Clara Terrazas LCSW

Anger is a necessary emotion. It is natural and it is an instinctive response to a threat. I spend a considerable amount of time teaching people to normalize anger. Anger can become an issue when it happens too often, or when we start doing and saying things that hurt others. Excessive and chronic anger can affect your physical and mental health as well. Anger can be considered "a mask" for other underlying emotions.

Anger is a necessary and natural emotion. It is an instinctive response to a threat. I spend a considerable amount of time normalizing anger in sessions. Anger becomes a problem when you are unable to manage it and you say or do things that hurt others. Chronic and uncontrolled anger can also cause issues with your physical and mental health. Anger is considered a “mask” for other underlying emotions that you will identify in therapy.

Depression is considered a mood disorder that causes sadness and loss of interest in activities. Depression can be caused by changes in your environment, stressors or chemical changes in your body. Depression can also be considered a state of mind. Some common symptoms of depression include: lack of energy, loss of interest in activities, sadness, irritability, feelings or worthlessness, and sometimes thoughts of suicide.

Depression is considered a mood disorder that causes sadness and loss of interest in activities. Depression can be caused by changes in your environment, stressors or chemical changes in your body. Depression can also be considered a state of mind. Some common symptoms of depression include: lack of energy, loss of interest in activities, sadness, irritability, feelings or worthlessness, and sometimes thoughts of suicide.

PTSD is a disorder that can develop in some people after a traumatic event. Part of our nervous system’s job is to respond to danger and to prepare us for “fight or flight." It is normal to experience fear during dangerous events, and most people recover after the event. Some people may continue to experience intense emotions even after the traumatic event has passed and they are safe. I can do a proper evaluation of PTSD and help you with the symptoms that you may be experiencing.

Depression is considered a mood disorder that causes sadness and loss of interest in activities. Depression can be caused by changes in your environment, stressors or chemical changes in your body. Depression can also be considered a state of mind. Some common symptoms of depression include: lack of energy, loss of interest in activities, sadness, irritability, feelings or worthlessness, and sometimes thoughts of suicide.

PTSD is a disorder that can develop in some people after a traumatic event. Part of our nervous system’s job is to respond to danger and to prepare us for “fight or flight." It is normal to experience fear during dangerous events, and most people recover after the event. Some people may continue to experience intense emotions even after the traumatic event has passed and they are safe. I can do a proper evaluation of PTSD and help you with the symptoms that you may be experiencing.

DBT is a treatment approach for people that experience emotions very intensely. It is a good modality for individual who struggle with thoughts of suicide or have a history of self harm. It focuses on finding balance in your thoughts and behavior, instead of extremes. I am certified in DBT and have more than four years of experience using it in a group or individual setting.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a well studied modality that works with the memories of our traumatic experiences. It involves thinking about your past memories and using bilateral stimulation, such as moving your eyes in certain ways, or holding buzzers that will alternate from left to right. These will help you reprocess your memories and create new pathways in your brain to continue with its own natural healing process after a traumatic event.

I use mindfulness based therapy, which is a big part of the work that I do in DBT and EMDR. Mindfulness based therapy focuses on being in the here and now through awareness, meditation, and grounding exercises, such as using your senses. Being in the present moment is an important part in the recovery of depression and anxiety, which tends to happen when we are stuck in the past, or focused on the future.