Licensed to practice in California and accepts 7 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD and 9 more.
(She/Her)
As a trauma-trained therapist, I specialize in the treatment of trauma from a developmental and nervous system lens, crafted to meet a client’s unique needs. My name is Savannah Kraus, and I am a multi-cultural, Mexican-American, Marriage and Family Therapist. Integration is a core value of my therapeutic approach, and I enjoy blending aspects of Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems “parts” work, and Brainspotting. I've been honored to walk alongside clients in healing from trauma and have learned that patience, curiosity, compassion, autonomy, and intuition are the cornerstone of trauma focused therapy. Following and inviting clients to reconnect with the intuitive process of their healing is my passion.
It can feel overwhelming to start seeing a new therapist. My first session is oriented towards getting to know you, establishing a therapeutic relationship, and learning more about your goals for our time together. I take a very person-centered approach, allowing clients to lead the conversation, going as deep as they feel comfortable.
My Brainspotting certification, as well as my experience across higher level of care facilities (residential, PHP, IOP programs), and specialized experience working with co-occuring mental health disorders (such as substance use disorders and Complex-PTSD), has given me the confidence to work with clients who need specialized care.
Are you grappling with complex trauma or C-PTSD? Have you experienced multiple adverse life events, leading to feelings of anxiety, depression, or disconnection? Do you feel your nervous system is stuck in a freeze state? or suffer from chronic illness/pain? Are you wanting to improve your mental health, heal your trauma, and no longer be held down by the long-lasting and impairing effects of post traumatic-stress? As a trauma-trained therapist, I specialize in the treatment of trauma from a developmental and nervous system lens, crafted to meet a client’s unique needs. Patience, curiosity, compassion, autonomy, and intuition are the cornerstone of trauma focused therapy. Inviting clients to reconnect with the intuitive process of their healing is my passion.
Brainspotting is a therapy that identifies specific eye positions (brainspots) linked to unprocessed trauma and emotional distress, allowing the brain to access and release these stored issues from the subcortical level (deeper brain) by using focused gaze and the principle that "where you look affects how you feel." I am certified in Brainspotting and have been utilizing it since my Phase 1 training in May of 2025.
Our past matters, which is why I approach mental health issues through a psychodynamic approach. Resolving our past can greatly impact how we feel and behave in the present, improving our mental health and relationships.
All parts are welcome in my therapy office. IFS, or Internal Family Systems, is a psychotherapy model that views the mind as naturally multiple, made up of various "parts" (like an inner critic or child) all centered around a core "Self" that is calm, compassionate, and wise. It's a non-pathologizing approach that helps individuals heal by developing a relationship with these inner parts, understanding their roles, and allowing the core Self to lead, resolving internal conflicts and fostering wholeness, often used for trauma, anxiety, and depression.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented approach that helps people heal from trauma and chronic stress by increasing awareness of physical sensations and nervous-system responses. Rather than requiring detailed retelling of traumatic events, SE works gradually with small amounts of activation while strengthening a sense of safety and stability. Techniques such as resourcing, pendulation, and titration help clients move between distress and regulation without becoming overwhelmed. Over time, this can expand the nervous system’s capacity to manage stress and restore greater flexibility and connection.
Savannah has always know that she would pursue expertise in providing psychotherapy for trauma survivors. Her training and experience with severe cases of PTSD and C-PTSD includes a Brainspotting certification, Somatic Experiencing trainings and thousands of direct client hours spent working with trauma survivors with extensive and complex trauma backgrounds. She continues to pursue further education and training in her work as a clinician , expanding her knowledge of body-based healing and the autonomic nervous system's role in post traumatic stress.