REDONDO BEACH THERAPY — IN-PERSON & ONLINE
Holistic EMDR & Integrative Psychotherapy
For Trauma, Anxiety & Mind‑Body Healing
Specialized EMDR and trauma-informed therapy for adults, teens, couples, and families — integrating anxiety treatment and mind‑body approaches. In‑person in Redondo Beach and online throughout California.
You’re in the right place.
Heal Trauma, Restore Balance, Reclaim Your Life.
THERAPY SERVICES
How We Help You Heal and Grow
Catherine Alvarado Therapy + EMDR provides holistic, integrative psychotherapy that blends evidence‑based EMDR therapy with somatic techniques, mind‑body approaches, and attachment‑centered care to create individualized, trauma‑informed treatment. Our clinicians conduct a thorough, compassionate assessment of how your thoughts, emotions, relationships, life experiences, and nervous system responses contribute to present-day challenges.
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Catherine Alvarado Therapy + EMDR provides individual therapy that is compassionate, evidence-based, and tailored to your unique needs. Whether you’re coping with anxiety, trauma, specific phobias, life transitions, relationship difficulties, or chronic stress, therapy offers a safe, confidential space to process your experiences, develop practical skills, and create lasting, meaningful change.
What can I expect from individual therapy?
Collaborative assessment: We begin with a thorough, empathetic intake to understand your history, current concerns, strengths, and goals.
Tailored treatment plan: Therapy is individualized using integrative modalities—EMDR for trauma and maladaptive memory networks, cognitive-behavioral strategies for anxiety and phobias, and mind-body techniques for stress regulation and somatic symptoms.
Skills and insight: You’ll learn practical tools for emotional regulation, grounding, distress tolerance, and adaptive thinking, alongside deeper processing to resolve core issues.
Flexible options: Sessions are available in-person in Redondo Beach and via secure telehealth throughout California to fit your needs and schedule.
Measurable progress: We use clear goals and ongoing review to track improvements and adjust treatment as needed.
Who benefits most from individual therapy?
Adults and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, or persistent stress who want personalized support.
People coping with specific phobias, panic attacks, or obsessive thoughts needing targeted interventions.
Those who have experienced past trauma or adverse life events and would benefit from evidence-based treatments like EMDR.
Individuals seeking help with relationship issues, communication patterns, or life transitions (divorce, career change, grief).
Clients wanting to develop healthier coping skills, emotional regulation, and stress-management strategies.
People interested in mind-body approaches to address the interplay of physical sensations and emotional distress.
Individuals aiming for self-exploration, personal growth, or greater insight into patterns that affect wellbeing.
Is holistic, integrative individual therapy effective at reducing anxiety, healing trauma, and improving well being?
Yes. Holistic, integrative individual therapy can be effective at reducing anxiety, healing trauma, and improving overall well-being.
How does holistic integrative therapy benefit individuals in one-on-one therapy?
Addresses multiple levels: Holistic, integrative approaches combine evidence-based psychotherapies (for example, EMDR, CBT, exposure therapy) with mind-body techniques (breathing, grounding, somatic awareness), relational work, and lifestyle factors. Treating cognitive, emotional, physiological, and behavioral aspects increases the chance of durable change.
Targets trauma and anxiety mechanisms: Modalities like EMDR and trauma-focused CBT directly process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge; somatic and polyvagal-informed interventions help regulate nervous system activation that underlies anxiety and hyperarousal.
Personalized and flexible: Integrative therapy adapts techniques to a client’s presentation, culture, preferences, and medical/psychiatric context, which improves engagement and outcomes.
Supports resilience and well-being: In addition to symptom reduction, holistic work often includes skills for emotion regulation, self-compassion, sleep, movement, and social connection—factors that promote sustained well-being.
Is this treatment supported by clinical research and evidence-based studies?
EMDR and trauma-focused CBT have strong research bases for treating PTSD and trauma symptoms.
Cognitive-behavioral interventions are well-supported for many anxiety disorders.
Growing evidence supports body-based and mindfulness interventions for anxiety reduction and improved emotion regulation.
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Catherine Alvarado Therapy + EMDR provides child & adolescent therapy, supporting children and teens with anxiety, intense emotions, transitions, self‑esteem, relationships, school stress, and more. Therapy is tailored to each young person’s age and needs in a safe, compassionate space.
How do you work with children in therapy?
