Hanaa Daoudi, AMFT

The ability to be vulnerable in it and of itself is a courageous act worthy of being applauded. Trusting your therapist with such intricate moments sprout as clients feel heard and validated on their terms. Being educated in the art of therapy has taught me many important lessons. My background in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley has taught me the important contributions our surrounding environment plays in shaping the individuals we become. It also taught me to embrace that emotional wounds do not discriminate and do in fact fill the plotlines of every individual at one point or another. Furthering my education at Pepperdine University taught me to become an observant in the world around me- especially in the intricacies of trauma.

Residuals of frustration are a natural consequence to feel when our bodies are constantly hijacked by reminders of our unhealed wounds. In such moments, the ability to think clearly becomes jeopardized. The emotional brain takes over and encourages one to act on impulse. Our bodies go into a survival response of fight, flight, freeze or fawn. With time, our nervous system becomes on the constant lookout for any perceived threat- and our ability to function outside of our trauma becomes compromised. 

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It's not uncommon for clients to spiral down a path of self-blame and feel as if they themselves are the villains in their stories. Trauma can be scary and can filter the lens in which we define ourselves and the world around us. This can cause one to feel stripped of their agency. Therapy can empower clients to regain that sense of control. The goal is to understand and reframe the plotline of our past stories. . It starts with a simple spark that helps clients interconnect the ways trauma is integrated into the mind and body. The goal is to equip clients with the tools to become observers of the process as it unfolds. Every individual stems from unique circumstances that will sprout unique ways of coping.

Becoming aware of their triggers and the ways in which clients respond to those triggers ignites the initial pathway to recovery. As clients continue to challenge long held assumptions, clients become active agents in their own change. They see their expectations being challenged and learn to rewrite their trauma narrative into one that incorporates the truth of their resilience. It starts with the client; therapy is an aid that helps clients understand the truth behind their potential. It works to equip them with the tools needed to think objectively, Therapy takes work and can feel uncomfortable at times, but with self-dedication and collaboration-positive outcomes always remain possible.