Therapist Michele Root, LCSW sits cross-legged on a grey couch in a bright room, smiling warmly. She has long, wavy brown hair and wears a camel-colored sweater and jeans.

THERAPY FOR TRAUMA, BASED IN CAMPBELL, CA

Let’s befriend your
nervous system

Hello, I’m Michele Root, LCSW, an EMDR trauma therapist for residents of California and Pennsylvania.

I specialize in sexual trauma, childhood trauma, intimate partner violence, and working with first responders and healthcare workers.

Reach out for a consultation

Just talking or thinking your way out of trauma can feel impossible

Trauma affects your brain differently than regular experiences, like it’s “stuck” in your body for months, years, and even decades later. 

Remembering your pain can feel like it’s happening all over again, with the same emotions, reactions, and physical sensations.

Trauma therapist Michele Root, LCSW is wearing a long dark dress and brown boots, and stands in a grassy field, facing right, with tall green pine trees in the background.

The pain can worm its way into your core, making you believe things like, “I’m too much,” or  “I’m worthless,” and wreaking havoc on your sleep, intimacy, and stress levels.

To get unstuck, you need an access point deeper than talking and thinking: your nervous system. 

Through somatic therapy and EMDR, I help your brain safely reprocess the painful memories so that those experiences finally move into your past, and you’re able to enjoy the present more. 

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Trauma takes many shapes and forms

From single incidents to ongoing or complex experiences, here’s what I specialize in:

  • Sexual Abuse

    Whether it was recent, or decades ago, I can help you process what happened.

    Sexual Abuse Therapy

  • Complex or Childhood Trauma

    I will give you language for complicated experiences and help you reprocess.

    Childhood Trauma Therapy

  • Intimate Partner Violence

    I help you recover from all types of abuse, including physical, financial, and emotional.

    Intimate Partner Violence

  • First Responders

    Witnessing severe injuries and tragedy can add up and take a toll over time.

    First Responder Therapy

What is EMDR Trauma Therapy?

Explore how I use EMDR to help you process the pain without having to talk about it in great detail if you don’t want to or feeling traumatized all over again.

Learn more about my EMDR Approach

Additional Support

  • Michele Root, LCSW sits at a desk using a laptop in a bright room with natural light coming through a nearby window.

    Coordination of Care

    I’m happy to reach out and connect with other healthcare providers that are part of your treatment team.

    This could include your psychiatrist, primary care provider, specialty care provider, dietitian, and more.

  • Michele Root, LCSW holds and operates an EMDR handheld device with a display screen and control buttons, viewed from above against a neutral background.

    Adjunct EMDR Sessions

    If you are working with another therapist who is not certified in EMDR, I can act as an adjunct therapist for EMDR-focused sessions.

    I will work together with your primary therapist to provide EMDR in addition to your regular therapy sessions.

Michele Root, LCSW has long brown hair, wears a teal knit sweater and jeans, stands outdoors with her arms crossed. The background is blurred with green foliage and sunlight.

About me

At my core, I’m still someone who runs toward a fire, not away, because I want to help.

I started my journey to becoming a therapist as a third-generation first-responder, where I came face to face with trauma and how it impacts mental health. My early roles in the mental health field were working in child abuse and victim advocacy. 

You could say that my career did not take the typical trajectory of undergrad, grad school, practice — it was built in the trenches.

But through these experiences, I find I have a unique perspective and understanding of what my clients have gone through.

Whether you’re facing PTSD, struggling with the aftermath of sexual assault or domestic violence, or unsure if your experience even “counts” as trauma, I’m here for you.

More about Michele Root, LCSW

With trauma healing, moving slowly is fast

We’ll build trust before diving into your trauma, and even then, we only explore what you’re ready to. You know yourself best and you’re always in control during sessions.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

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