Trauma Therapy in Malibu
Trauma Therapy in Malibu with Julie Klamon, LMFT
Malibu residents know what it means to live with threat. The Woolsey Fire in 2018 tore through the community and destroyed nearly 500 structures in the area. Entire neighborhoods were leveled. Families evacuated in the dark with minutes to spare. And while the physical rebuilding has happened, many people are still carrying what that experience did to them on the inside. Trauma therapy in Malibu addresses what is left over after the fires, the accidents, the losses, and the experiences that changed the way you see the world.
Over two decades of clinical work have brought me face to face with trauma in many forms. I spent more than a decade at a Los Angeles agency supporting children recovering from sexual trauma, and I hold certification as a counselor through the UCLA Rape Treatment Center. That depth of experience means I am not going to flinch at what you tell me. Whatever you have been through, we can work with it.
My office in Agoura Hills is about 25 minutes from Malibu via Las Virgenes Road and Malibu Canyon Road. I also offer virtual sessions for anyone in California.
Trauma Therapy for the Malibu Community
Wildfire is the trauma that most visibly connects the Malibu community, but it is far from the only one. Malibu residents also deal with the aftermath of car accidents on PCH, sudden and unexpected loss, domestic violence that stays hidden behind private gates, and childhood experiences that surface years or decades later. The small-town nature of Malibu can make it feel risky to seek help locally. People worry about being seen, about word getting around. My Agoura Hills office sits outside the Malibu social circle, which gives my clients from the area the privacy they need.
There is also a particular strain of trauma fatigue in Malibu that deserves attention. Rebuilding a home only to face another fire season. Watching neighbors leave and not come back. The sense that the ground you stand on is never quite stable. These cumulative stressors affect your nervous system even when no single event qualifies as a classic traumatic incident. Therapy can help you process what has accumulated and stop living in a constant state of alert.
My Approach to Trauma Therapy
Trauma changes the way your brain and body respond to the world. After an overwhelming experience, your nervous system can get stuck in a mode that constantly scans for danger. That shows up as hypervigilance, trouble sleeping, flashbacks, emotional numbness, irritability, and a feeling of being disconnected from the life you are living. My approach focuses on helping your nervous system come back to a baseline where you can think clearly, feel present, and stop reacting to threats that are no longer there. You can learn more about my general approach on my trauma therapy page.
We go at your pace. Trauma work is not about reliving the worst moments of your life. It is about reducing the power those moments have over you right now. Some clients need to talk through what happened in detail. Others need to work more on their physical responses and daily coping. I follow your lead and adjust as we go.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Therapy in Malibu
I work with people who have experienced a wide range of traumatic events, including wildfire displacement and loss, accidents, assault, childhood abuse, domestic violence, sudden loss of a loved one, and other overwhelming experiences. Trauma therapy in Malibu often involves addressing the specific impact of living in a fire-prone area and the ongoing stress that creates.
It is never too late. Trauma does not follow a timeline. Many people push through the immediate aftermath of a disaster and only realize later that they are still carrying the effects. Nightmares, hypervigilance during fire season, difficulty feeling safe in your own home, and emotional numbness are all signs that unresolved trauma is still active. Therapy can help even years after the original event.
Trauma therapy is specifically designed to address the way overwhelming experiences get stored in the brain and body. After a traumatic event, your nervous system can get stuck in a state of high alert, which affects everything from your sleep to your relationships. The work I do with trauma clients addresses those responses directly, rather than just talking about what happened. The goal is to reduce the grip the experience has on you so you can function and feel like yourself again.
Yes. I work with children ages 8 and up who have experienced trauma, including wildfire-related events. Children process trauma differently than adults, and their distress often shows up as behavioral changes, regression, clinginess, or difficulty at school. I use age-appropriate methods to help kids make sense of what happened and rebuild their sense of safety.
Yes. I offer virtual therapy sessions to anyone located in California. Many Malibu residents prefer virtual sessions, especially for trauma work, because it allows them to be in a familiar and comfortable space during what can be intense conversations. Virtual sessions are conducted through a secure, private platform.
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. I spent more than 10 years at a Los Angeles agency working with children recovering from sexual trauma, and I am a certified counselor through the UCLA Rape Treatment Center. This combination of specialized training and extensive direct experience gives me a strong foundation for helping people process and recover from all types of trauma.
Who I Work With
Children (8+)
Teens
Adults
Seniors
In-Person and Virtual Trauma Therapy Near Malibu
My office in Agoura Hills, CA 91301 is convenient for in-person trauma therapy near Malibu. I also see clients from the surrounding communities, including Agoura Hills, CA, Calabasas, CA, Westlake Village, CA, Topanga, CA, Woodland Hills, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA, and Oak Park, CA. Virtual therapy sessions are available to individuals located anywhere within the state of California.
You do not have to keep carrying this alone. Schedule a complimentary phone consultation and we can talk about what you are dealing with and what the next step might look like.
CONTACT
Offering Both Virtual And In-Person Sessions