We tailor therapy to each child’s age, developmental level, and needs, creating a safe, predictable, and engaging environment for healing.
Initial assessment and collaboration: We begin with a thorough intake that includes the child, caregivers, and any other relevant adults (teachers, pediatricians). We gather developmental history, presenting concerns, strengths, and family context to form a treatment plan together.
Developmentally appropriate, play-based approach: For younger children, we use play, art, story-telling, and therapeutic games to help them express feelings and practice coping skills in ways that make sense for them. Older children and teens may use talk therapy, creative approaches, and skill-building exercises.
Trauma-informed care and EMDR when appropriate: For children with traumatic experiences, we offer trauma-informed care and, when clinically indicated, EMDR adapted for kids. EMDR is delivered at a pace the child tolerates and often incorporates creative, child-friendly protocols to process distressing memories safely.
Skill building and mind-body techniques: We teach age-appropriate emotional regulation, grounding, breathing, and body-awareness skills. These tools help kids manage anxiety, panic, phobias, and stress both in and outside sessions.
Family involvement and coaching: Caregivers are involved in treatment planning, progress updates, and coaching on how to support the child between sessions. We provide parenting strategies, communication tools, and behavior management techniques as needed.
Coordination with school and other providers: With consent, we collaborate with schools, pediatricians, and other therapists to ensure consistent support across settings.
Flexibility and safety: Sessions are paced to the child’s tolerance, with safety planning and crisis supports in place when needed. Confidentiality is explained in a developmentally appropriate way.
Typical presenting issues we work with:
Anxiety, panic, and phobias
Trauma and adverse experiences
Separation issues
Behavioral challenges
Low self-esteem, depression, and mood difficulties
Medical or pain-related stress and coping
What parents/caregivers can expect?
A clear treatment plan and measurable goals
Practical tools and strategies to use at home
Regular updates on progress and opportunities for feedback
Referrals or higher-level care recommendations when indicated
→ Learn more about Child & Adolescent Therapy
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Couples and family therapy in Redondo Beach offers compassionate, evidence-based support for relationships experiencing conflict, communication breakdowns, life transitions, or the effects of trauma and anxiety. At Catherine Alvarado Therapy + EMDR, we provide integrative, mind‑body informed therapy tailored to the unique needs of couples and families in the South Bay.
Who benefits?
Couples seeking to repair trust, improve communication, or recover from infidelity.
Partners navigating major life changes: marriage, pregnancy, parenting, blended families, relocation.
Families coping with adolescent behavior challenges, blended-family dynamics, or intergenerational conflict.
Couples and family members affected by anxiety, trauma, phobias, or medical stressors.
Partners wanting to deepen emotional connection and sexual/intimacy concerns.
Our Approach and Modalities:
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) principles to identify and shift negative interaction patterns and strengthen secure bonding.
EMDR-informed interventions when past trauma or attachment wounds interfere with relationship functioning.
Integrative systemic therapy to explore family patterns, roles, and communication styles.
Mind‑body techniques to reduce dysregulation and improve co‑regulation between partners (breathwork, grounding, somatic awareness).
Skills-based work: communication tools, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and relapse-prevention plans for recurring issues.
What to expect in sessions:
A safe, neutral space to express concerns, feelings, and needs.
Assessment of relationship patterns, attachment styles, and individual histories that impact the partnership or family.
Collaborative treatment planning with clear goals, homework between sessions, and measurable progress markers.
Option for joint sessions, individual sessions, or a combination depending on your goals and comfort.
Location and logistics:
In-person therapy available in Redondo Beach; telehealth offered throughout California.
Flexible scheduling to accommodate couples, parents, and busy family routines.
Confidential, trauma‑sensitive care provided by a licensed therapist experienced in couples and family work, EMDR, and mind‑body approaches.
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If past experiences—trauma, PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, specific phobias, or other distressing memories—are still affecting your daily life, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) offers an evidence-based, effective route toward relief and integration. At Catherine Alvarado Therapy + EMDR, we provide compassionate, professional EMDR treatment tailored to the needs of Manhattan Beach residents seeking lasting change.
Who benefits from EMDR?
People with single-incident or complex trauma and PTSD symptoms
Those experiencing chronic anxiety, frequent panic attacks, or ongoing worry
Individuals with specific phobias (e.g., flying, driving, medical procedures)
Clients whose past experiences impact relationships, sleep, concentration, or mood
Anyone wanting a mind-body, integrative approach that honors nervous system regulation
What EMDR does differently?
