Dissociative Disorders (DID) Therapists in Pasadena, CA

You can heal from TRAUMA. If you are living with traumatic events from your past, ranging from sexual abuse, incest, rape, humiliation, violence, and attachment wounds, therapy could be a safe space to address these injuries. Through a collaborative approach and taking into account the mind & body, we join our clients on a journey of exploration, growth, and healing. Our trauma specialists can assist you in reconnecting with yourself and your body, feel grounded, and helping you manage your life more smoothly.

Living with the detrimental impact of traumatic experiences can be a terribly painful journey. I have specialized over the past 25 years in helping people to overcome the pain that lingers in the form of depression, anxiety, troubled relationships, acute stress and post-traumatic stress. One thing I know is that there is hope for a vibrant future and healthy relationships in healing of trauma.

You are here for a reason. You may not have ever imagined yourself in therapy before, but you know something needs to change. You have parts of yourself you keep hidden from everyone—parts you don’t even like to look at yourself. Fear, anger, jealousy, insecurity—these are your shadow parts. You keep them in the dark, wishing they would go away. You try to be better, braver, kinder. Still, they follow you. It can be scary and overwhelming to step into the shadows of your self, but there is deep wisdom to be found in the darkness. The feelings you have been avoiding are trying to tell you something—will you listen?

Rui Dolen is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in the treatment of trauma, developmental trauma, and reactions to other stressful events in teens and adults. Rui is a certified somatic therapist combining Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment, as well as Attachment-Focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Rui's approach is holistic (mind-body-spirit), non-violent, mindfulness-based, and attachment-based, as well as based on Interpersonal Neurobiology which is also the foundation of Rui's parenting consultation and coaching practice.

Are anxiety and stress keeping you from living your life to your fullest potential? Are you feeling stress weighing on you internally or causing you to feel exhausted and hopeless? Together we will explore ways to grow, further develop self-acceptance and unearth traumatic experiences and daily stressors that are hindering you from achieving this potential. I will be available to provide an unbiased listening ear and warm spirit as you reimagine the life you want for yourself. In this safe and accepting environment, we will develop an action plan to better manage your unique symptoms and your life.

Are you a spiritual person wanting psychotherapy that addresses all of who you are? Are you looking for healing painful past issues that keep surfacing? Do you suffer from childhood traumas that have been difficult to heal? Do you want to have better relationships, more meaningful work? Do you want a deeper spiritual life? I would be honored to be of service! I love working with clients that want an integrated psychotherapy that deals with mind, body, and spirit. APPLYING LOVING TO THE PLACES INSIDE THAT HURT LEADS TO HEALING!

Trauma, anxiety, and addiction can make you feel stuck. The most important step towards healing is to address the unresolved emotion inside you. Healing requires feelings. Acceptance slowly dissolves pain. When we function from the fear and scarring of our trauma, the cycles continue until we learn how to transmute that energy into love. I apply a Holistic approach that integrates physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual forms of well-being, addressing the “whole” self. Through a holistic framework tailored to your unique needs, the goal is to support you develop a deeper understanding of the self on all these levels.

Are you concerned about a child or adolescent that is struggling? Are they shutting down and sad? Worried or mad? Are they having trouble functioning at school or with friends? How about at home and with their family? Has something in their life changed? Maybe they need a little more support at this particular time... Therapy can help. I work with individuals of all ages, couples, and families.

Are you struggling to process depression, anxiety, relationship/family issues, and trauma? These emotional ruptures can cause major disruptions in our lives. The work to process these types of life events is multifaceted, and I can help you identify your feelings and potential relational patterns, build tolerance and acceptance around challenging ones, and set meaningful goals. In order to do so, I utilize various therapeutic approaches consisting of ACT, CBT, and Problem Solving Therapy and somatic interventions.

In my private practice, I treat issues of anxiety and panic, past trauma, and sexual dysfunction. While our past can sometimes weigh down our present, my clients and I work together to address, process, and move through issues that might hold them back. Identifying emotions, connecting them to the body, and developing resources to endure the more difficult experiences of life is a primary focus of our collaborative work.

Imagine a ghost who is haunting a person when they are most vulnerable to take control of them. This is the way trauma shows up in our lives. It slowly reveals itself and every encounter is scarier than the previous. Furthermore, no one else can validate this experience because they cannot see the ghost at first, which leads the person to feeling alone, isolated, and vulnerable. I can come along side with you as you overcome this ghost. You can overcome your trauma in therapy with a safe and supportive environment to take on whatever it is that is haunting you.

Are you feeling stuck? Overwhelmed, ruminating, insecure, or stuck in self-loathing? Are you or your loved ones repeating behaviors, relationships, or situations, and wishing you could break the cycle? Maybe little things feel more stressful than usual. Sometimes, we aren't sure what causes our distress, but we can sense we're not reaching our potential for health, happiness, or success. Even when we know the cause, change can still feel impossible. That's where I come in. My job is not to judge you, it's to listen, help you understand the root causes of your difficulties, and teach you practical tools to help change your life.

Not feeling good about yourself? Maybe you're consumed by thoughts about food, exercise and body image. Or held captive by painful experiences from your past. Healing is possible. No matter who you are, or what happened to you - you deserve to feel safe and to have a life that is worth living.

My life is spinning out of control. I don’t know what to do with myself. How will I ever cope? Will this ever end? If you have ever experienced these thoughts or something similar, you are not alone. Whether finding a new job or settling down with a partner, sometimes life feels like a never-ending struggle. How you maneuver through life’s difficult circumstances can be emotionally and physically challenging. For example, moving to another country, city, or town (as I did when I migrated from London England to California) or the dramatic changes one experiences at the loss of a loved one.

I use compassionate, directive and practical approaches to treat PTSD and the symptoms associated with trauma. My life experiences have given me unique insight into the impact and treatment of trauma.

When we are exposed to trauma at an early age, it can seriously impact how we feel about ourselves and our relationships with others. Trauma can also profoundly affect whether we feel this is a safe world and can contribute to depression, anxiety, and relational/familial issues. My practice is from a strengths-based, trauma-informed perspective with a non-judgmental framework. I aim to understand clients’ internal responses and to provide more options for emotional regulation and problem-solving.