Trauma Therapy in Calabasas
Trauma Therapy in Calabasas with Julie Klamon, LMFT
Trauma changes how you move through the world long after the event is over. You may feel on guard for no clear reason, lose sleep, or find that a sound, a smell, or a stretch of road yanks you back into something you would rather leave behind. Trauma is not weakness or overreaction. It is what happens when an experience overwhelms your ability to cope, and your nervous system keeps bracing as if the danger is still here.
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 20 years of experience helping children, teens, and adults recover from frightening and painful experiences. The work is not about forcing you to relive what happened. It is about helping your mind and body finally register that the event is in the past, so it loses its grip on your present.
My office is in Agoura Hills, about 10 minutes from Calabasas on the 101. I also offer secure video sessions across California, and for trauma work we can decide together which setting feels safer to begin.
What Trauma Can Look Like
Trauma can follow a single shocking event or build up over time through repeated stress, neglect, or harm. It might trace back to an accident, a sudden loss, violence, abuse, a serious injury, or a disaster. However it started, the effects tend to share a pattern.
- Intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks
- Trouble sleeping, or sleeping far more than usual
- Feeling on edge, easily startled, or unable to relax
- Irritability or anger that surprises you
- Avoiding people, places, or reminders tied to what happened
- Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
If several of these sound familiar, that is your nervous system still trying to protect you from a threat that has passed. Therapy can help it stand down.
Trauma Therapy for the Calabasas Community
Some trauma in this community is shared. The 2018 Woolsey Fire pushed into Calabasas and the surrounding hillsides, and for many residents the fear it set off did not simply pass when the smoke cleared. Evacuations, the loss of homes, and the dread that creeps back each fire season can leave a lasting imprint. I have worked with people who notice their bodies tighten the moment the wind picks up or the air turns hazy. That reaction makes sense, and it can ease with the right support.
Other trauma is private and carried alone. In a community where appearances are managed carefully, people often keep painful experiences hidden, sometimes for years, worried about who might find out. My office sits just outside Calabasas in Agoura Hills, which gives clients real separation from their everyday circles. For those who want even more privacy, virtual sessions let you do this work from home.
How I Approach Trauma Therapy
Pacing is everything in trauma work. We start by building a sense of safety and steady ground before going anywhere near the hardest material, and we never move faster than you can handle. I draw on trauma-focused CBT, somatic approaches that help release what the body is holding, mindfulness, and grounding skills you can use when something gets triggered. Some clients do individual work, and sometimes family sessions help when a trauma has affected the people around you. You can read more about my general approach on my trauma therapy page.
The goal is not to erase your history. It is to change your relationship to it, so the memories stop running your sleep, your relationships, and your sense of safety. With time, what felt unbearable becomes something you can hold without being consumed by it.
Who I Work With
Children (8+)
Teens
Adults
Seniors
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Therapy in Calabasas
Trauma therapy helps you process painful experiences at a pace you can handle, so they stop controlling your present. I use trauma-informed methods such as trauma-focused CBT, somatic work, and grounding, and we never move faster than feels safe. The aim is to take the charge out of the memories so they no longer hijack your sleep, your relationships, and your sense of safety. Sessions are held at my Agoura Hills office or by secure video.
Trauma can follow a single frightening event or build up over years. Common signs include intrusive memories or flashbacks, trouble sleeping, feeling on guard or easily startled, irritability, avoiding reminders, and difficulty trusting or feeling safe. You do not need to have the worst story in the room for it to count. If something you went through still shapes how you live, it is worth addressing.
Yes. The 2018 Woolsey Fire reached into Calabasas and the surrounding hillsides, and for some residents the fear it triggered did not simply fade. Evacuations, lost homes, and the dread that returns each fire season can all leave a lasting mark. Therapy can help you process that experience and reduce the way it takes over when the wind picks up or smoke appears.
Yes. I work with children ages 8 and up, teens, and adults, and I have years of experience helping young people recover from frightening or distressing events. With kids and teens I use age-appropriate, paced methods and bring parents in as part of the support.
My office in Agoura Hills is about 10 minutes from Calabasas on the 101. I also offer secure video sessions throughout California. For trauma work, we can decide together whether meeting in person or from the comfort of your own home feels safer to start.
In-Person and Virtual Trauma Therapy Near Calabasas
My office in Agoura Hills, CA 91301 is a short drive from Calabasas for in person trauma therapy. I also work with clients from the surrounding communities, including Hidden Hills, CA, Woodland Hills, CA, Agoura Hills, CA, Westlake Village, CA, Malibu, CA, and Oak Park, CA. Virtual therapy sessions are available to anyone located within the state of California.
If something you went through is still shaping your days, you do not have to carry it alone. Schedule a complimentary phone consultation and we can talk, at your pace, about how I can help.