals, and any questions you may have about the process. From there, we can determine the best approach for your needs and begin creating a treatment plan that feels supportive, personalized, and manageable.
Yes, therapy sessions are confidential. Protecting your privacy is an important part of creating a safe and supportive therapeutic space. There are a few legal and ethical limits to confidentiality, which will be reviewed with you at the beginning of therapy, but in general, what you share in session is kept private and treated with care and respect.
Somatic therapy supports trauma healing by helping clients notice and work with how trauma is held in the body, not just in thoughts or memories. Trauma can affect the nervous system in ways that lead to tension, overwhelm, numbness, or feeling constantly on edge. Through gentle body-based awareness and regulation techniques, somatic therapy helps clients reconnect with their bodies, build a greater sense of safety, and process trauma in a way that feels grounded and manageable.
That is completely understandable. Not every therapy experience is the right fit, and a previous approach that did not feel helpful does not mean therapy cannot be meaningful for you now. At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, I offer a personalized, trauma-informed approach tailored to your unique needs, goals, and pace. Together, we work to create a safe and supportive space that feels more aligned with the healing you are seeking.
Your first therapy session is an opportunity for me to begin building a thoughtful understanding of your experiences, concerns, and goals. I will guide the conversation with care, creating space to discuss what brings you to therapy, your personal history, and any questions you may have about the process. This initial session is designed to help you feel at ease while laying the foundation for a therapeutic approach that is personalized to your needs.
Experience transformative healing with Internal Family Systems Therapy, a compassionate approach that nurtures your inner parts, promoting personal growth and resilience through effective trauma healing and self-led therapy.
Experience compassionate and evidence-based PTSD treatment, including trauma-focused therapy and clinical counseling, designed to support your journey towards healing and recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Experience compassionate relationship trauma counseling that focuses on healing interpersonal wounds, fostering secure attachments, and promoting resilience through specialized attachment-based therapy tailored to your unique journey.
Experience compassionate grief and loss counseling that supports your healing journey, helping you navigate bereavement, cope with loss, and find peace through specialized therapy tailored to your needs.
Experience compassionate support with our Stress and Emotional Overwhelm Therapy, designed to help you manage stress, regulate emotions, and overcome burnout through effective techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Choosing to seek help is a powerful step towards healing. At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, we are dedicated to guiding you through Internal Family Systems Therapy to help you heal your inner parts and achieve emotional balance. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a brighter, healthier future.
We look forward to partnering with you on your journey to mental wellness in San Diego County, CA.
Transform your practice in San Diego County with IFS Psychotherapy from Touchstone Trauma Therapy, enhancing your clients' healing through Parts-Based Therapy and Self-Led Therapy.
Trauma-informed care is an approach to therapy that recognizes how past trauma can affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, relationships, and physical responses. It focuses on creating a safe, supportive, and respectful environment where clients feel heard, empowered, and never pressured. At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, trauma-informed care means tailoring treatment to each person’s needs while using approaches that support healing at a pace that feels manageable and safe. At TTT, we utilize Evidence Based modalities such as EMDR, IFS and Somatic/Mindfulness that are effective in addressing and healing from trauma, including complex trauma.
Starting therapy begins with reaching out to schedule an initial consultation or first appointment. During that first step, we will talk about what brings you to therapy, your goals, and any questions you may have about the process. From there, we can determine the best approach for your needs and begin creating a treatment plan that feels supportive, personalized, and manageable.
Yes, therapy sessions are confidential. Protecting your privacy is an important part of creating a safe and supportive therapeutic space. There are a few legal and ethical limits to confidentiality, which will be reviewed with you at the beginning of therapy, but in general, what you share in session is kept private and treated with care and respect.
Somatic therapy supports trauma healing by helping clients notice and work with how trauma is held in the body, not just in thoughts or memories. Trauma can affect the nervous system in ways that lead to tension, overwhelm, numbness, or feeling constantly on edge. Through gentle body-based awareness and regulation techniques, somatic therapy helps clients reconnect with their bodies, build a greater sense of safety, and process trauma in a way that feels grounded and manageable.
That is completely understandable. Not every therapy experience is the right fit, and a previous approach that did not feel helpful does not mean therapy cannot be meaningful for you now. At Touchstone Trauma Therapy, I offer a personalized, trauma-informed approach tailored to your unique needs, goals, and pace. Together, we work to create a safe and supportive space that feels more aligned with the healing you are seeking.
Your first therapy session is an opportunity for me to begin building a thoughtful understanding of your experiences, concerns, and goals. I will guide the conversation with care, creating space to discuss what brings you to therapy, your personal history, and any questions you may have about the process. This initial session is designed to help you feel at ease while laying the foundation for a therapeutic approach that is personalized to your needs.
Our services are designed for individuals, couples, and teens seeking support for mental health challenges.
Whether you are dealing with trauma, relationship issues, or self-esteem concerns, Touchstone Trauma Therapy is here to guide you on your journey to healing.
TTT offers services to the cities of Montrose, Glendale, La Crescenta, La Canada, Burbank and Pasadena. TTT also offers remote video sessions throughout the state of California.
Individual therapy for clients ages 14 and older offers a personalized space to work through life's challenges, deepen self-understanding, and support lasting emotional well-being.