Targets the way distressing memories are stored in the brain and body rather than only managing symptoms
Uses bilateral stimulation and structured protocols to reduce the intensity of traumatic memories and reprocess them adaptively
Often produces significant improvement in fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy for certain concerns
Integrates stabilization, resource-building, and nervous system regulation to support safety and resilience
What to expect in therapy?
Thorough intake and assessment to ensure EMDR is appropriate and safe for you
Stabilization and skills-building (grounding, breath, orienting techniques) as needed
Collaborative identification of target memories, triggers, and negative beliefs
Guided EMDR processing with bilateral stimulation, paced to your window of tolerance
Ongoing integration work to consolidate gains and apply changes to present-day life
Why choose Catherine Alvarado Therapy + EMDR?
Specialized training and consultation-level expertise in EMDR
Holistic, integrative approach that attends to mind and body
Experience treating trauma, PTSD, anxiety disorders, panic, and phobias
In-person care available near Manhattan Beach and secure telehealth across California
Emphasis on safety, paced treatment, and measurable progress
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Intensive EMDR offers extended session lengths for clients in Manhattan Beach who want more time to process a specific concern, memory, or treatment goal. These longer sessions allow deeper processing, reduce the need to pause mid‑protocol, and support fuller integration of insights and somatic shifts.
Why choose an extended EMDR session?
More focused processing: Time to complete a full EMDR set or protocol on a targeted memory, reducing interruptions and preserving continuity.
Treat complex material: Ideal for memories with rich sensory detail, strong physiological reactions, or interconnected themes.
Faster momentum: Longer bilateral stimulation blocks and more processing cycles can speed therapeutic progress.
Mind–body integration: Extra time for somatic resourcing, grounding, and mindful integration before and after core work.
Personalized pacing: Sessions are adjusted to your nervous system—stabilizing when needed, deeper when you’re ready.
What options are available for Intensive EMDR therapy?
90 minutes: Focused work on a single target with ample preparation and stabilization.
2 hours: Deeper processing, multiple targets, or extended integration (somatic tracking, cognitive restructuring, resource strengthening).
Who benefits most?
Clients with specific phobias or distinct traumatic memories.
People seeking targeted symptom relief (panic, flashbacks, chronic shame).
Those who prefer fewer, more intensive sessions.
Clients ready for deeper somatic and cognitive integration in a single visit.
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Adjunct EMDR for Manhattan Beach clients who want focused trauma processing while keeping their primary therapist
For Manhattan Beach clients receiving ongoing therapy who need targeted trauma processing, adjunct EMDR offers a focused, time-limited option that complements — not replaces — your current care. At Catherine Alvarado Therapy + EMDR we provide collaborative, respectful adjunct EMDR services designed to integrate smoothly with your existing therapeutic relationship.
What adjunct EMDR looks like?
Short-term, goal-focused: EMDR sessions addressing specific traumatic memories, phobias, or entrenched symptoms that have not responded fully to other approaches.
Coordination with your primary therapist as desired: we consult about treatment goals, progress, and safety planning while you retain your main therapist for broader work.
Flexible scheduling for clients in Manhattan Beach: in-person sessions at our Redondo Beach office or secure online EMDR for convenience and continuity.
Trauma-informed, mind-body integration: EMDR is paired with grounding, stabilization, and somatic strategies to support nervous system regulation before, during, and after reprocessing.
Who benefits?
Clients already in therapy who need concentrated trauma processing without changing therapists.
People with specific target memories, phobias, or visceral body-based trauma symptoms interfering with daily life.
Those seeking an evidence-based approach to reduce distress and increase adaptive beliefs while maintaining continuity of care.
Safety and collaboration:
We begin with a thorough intake and stabilization assessment to determine readiness for EMDR and to develop a clear, shared treatment plan.
With your permission we communicate with your primary therapist to align goals and ensure client safety, boundaries, and consistent support.
Crisis protocols and aftercare resources are established up front so you have support between sessions if needed.
How to get started with adjunct EMDR?
Bring information about your current treatment plan and any clinician contact details if you’d like us to consult.
