Online Trauma, Anxiety & EmDR Therapy in CaliforniaWhat kept you safe is keeping you stuck
Therapy that blends practical tools with deeper healing, so you can build a life that actually fits your values.
understanding the patterns doesn’t always change them…
You're self-aware, maybe you’ve even done the work. You can trace exactly where it started, and you're still the one apologizing first, saying yes when you mean no, replaying the conversation in your head long after everyone else has moved on.
Knowing why hasn't been enough to change it. That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it just means awareness is only part of the process.
Trust me, you’re not broken.
These patterns made sense—they're how you stayed safe when you needed to at the time. Anxiety isn't weakness; it's your mind and body doing their best to look out for you.
So we work with it, not against it. I take a two-part approach: we go to the roots, “why do I keep falling into this?” “how does my past shape the way I see myself today?” and we build real tools for the anxiety, the spirals, and the self-doubt showing up with deeper healing and practical skills.
Anxiety
Trauma & PTSD
Self-esteem
People-pleasing
Overthinking
Anxiety Trauma & PTSD Self-esteem People-pleasing Overthinking
Jacqueline Esquer, LCSW
I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to live with anxiety, overthinking, and the pressure to do everything "right." As someone with lifelong OCD and anxiety, I spent a lot of time trying to feel certain, safe, or in control. My own experiences, combined with extensive training in anxiety, trauma, and EMDR therapy, inspire the work I do today: helping people move from feeling stuck in old patterns toward living more in line with their values, and building real self-trust and resilience.
Our work is collaborative and paced in a way that feels right for you. I bring a compassion-focused, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive lens, which means we'll also make room for how the systems and stories around you have shaped the way you see yourself.
As a Latina therapist, I know our mental health is shaped not just by our individual experiences but by the families, cultures, and communities we come from. I make space to explore the weight of things like discrimination, the pressure to assimilate, and cross-generational dynamics with curiosity and compassion, never judgment.
1. Let's Connect
Book a free 15-min call to talk through what's going on and see if we're a fit.
2. Share Your Story
We'll get to know you, your story, and what's in the way of the life you want.
3. Find a Path Forward
We’ll collaborate to blend deeper healing work with practical tools.
next stepsWhat kept you safe got you here, let’s try something new.
Have a question?
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Book a free 15-minute phone consultation. We'll talk through what's on your mind and see if we're a good fit—no pressure either way.
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My out-of-pocket rate is $190 per session.
I'm currently in-network with Optum/UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and Aetna through Alma—reach out and I can answer questions about your benefits. I offer sliding-scale rates based on availability, and I provide superbills to all clients for out-of-network reimbursement. Insurance is confusing; I'm glad to help you sort it out.
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My practice is fully virtual, so you can meet from anywhere in California. No commute, no waiting room, just therapy from a space where you're already comfortable. If weekly sessions feel like a lot to commit to, doing them online often makes that rhythm far more doable.
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I am trained in EMDR and draw from modalities like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Rather than forcing you into one method, we'll work together to find the approaches that best support your goals, your nervous system, and the challenges you're facing.
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Read through the site, and if something here resonates, book a free phone consult to ask whatever you'd like: about my approach, what sessions are like, anything specific to you. It helps to treat the first few sessions as a trial run: you'll get a real feel for how comfortable you are. My approach won't fit everyone, and that's okay—what matters most is that you find the right fit. We can figure that out together.
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Think of it as a relaxed, structured first conversation—a chance for me to get to know you and what brought you in. I'll invite you to share about yourself, and we'll talk about what has and hasn't worked for you before. A few things I usually ask: What brings you to therapy now? Have you been before, and how was it? What would you like to get out of our work? And what would help me understand what you're facing?