Trauma Therapy in Southern California

I provide ACT-led online trauma therapy for adults throughout Southern California. Limited in-person sessions are available in Folsom by appointment.

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At a Glance: Trauma Therapy in Southern California

I am Dr. Sheila Vidal, offering care across Southern California.

Quick Facts

Modality: Telehealth, with limited in-person sessions in Folsom by appointment
Approach: ACT at the core, integrating CBT, CPT, and mindful grounding; exposure (PE) offered collaboratively when timing is right
Fees: $300 per 50-minute session, self-pay, superbills available
Licensure: California PSY36022 (also licensed in Virginia 0810007130)

Who I Support in Southern California

  • Adults in public-facing or creative roles (media, entertainment, hospitality) under performance pressure

  • First responders, healthcare teams, and helping professionals exposed to critical incidents

  • Individuals recovering from disasters (fires, earthquakes) and ongoing uncertainty

  • Adults balancing shift work, caregiving, or sleep-disrupted schedules across the region

  • Individuals managing PTSD, C-PTSD, or attachment-based anxiety

  • LGBTQ+ and marginalized communities seeking affirming, trauma-informed therapy

How I Work (ACT-Led, Evidence-Based)

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

ACT is the core of my approach. It helps you build psychological flexibility so you can live with greater purpose and balance, aligning daily choices with your values while learning skills to ease anxiety, emotional avoidance, and burnout.

Additional Evidence-Based Approaches

I integrate CBT to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and strengthen coping skills, CPT for processing painful trauma-related beliefs about safety, control, or trust, and mindfulness and grounding practices to lower hypervigilance and build steady presence. If PTSD or trauma from military service, first response, or a critical incident is part of your history, my PTSD therapy page has more detail. Exposure work (PE) is introduced gently and always with consent, when useful for rebuilding confidence and freedom in daily life.

Hands carefully balancing desert stones, symbolizing healing and resilience for Southern California trauma therapy.

  • Los Angeles County:

    Serving adults across Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Glendale, Burbank, and nearby metro communities.

  • Orange County:

    Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, and surrounding coastal cities.

  • Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties:

    Santa Barbara, Goleta, Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, and neighboring coastal communities.

  • San Diego County:

    San Diego, La Jolla, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Chula Vista, Escondido, and nearby coastal or inland areas.

  • Inland Empire:

    Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, and surrounding SoCal communities.

Cities & Regions I Serve (Southern California)

I provide telehealth trauma therapy statewide in California, meeting with clients from every region of Southern California, including:

Find the Right Support for Your Situation

If you are managing a specific condition, these pages go deeper into how I approach it:

If you are still exploring what online trauma therapy involves before deciding on a next step, my guide on PTSD and trauma therapy in California is a good place to start.

What to Expect in Therapy

First Session

Our first meeting centers on creating a sense of safety, trust, and direction. We'll review your history at your pace, clarify what you most want from therapy, and begin with practical tools you can use right away for managing stress, anxiety, or relationship strain.

Confidential, Flexible Telehealth Access

I use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform, so your sessions remain private and easy to access from anywhere in Southern California. My practice is self-pay and insurance-free, which supports your privacy, with superbills available for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

Frequency and Duration

Some clients prefer weekly therapy to maintain progress, while others meet every other week to balance care with career and family. I offer both short-term, skills-based therapy and longer-term trauma recovery, depending on your needs and readiness.

Woman in a cozy home office setting attending an online therapy session, representing Southern California telehealth counseling.

Ready to Begin?

Schedule your free 15-minute consultation to see whether we’re a good fit and to talk about next steps for trauma recovery in Southern California.

Schedule Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. I see clients online throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and the Inland Empire, from urban neighborhoods to coastal and desert communities.

  • My care is ACT-led, with CBT, CPT, PE, and mindfulness woven in. These approaches are widely used for stress tied to fast-paced culture, commuting, and high-pressure industries.

  • Yes. I support adults across the region managing PTSD, complex trauma, and relationship strain following difficult experiences.

  • I provide self-pay, insurance-free sessions that support privacy for professionals in entertainment, law, and government who may face stigma if their mental health is disclosed.

  • Not at all. We focus first on coping strategies, regulation skills, and values-based action so you can stabilize before deciding whether deeper trauma processing is right for you.

Have more questions? Visit my frequently asked questions about online trauma therapy page.