Move Beyond your past
EMDR Therapist Santa Cruz Heal, Grow, Thrive
Cari Browning, RN, LCSW
Trauma is anything that overwhelms our perceived ability to cope.
When we experience trauma it flows into every area of our lives.
You’ve noticed patterns in your life and relationships that you just can’t make sense of. Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, numb, or constantly on edge is exhausting, and simply keeping up with daily life feels harder than it should.
You might find yourself struggling with racing thoughts, sleepless nights, or nightmares. It can feel isolating—like no one truly understands what you’re going through. You may have even lost trust in yourself or in the safety of others.
Here’s the truth: all of this is normal. You are normal and none of this is your fault. These feelings are your nervous system’s response to traumatic stress—it’s a sign of what you’ve been through, not a reflection of who you are.
There is hope. Trauma therapy provides a safe and supportive space to help you process and heal from these experiences. We’ll work together to understand how trauma has shaped your experiences and take gentle steps toward finding relief, balance, and a renewed sense of control in your life. You are not alone—healing is possible.
Post-traumatic growth is possible.
Cari Browning, RN, LCSW
EMDR Therapist Santa Cruz
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful and well-researched therapy proven to help with trauma, anxiety, phobias, and other distressing experiences. During EMDR sessions, you’ll focus on gentle back-and-forth movements or tapping while recalling an upsetting memory. This process helps your brain reprocess the memory, reducing its emotional intensity and allowing you to feel calmer and more in control.
Traumatic and distressing memories often carry a strong emotional charge that can leave you feeling stuck—unsafe, on edge, or reliving the painful experience. EMDR works to reduce the intensity of these emotions, helping you reconnect with your natural resilience and strength. It doesn’t require you to go into detail about the event, making it a more accessible and gentle option for processing trauma.
In my practice, I use EMDR to address trauma, anxiety, panic, phobias, and other painful experiences. I often pair it with the Flash technique, a science-backed approach where you focus on a positive distraction or memory as we process the painful experience. Both methods help your brain activate its natural healing process, relieving symptoms and helping you move forward with greater ease and peace of mind.
Every person’s story is unique, and you are the expert on your life. My goal is to meet you where you are, with your comfort level guiding every step of our work together.
Using my background in nursing & therapy, I provide tools that calm your nervous system, build resilience, and help you focus on what truly matters to you. We can also explore how sleep, social connection, rest, or movement might be impacting your healing and overall well-being.
Because no two journeys are the same, I draw from a variety of approaches—including EMDR-FLASH, ACT, DBT, Polyvagal Theory, and Attachment-based methods—to tailor therapy to your unique needs. Together, we’ll create a personalized path toward healing and growth that feels right for you.
Here’s what we’ll do together
Let me be your guide to post-traumatic growth.
Imagine a life where you…
Feel at ease in your life
Trust yourself & confidently overcome challenges
Enjoy improved relationships & self-esteem
Experience improved physical and mental health
Incorporate trauma healing into your life story in a way that highlights growth & transformation, rather than difficulty & hardship
Trauma doesn’t define you.
Questions?
FAQs
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Trauma is an emotional response caused by a distressing or disturbing event or series of events that overwhelms our ability to cope effectively. Trauma can result from life-threatening, frightening or overwhelming experiences and can lead to a sense of helplessness, fear, or shock.
Trauma is a complex and deeply personal experience, and its symptoms can vary widely among individuals. Recognizing the signs and seeking appropriate support and treatment are essential steps toward healing from trauma.
Trauma is often broken down into different types of trauma including:
PTSDPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a (usually) single overwhelming, scary, or dangerous event. People experience a range of reactions after trauma and most people recover from the initial symptoms over time. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD.
C-PTSD/Complex trauma
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder refers to the presence of symptoms after experiencing prolonged, repeated trauma. Complex trauma often stems from trauma and chronic stress in childhood.
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The symptoms of trauma can vary depending on the individual and the type of trauma experienced. Common symptoms of trauma include:
Flashbacks, nightmares, persistent thoughts/memories about the trauma.
Avoiding reminders of the trauma
Emotional numbing
Persistent negative mood and thoughts
Difficulty concentrating
Sleep disturbances
Physical responses such as rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, headaches
Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD or severe symptoms. However, if symptoms persist or interfere with daily life, seeking professional help from a therapist trained in trauma treatment can be beneficial.
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Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes that occur as a result of struggling with and overcoming adversity or trauma. PTG suggests individuals can experience personal growth, transformation, and positive changes following a traumatic event. PTG does not negate the distress or challenges caused by the trauma, but acknowledges that individuals can experience growth and positive outcomes alongside the negative effects.
Therapeutic interventions that focus on nervous system change, meaning-making, and developing resilience all facilitate the process of post-traumatic growth.
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Trauma can have a significant effect on the brain, particularly in areas involved in emotional management, memory processing, and the stress response.
Understanding how trauma affects the brain is a critical part of trauma-informed care. Therapeutic interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), body-based approaches, mindfulness skills and compassion practices can help reduce the neurological impacts of trauma and promote recovery & healing.
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Trauma can be effectively treated and managed through various treatment approaches, leading to significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life for individuals affected by trauma. The goals of trauma treatment are tailored specifically to the individual's experiences, symptoms, and needs.
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I am dually trained in nursing and therapy, which provides me with a deeper understanding of general health issues, along with my passion for neuroscience and the potential impact on mental health.
My approach to trauma care focuses on body-to-brain and brain-to-body interventions for the most effective treatment. Together we will also explore whether sleep, social connection, restorative time, nutrition or movement may be impacting your trauma recovery.
My therapy approach is integrated, considering both physical and mental health factors and focuses on lasting change.
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