top of page

connect to you, whole-heartedly.

hi. I'M PAULINA.

headshot.jpg

Areas of expertise

  • Trauma & PTSD 

  • First Responders

  • Life Transitions & Loss

  • Perinatal & Family

  • Religion & Spirituality

  • Identity & “isms” 

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of California and have been imbedded in the social justice arena for the last 15 years working within the non-profits sector, social & legal services, and hospital-based care. I am passionate about building safety, trust and restoration within relationship and systems, and often support you in connecting to generations past, present and future. I am trained as a trauma therapist and utilize these skills to target a reduction in symptoms while exploring root causes of emotional pain and psychological distress that often manifest in physical tension and illness. I do this by supporting you in regaining and reclaiming a sense of empowerment and control within the loss and harm to further connect to belonging and care. I am currently providing therapy to adults, teens and children ages 10+ in cultivating emotional wellness and healthy relationships. 

​

My clients have described me as open, attuned, and genuine; someone who can journey through the uncomfortable emotions while having a good laugh with you. 

 

​

​

​

what to expect

I take an integrative approach that includes evidence-based, somatic-focused therapy forms to support individual processing and healing. These include: Attachment-based Therapy, CPT, CBT, NET, Narrative Therapy, EMDR, Mindfulness, Body Movement, Play & Art Therapy. I value cultural humility and work to understand interpersonal, institutional, and/or internalized oppression.

​

I accompany you in processing emotional, psychological and physiological distress that interrupts connected relationships and a healthy, creative, productive life. I am committed to building a trusting, compassionate, and freeing space to understand your past experiences and empower your present, whole-hearted self. 

​

​

professional experience

​

  • Stanford Healthcare Palliative Care (current)

  • UCSF Trauma Recovery Center (2019-2024)

  • Calm Again Counseling Group Practice (2023 -2024)

  • J Bar J Youth Services (2017-2018)

​​

 

Education

​

  • Masters in Social Welfare (MSW), University of California Berkeley

  • Dual Bachelors in International Relations and Rhetoric Honors, University of California Berkeley

​​

Special TraininG

​

  • EMDR trained, EMDR Institute

  • Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Therapy, Natural Lifemanship

  • Narrative Therapy Certified

  • Internal Family Systems Trained

​​

Licensure

​

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), California #121227 

"You may not
control
all
the events
that happen to
you, 
but you
can
decide not to be
reduced
by them."

Maya Angelou

LET'S CONNECT.

OFFICE ADDRESS:

3470 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Suite A200
Lafayette, CA 94549

​

MAILING ADDRESS:

3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Suite B201
Lafayette, CA 94549

​

QUESTIONS?

CONNECT@SOMAWORKS.LIFE

​

“To heal is to touch with love that which we previously touched with fear.”

— Stephen Levine

bottom of page