Childhood Trauma Therapy
Chris Hershey-Van Horn, LCSW is a trusted therapist in San Francisco specializing in healing childhood trauma. Now available for in-person therapy and online for all California residents.
Childhood Trauma Therapy in San Francisco
It’s estimated that over 60% of adults in the United States have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) associated with trauma. When a child’s safety is compromised, the child is forced to adapt emotionally and psychologically in ways that can have repercussions later in adulthood.
Adults who experienced trauma in the form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse; devastating loss; incidents of housing insecurity or homelessness; as well as other severe adverse experiences as children are more likely to experience symptoms of mental and emotional distress later in life. Left untreated, these symptoms can worsen over time. If your mental health is getting in the way of your relationships, your career, or your general happiness, there’s no better time than now to receive professional, specialized support.
Adult symptoms of childhood trauma can present in a variety of ways, including but not limited to issues related to attachment, emotional reactivity, difficulties with intimacy and sexuality, low self-esteem, decision-making paralysis, PTSD or cPTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Why Seek a Childhood Trauma Specialist?
Because of the complex nature of trauma, it’s essential that treatment be administered by a mental health professional who is specially trained in carefully facilitating the trauma therapy process. Working with a therapist specializing in treating childhood trauma allows symptoms to be addressed safely and deliberately, one step at a time.
Chris Hershey-Van Horn, LCSW, offers clients comprehensive support through evidence-based therapeutic modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), psychodynamic therapy, and Internal Family Systems-informed (IFS) therapy. Through personalized sessions, individuals can find lasting and effective ways to heal the comprehensive emotional and psychological impacts of trauma and return to healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.
Virtual and In-Person Sessions
Chris Hershey-Van Horn offers therapy sessions in person in San Francisco and online for those who prefer remote therapeutic support. Virtual sessions are open to all California residents, ensuring accessibility to professional therapy wherever in the state you are located. In-person sessions are located in our office in the Noe Valley area with easy access from the surrounding areas of Daly City, Oakland, Berkeley, Pacifica, Richmond District, and more.
Who can benefit from Childhood Trauma Therapy?
Anyone who has experienced adverse childhood experiences can benefit from therapy specially designed to heal childhood wounds. Whether you have sought therapy before, or are considering trying it out for the first time, the support of a trained professional can help transform your life and get you get back on track.
Chris Hershey-Van Horn’s approach addresses the individual nature of each client’s unique childhood experiences. Instead of using one, single method, the therapy process typically involves a carefully calibrated combination of evidence-based tools, including EMDR, IFS-informed therapy, and psychodynamic and relational therapy , in order to ensure that therapy is effective.
Examples of Client Concerns Addressed through Therapy:
Unresolved childhood memories or adverse experiences
Difficult or no-contact relationships with parents and family members
Challenges or barriers to intimacy and connection
Long-term anxiety and self-doubt
Emotional reactivity including anger, dissociation, or impulsivity
A general sense of unhappiness or a lack of enjoyment in daily life without any clear or direct cause
FAQs
What is Trauma-Informed Therapy?
Trauma-informed therapy is an approach that recognizes the specific psychological vulnerabilities of clients impacted by trauma. Subsequently, trauma-informed therapy integrates clinical safety, client-therapist collaboration, autonomy, and trust in the therapeutic process in order to provide proper comprehensive support, prevent re-traumatization, and ensure lasting healing.
How does childhood trauma therapy work?
Childhood trauma therapy involves carefully guided weekly sessions utilizing evidence-based practices specifically oriented towards healing trauma. In these sessions, Chris Hershey-Van Horn uses a combination of EMDR, IFS-informed therapy, psychodynamic techniques in order to help clients carefully explore past experiences, current symptoms and challenges, release or reprocess traumatic memories, and ultimately arrive at a healthy, integrated state of healing.
How long Will therapy for childhood trauma take?
Each person’s healing takes different amounts of time depending on various factors, including the severity of symptoms, the particular nature of the trauma, an individual’s emotional history and a client’s personal goals. While some clients may notice subtle indicators of positive change after roughly four sessions, most individuals can expect to be in therapy for at least sixteen to twenty sessions before noticing signs of significant change.
Do you offer online therapy sessions?
Online therapy sessions are available to all California residents for those who prefer the convenience of meeting online or who live far away from our physical office in San Francisco. Clients of online therapy can expect the same level of trauma-informed care and individualized guidance through our secure online platforms.
Contact Us
Please submit some info in the form here or send an email directly to chvhtherapy@gmail.com and we will be in touch shortly to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We look forward to helping you on your therapy journey.