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a moment of clarity

All things trauma healing …

One of my passions as a trauma therapist is educating others on how life experiences shape the nervous system, influence patterns of behavior, and impact our sense of self. In this blog, I share tools, concepts, and mind-body practices that support trauma recovery, emotional resilience, and deep, embodied healing.

Must reads

Blog
Trauma Therapy Happens in Phases—And Slower Really Is Faster
Trauma Therapy Happens in Phases—And Slower Really Is Faster

[6-min read] Learn how trauma therapy works using a 3-phase approach rooted in Somatic Experiencing (SE), IFS therapy, and EMDR. Discover why slower is faster when healing from trauma, and what real trauma-informed therapy looks like—whether you're seeking parts work, inner child healing, or a trauma therapist near you.

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What No One Tells You About Trauma
What No One Tells You About Trauma

[5-min read] Trauma isn’t what happened to you—it’s what happened inside of you as a result. If you’ve ever felt stuck, shut down, anxious, or chronically overwhelmed, your nervous system might be holding onto more than you realize. This blog unpacks what trauma really is, why it gets stored in the body, and how somatic therapy helps you heal it at the root.

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Why Talking About Trauma Won’t Heal It—And Here’s What Does.
Why Talking About Trauma Won’t Heal It—And Here’s What Does.

[6-min read] You can’t think your way out of trauma—because trauma doesn’t live in the mind, it lives in the body. If you’ve been talking about the same wounds in therapy for years without feeling real change, this blog explains why that is—and what actually works when it comes to healing trauma at the root.

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Trauma, Healing, and Becoming a Therapist: My Mental Health Story
From the Chair, Therapist Story, Trauma Recovery, California Mental Health, Somatic Therapy Clara Mackinlay From the Chair, Therapist Story, Trauma Recovery, California Mental Health, Somatic Therapy Clara Mackinlay

Trauma, Healing, and Becoming a Therapist: My Mental Health Story

[8-min read] I didn’t become a therapist because life was easy—I became one because I had to fight like hell to survive it. This is the story of how trauma cracked me open, how healing pieced me back together, and how I now help others do the same. Plus, some fun facts about me and lots of pictures—I think it’s only fair you know some things about me too!

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Why Are Private Practice Therapists So Against Taking Insurance?
From the Chair, Private Practice, Insurance & Therapy, California Mental Health, Trauma Recovery, Somatic Therapy Clara Mackinlay From the Chair, Private Practice, Insurance & Therapy, California Mental Health, Trauma Recovery, Somatic Therapy Clara Mackinlay

Why Are Private Practice Therapists So Against Taking Insurance?

[5-min read] Ever wonder why so many private practice therapists don’t take insurance? From low reimbursement rates and excessive paperwork to harmful limitations on your care, this post breaks down the real reasons therapists opt out—and how that choice actually protects your healing.

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in-person

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online

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hybrid

Somatic trauma Therapy that fits your needs & schedule