Welcome! I’m Wendy Brooks. My journey into psychotherapy began as I worked through my struggles with anxiety, depression, and trauma. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I earned my M.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Global. I feel fortunate to have gained experience in various settings, including community health clinics and non-profit mental health practices in Northern California. I enjoy working with adult clients, helping them process their past, face current challenges, and find solutions to help them realize their preferred future.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I take a blended approach to therapy because, in life, we all don’t just fit into one box. What works for one individual may not work for another. I work to meet the client where they are and use techniques that fit with their style and issues. With that in mind, I lean towards using Emotionally Focused Therapy, DBT, and Narrative therapies the most. Additionally, I am trained in Brainspotting to treat unresolved trauma. Clients can expect their first session to focus on the client's history and explore the issues the client is currently struggling with. This information helps us collaborate to create a treatment plan to address your specific needs.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My greatest strength is approaching every client with respect, empathy, and compassion. Working with clients who have experienced the effects of trauma has shaped my belief that the most important part of the therapeutic relationship is trust. I work very hard to create a safe environment so clients can trust me, and I will work very hard with them to find the healing and answers they seek. We always have the capacity to learn and evolve, and this belief guides my therapy style.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Our early experiences have shaped each of our paths. You may have felt you had little choice on your journey and reacted in ways you thought you couldn’t control, leaving you feeling unfulfilled by your current life path. I want to plant a seed of hope for healing and change. If you are ready to take this first step, I would love to join you as a guide, sounding board, and collaborator.
About Wendy Brooks
Wendy Brooks offers therapy covered by Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal), Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal), L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Orange County Mental Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal) and San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal) in California.
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Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
As an EFT therapist, I work to create a welcoming and safe environment where you can explore what has shaped you, make connections to anxiety, depression, and relational issues you may be facing now, and find healing and solutions together. I am not here to “fix” you. I believe we all can create change in our lives. My role is to support your journey by empowering you to connect with your past, process and heal old wounds, and support you in making new choices to help create the future you want.
Brainspotting
I began using Brainspotting in my practice 2 years ago to help clients process and release trauma. Traumatic experiences are often sources of emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical pain. Brainspotting is a powerful tool that utilizes the visual field to tap into these wounded parts of our psyche. After undergoing Brainspotting treatment I was able to experience a release from the effects of past trauma that was impacting my relationships. While the effectiveness of Brainspotting varies between client experiences, I am glad to be able to offer it to my clients as a treatment option.
Narrative
We often tell ourselves stories about our abilities, relationships, and futures. Many of these stories are shaped by larger societal forces that have shaped and limited our view of ourselves and the problems we face. Narrative therapy focuses on identifying those narratives and releasing ourselves from their power. Separating from narratives that don’t serve us can help us write the story we choose for our own lives.