Hannah Ayers
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I utilize a trauma-informed approach supported with mindfulness, self-compassion and accountability. I am trained in evidence-based practices such as CBT and DBT.
I know what it's like to be the one on the couch and, while I might challenge you, I will never ask you to do something I would not be willing to do myself.
Through gentle challenges, connection and insight, I create a space for reflection and finding deeper meaning to promote a sense of wholeness. I emphasize creating safety within ourselves through effective nervous system regulation and somatic awareness.
First session
In our first session together, I will encourage you to tell me your story in a way that makes sense and feels safe for you. We will also discuss policies/procedures and short-term/long-term goals for therapy. You will have the opportunity to ask me questions about myself and my approach so you can make an informed decision about whether I'm the right fit for your needs.
Strengths
My primary focus is your safety, emotionally and physically. I am well versed in Trauma-Informed Care and integrate consent wherever possible. I believe the body keeps the score and in order to have a healthy relationship with ourselves, we need to have a healthy relationship with every aspect of our bodies and minds. I focus on learning to be comfortable in the uncomfortable and how to thrive in an imperfect, confusing world. I will be honest about the realities of the work. I will tell you if something is going to be hard, frustrating, scary, etc AND necessary in order to heal. I became a therapist after struggling with my own mental health issues, including self-harm and eating disorders. I know what it's like to be the one on the couch and, while I might challenge you, I will never ask you to do something I would not be willing to do myself.
Ideal clients
Do you feel like your past prevents you from enjoying your present and looking forward to your future? Do you find yourself repeating patterns of behavior that no longer serve you? Do you struggle to maintain meaningful and stable relationships? By exploring the wounds from your past, you can find empathy and understanding. You can be free. Trauma expert, Peter A. Levine, said it best, “Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”
Treatment methods
Trauma-Informed Care
As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, my first priority is safety; physical, emotional and spiritual. This starts with consent and meeting you where you're at. I follow traditional trauma therapy phases (resourcing, processing/re-processing, integration) and encourage a healthy relationship between mind and body to promote nervous system regulation.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
We all have different parts of ourselves, some known and others unknown. These parts are never bad or malicious, but are just trying to keep us safe. We will identify and explore parts of yourself that need to be thanked and released. Once these parts have been released, you can be led by your true Self while having a strong, compassionate relationship with your parts.
Somatic
The body keeps the score. Emotions that are repressed or suppressed don't just disappear, but get re-routed into our bodies. Those emotions become stuck, like gum to the bottom of your shoe, which leads to physical health problems, chronic nervous system dysregulation and mental health issues. In order to heal, we must understand the story our body is trying to tell us. You will learn to improve mind-body connection through mindfulness, affect recognition, somatic experiencing and identifying hyper vs hypoarousal.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions1849 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025, Suite 610
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 124039