→ Learn more about Adjunct EMDR
Adjunct EMDR provides targeted, efficient trauma processing while you maintain the therapeutic continuity that matters. If you’re in Manhattan Beach and want focused EMDR alongside ongoing therapy, we’ll work collaboratively to help you move forward with safety and respect.
WHAT WE OFFER
Therapy for Trauma, Anxiety, & Integrated Mind–Body Healing
✓ Anxiety, chronic stress, and overthinking
✓ Specific phobias, panic, and fear-based avoidance
✓ Complex or developmental trauma and PTSD
✓ Health-related anxiety, somatic symptoms, and medically unexplained distress
✓ Intrusive thoughts, rumination, and unwanted mental imagery
✓ Neurodiversity challenges (e.g., ADHD), trouble focusing, and sensory sensitivity
✓ Trauma- or stress-related sleep issues
✓ Performance anxiety, perfectionism, and harsh self-criticism
✓ Relationship wounds (e.g., attachment problems and codependent behaviors)
✓ Complicated grief and prolonged or difficult mourning
Hi, I’m Catherine Alvarado
My work honors the mind–body connection and fosters healing on both emotional and physical levels.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant based in Redondo Beach. I serve as Clinical Supervisor for our practice and am co‑owner of Eunoia Wellness Studio.
My approach is holistic and integrative: I combine EMDR with somatic therapies and attachment‑focused interventions to help clients process trauma, reduce anxiety and panic, overcome specific phobias, and resolve persistent patterns that keep the nervous system dysregulated. I prioritize safety, nervous‑system regulation, and individualized treatment plans that honor each person’s strengths, pace, and capacity for healing.
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Monika Arana
Registered Associate MFT 140548
EMDR Trained TherapistMonika provides individual, couples, family, and EMDR therapy with an attachment-focused, trauma-informed approach. She specializes in anxiety, identity concerns, and nervous-system regulation, integrating mind-body techniques to promote safety, resilience, and lasting change.
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Arielle Harris
Registered Associate MFT 161691
EMDR Trained Therapist
Arielle provides integrative therapy for adults, couples, and families, with specialized EMDR treatment. She supports clients navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, boundary-setting, burnout recovery, and attachment concerns, using a compassionate, evidence-based approach to promote lasting healing. -
Have Questions?
Therapy • What to Expect • Scheduling • Getting Started • Insurance
Our FAQs are an excellent first step if you have questions before reaching out to us or beginning therapy, offering clear, concise answers and practical guidance to help you feel informed, supported, and more confident and ready to take the next step.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
How We Work Together
We integrate body‑aware interventions (breathwork, grounding, interoceptive awareness), relational repair strategies, and cognitive‑emotional processing to address anxiety, trauma, phobias, and nervous system dysregulation. Treatment plans are tailored to the unique needs, strengths, and goals of the person in front of us—respecting cultural context, developmental history, and current life demands—so therapy feels safe, practical, and effective.
We offer both in‑person appointments in Redondo Beach and secure online sessions across California, supporting lasting symptom relief, improved emotional regulation, and deeper relational connection through a compassionate, integrative approach.
While each therapist brings individual strengths and specialties, our practice is grounded in holistic, trauma‑informed care that honors the mind–body connection. Healing happens not only through insight but by creating safety—so you can slow down, process deeply, and reconnect with yourself.
We offer:
EMDR Therapy — Targeted, evidence-based treatment to process trauma, reduce phobic responses, and transform distressing memories.
Integrative Psychotherapy — Compassionate, individualized care for anxiety, attachment injuries, and life transitions that blends cognitive, relational, and experiential approaches.
Somatic & Mindfulness-Based Techniques — Body-centered interventions and mindfulness practices to calm the nervous system and restore regulation.
Personalized Treatment Planning — Collaborative, paced care that emphasizes safety, clear goals, and measurable progress toward deeper healing.
GETTING STARTED
Taking the first step doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
If you’re unsure which therapist is the best fit, share a little about what you’re hoping to work on and we’ll help guide you toward the clinician whose experience and approach best align with your needs.
Our therapists offer individual, couples, family, and EMDR therapy, with both in-person therapy in Redondo Beach and online therapy throughout California.
To learn if we’re a good fit, reach out for a consultation. Healing that holds you — mind, body, and heart — is possible.
RESOURCES
Therapy Resources & Insights
Explore articles on EMDR, anxiety, trauma, nervous system regulation, and holistic approaches to mental health and healing.
