A display of books, a potted plant, and a framed sign on a wooden shelf near a window with sunlight.
Illustration of a tree with a pink trunk and a diverse group of people planting and caring for it. The individuals are on ladders and platforms, holding flowers, watering cans, a large light bulb, and a heart, symbolizing ideas, love, and growth.

ways to get started…

books, videos, and additional community resources

The image displays the words "TED TALKS" on a black background, with "TED" in red and "TALKS" in white.
A wooden shelf by a window with books, a potted plant, and small decorative items including a sculpture and a plush toy.
Line drawing of seven poppy flowers with thin stems on a light background.

book recommendations to get started

below you’ll find a variety of book recommendations… sometimes we need to hear a message through a non-direct source and books can be just that!

Book cover titled 'The Deepest Well' by Nadine Burke Harris, M.D., with subtitle 'Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity'.

learn to understand how childhood adversity impacts lifelong mental and physical health

Book cover for 'The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture' by Gabor Maté, MD, with Daniel Maté, featuring an abstract illustration of a human head in warm colors.

trauma throughout the lifetime and understanding how culture plays a role

Book cover titled "Reclaiming Body Trust: A Path to Healing & Liberation" by Hilary Kinavey and Dana Sturtevant, with a colorful abstract illustration of a person sitting with arms crossed surrounded by various plant-like patterns.

creating a path to body neutrality and connecting back with our body

Cover of the book titled 'No Bad Parts' by Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, about healing trauma and restoring wholeness using the Internal Family Systems Model, featuring abstract artwork with colorful shapes and lines.

understanding how each of us hold different “parts” within us that keep us safe

Book cover titled 'Codependent No More' by Melody Beattie, with a subtitle on controlling others. It indicates over 7 million copies sold and mentions it's revised and updated, with a note that it is a New York Times No. 1 bestseller.

understanding codependency and working at setting boundaries/ expectations

Book cover titled 'To Have and To Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, & The Modern Dilemma' by Molly Millwood, Ph.D., featuring overlapping watercolor circles in blue, pink, and yellow.

understanding the transition to and expectations of motherhood/parenthood

Book cover titled "Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents" by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD, featuring a silhouette of a woman, two children, and a man holding hands, standing on a wooden surface.

how our parents parenting impacted us and identifying immature family behaviors

Book cover of 'Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples' by Harville Hendrix, PhD, and Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD, with a red and white color scheme.

how attachment with our parents sets the stage for our connection (or disconnection) with our partners

Book cover of 'Daring Greatly' by Brené Brown, featuring large, colorful, textured text of the title on a gray background and a subtitle describing the book's focus on vulnerability and courage, along with a quote from Seth Godin.

identifying what stops us from accessing the courage to be vulnerable

Line drawing of multiple poppy flowers with thin stems and open petals on light background.

community resources

Please note, I’m not affiliated with any of these services but want to provide access to community mental health resources. Most of these resources provide both in-person and virtual therapy in English and Spanish.

Turning Point Center for Families

(714) 547-8111

Frances Smith Center Chapman University

(714) 997-6746

Casa De La Familia

(213) 413-7777

OC LGBTQ Center

(714) 953-5428

Long Beach Trauma Center

(562) 985-1366

Living Success Center

(949) 645-4723

Lestonnac Clinic

(714) 633-4600

California Youth Services

(949) 303-9016

Shanti Orange County

(949) 452-0888

Hope Counseling Center in Fullerton

May have EMDR

(714) 879-3901 ext 1266

Line drawing of seven flowers with delicate stems and petals, on a pale background.

supplemental videos

childhood trauma and health

the power of vulnerability

the science of addiction

connecting with your kids

what is EMDR?