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Elliana Wolnisty

LMFT (she/they)5 years of experience

You may have spent a long time adapting to survive; managing anxiety, people-pleasing, dissociation, perfectionism, shame, or relationships that leave you feeling unseen. Maybe you’re carrying trauma that still lives in your body, or you’re trying to understand yourself more deeply outside the expectations you grew up with. Therapy can be a place to untangle those stories and reconnect with who you actually are. I received my masters in Counseling Psychology and Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2022. For the last 5 years I've specialized in supporting people of all ages and identities through recovering from trauma - from single incidents to complex and lifelong harm. Together, we might explore identity, relationships, grief, embodiment, intimacy, meaning, family dynamics, work stressors, or the parts of yourself that have been hidden, rejected, or overworked for a long time. Let’s explore the patterns that helped you survive in the past and move towards the future you want. My approach blends trauma-informed and evidence based therapies with existential exploration, curiosity, and creativity. I work especially well with LGBTQ+ adults, creatives, highly sensitive people, and those navigating complex trauma, identity exploration, burnout, shame, or major life transitions. Along with being trained in Drama Therapy, I've also completed basic level training in Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

First session

The first few sessions are primarily for getting to know each other. We'll review essential information about your rights as a client, you'll have plenty of time to share what's important to you (such as what brings you to therapy including your goals, current life circumstances, and history as much as you're willing to share), I'll share about my approach as a therapist, and we'll decide together how to approach each session and where to focus our energies.

Strengths

I like to see therapy as a multi-week long conversation where we both are participants. While the client's desires and needs are always the focus, we get to work together to get to your goals.

Ideal clients

I work best with people interested in either healing from traumatic experiences (such as domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse, or one time incidents like car crashes or falls) or in a phase of self-discovery and are in a place to be self-motivated to be present to the therapy work. I especially love working with LGBTQ+ people that are recovering from religious trauma or cult-like community spaces.

Treatment methods

Gender-affirming therapy

I have experience working with gender-expansive and transgender individuals, as well as with those looking to explore what their gender is and means to them and how it interconnects with their lived experiences.

Trauma-Informed Care

Healing from difficult or traumatic experiences can take time. I have years of experience working with folks that have experienced harm, be it one-time incidents to complex and lifelong harm.

Humanistic

"Humanistic" is a way of saying that therapy is a space to focus on what's important to each specific client. Everyone is different! Your therapy should be a place that feels safe, empowering, and unique to you.

Location

Virtual sessions

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