Minimalist staircase and neutral-toned walls in a calming space, symbolizing growth, reflection, and the journey of holistic therapy, featured on the South Bay therapy services page.

HOLISTIC, INTEGRATIVE CARE

South Bay Psychotherapy & EMDR

Healing for the mind and body through a psychotherapy lens that honors the whole person—blending EMDR, somatic practices, and relational therapy.

schedule consult

BASED IN REDONDO BEACH, CA

Therapy Services & EMDR Options

We provide holistic psychotherapy for clients in Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, and surrounding South Bay communities. Our care is steady, attentive, and paced to feel manageable.

We support adolescents, adults, couples, and families through an approach that blends traditional therapy with mind–body work. Services include:

Offerings at a Glance

⟶

We care for anxiety, trauma, stress, self-esteem, and relationship concerns with attention to the whole person—mind and body. Sessions weave EMDR, gentle somatic practices, and trauma-informed psychotherapy to create a steady, compassionate space where meaningful, lasting change can take root.

We especially welcome highly sensitive, deeply feeling folks, thoughtful over-thinkers, and EMDR clinicians seeking consultation. Many arrive after other approaches felt incomplete; together, we slow down, listen closely, and map a clearer path forward with care.

Because therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, we tailor the pace and format to your story and goals—offering practical tools, nervous-system care, and steady steps that foster balance, resilience, and durable growth.

Portrait of Catherine Alvarado, LMFT, owner and clinical supervisor of Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates, smiling against a white wall with a gold sunburst mirror and green plant, featured on the homepage to introduce the practice.

OWNER & CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

Catherine Alvarado, LMFT

Hi, I’m Catherine Alvarado, LMFT (#134744). I’m a Certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant-in-Training (CIT). I work with teens and adults moving through anxiety, trauma, self-esteem struggles, and life changes. My style is calm, collaborative, and whole-person. Sessions blend EMDR and gentle, body-based practices with practical tools so healing feels steady and doable.

Alongside my client work, I mentor associate therapists as they grow their confidence and voice. I’m also the co-founder of Eunoia Wellness Studio in Redondo Beach—a community space where care, connection, and mind–body support come together.

About Catherine Alvarado, LMFT
EMDRIA Certified Therapist credential badge.
Verified by Psychology Today therapist directory badge.
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) membership logo.
EMDR International Association logo, Creating Global Healing, Health & Hope.

common concerns

Therapy for Anxiety, Trauma, Stress & More

Abstract close-up of rippling water, used on the homepage alongside the “Areas Therapy Can Help With” section to symbolize the healing process for anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, relationship challenges, grief, and personal growth.

  • Anxiety and stress management

  • Depression and mood challenges

  • Relationship concerns and communication struggles

  • Life transitions and major changes

  • Grief, loss, and emotional healing

  • Self-esteem, boundaries, and confidence building

  • Trauma recovery and PTSD support

  • Work-related stress and burnout

  • Emotional regulation and healthy coping skills

  • Personal growth, self-awareness, and clarity

  • Standard EMDR Therapy

    Standard EMDR therapy is delivered in 45–50 minute sessions, giving space to process distressing experiences within the traditional therapy hour.

  • Intensive EMDR Therapy

    Two-hour EMDR intensive sessions offer additional space for structured reprocessing beyond the standard 50-minute format.

  • Adjunct EMDR Therapy

    Adjunct EMDR therapy offers the option of standard or intensive EMDR sessions, scheduled as needed alongside ongoing work with a primary therapist.

  • Somatic Therapy

    Focuses on how trauma and stress are held in the body, using awareness, movement, and grounding techniques to support nervous system regulation.

  • Attachment-Focused Therapy

    Explores early relationship dynamics and how they influence present-day patterns in trust, connection, and emotional safety.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    A skills-based approach that helps build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthier ways of relating to self and others.

  • Narrative Therapy

    A collaborative approach that helps separate people from their problems and rewrite the internal stories that shape identity, behavior, and self-worth.

  • Internal Family Systems & Parts Work

    A gentle method that explores and supports the inner “parts” of a person — including those carrying pain, fear, or protection — to restore balance and healing from within.

  • Play & Art Therapy

    Creative, nonverbal approaches that support emotional expression, healing, and self-awareness—especially helpful for children or those who find it hard to put feelings into words.

  • Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)

    An approach that combines mindfulness practices with cognitive strategies to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and increase present-moment awareness.

Meet Our Therapists in Redondo Beach, CA

We’re a team of practitioners who share a commitment to holistic, trauma-informed care. Each clinician brings distinct strengths—EMDR and somatic work, attachment-focused therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and practical tools—so care can be matched to each person’s needs and pace.

Across our team, practitioners support individuals, couples, and families throughout the South Bay. We collaborate closely, consult on complex cases, and offer both in-person sessions in Redondo Beach and secure online care across California—creating steady, human-centered support from the first meeting onward.

Portrait of Emily Feldt Shabel, AMFT 151325, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist supervised by Catherine Alvarado, LMFT 134744, smiling and seated indoors.

Emily Feldt Shabel, AMFT 151325
Supervised by: Catherine Alvarado, LMFT 134744

Portrait of Monika Arana, AMFT 140548, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist supervised by Catherine Alvarado, LMFT 134744, smiling and seated indoors.

Monika Arana, AMFT 140548
Supervised by: Catherine Alvarado, LMFT 134744

Meet Our Therapists

Resources to improve your mental health, increase your self-awareness, and invite growth.

Blog
Heart Attack or Anxiety? Understanding How Stress Lives in the Body
Heart Attack or Anxiety? Understanding How Stress Lives in the Body

A racing heart. Tight chest. Dizziness that sends you searching for answers. Many people end up in the ER convinced something is physically wrong—only to learn it was panic. Let’s explore how stress lives in the body as much as the mind, why symptoms can feel so real, and how healing begins when the nervous system finally feels safe again.

Read More →
What is Holistic Wellness & Why Does it Matter?
What is Holistic Wellness & Why Does it Matter?

Holistic wellness goes beyond quick fixes—it’s a way of caring for the whole self in mind, body, and spirit. At Eunoia Wellness Studio in Redondo Beach, this philosophy comes to life through psychotherapy, EMDR, bodywork, acupuncture, and sound healing. Today we will explore what holistic wellness means, why it matters today, and how integrative care can support lasting balance and well-being.

Read More →
Integrative Healing: Mind, Body, and Therapy in One Space
Integrative Healing: Mind, Body, and Therapy in One Space

Integrative healing recognizes that true change happens when both mind and body are included in the process. At Eunoia Wellness Studio in Redondo Beach, psychotherapy and somatic practices come together in one space, offering support that feels cohesive and whole. Today, we’ll explore why the mind–body connection matters, how talk therapy and body-based care can complement each other, and the unique benefits of having both under one roof.

Read More →
Schedule Consult