Affirming Trauma
Therapy in California
EMDR · Relational Somatic
Therapy · Intensives ·
EMDR Consultation
Relational · Somatic · IFS-Informed
Trauma-Focused
Virtual EMDR Therapy in California
Therapy that helps you feel more like yourself
I help adults in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California, especially queer, trans, and nonbinary people, heal from trauma and feel more connected to themselves and others with virtual EMDR and relational somatic therapy.
You may be showing up for all your obligations while feeling anxious, checked out, or exhausted underneath. Maybe you keep replaying conversations, struggle to trust yourself, have a hard time setting boundaries, or find yourself showing up with the people you love in ways you don’t feel good about. You may understand why this is happening, but actually changing it feels much harder.
Hi, I’m Erica Berman, LMFT (she/her). I’m a queer trauma therapist who believes meaningful healing happens when you feel genuinely understood and able to bring your full self into the room. I approach our work with curiosity and stay present with all of who you are.
What it’s like to work with me
Therapy can help you feel more grounded in your body, freer to choose how you respond, more inspired to pursue what matters to you, and more able to trust yourself. It may become easier to recognize what you need, set boundaries without losing connection, speak more directly, and respond to yourself and the people you love with greater care.
As these shifts take root, there can be more room for calm, creativity, rest, learning, humor, and play. You may have more energy for your relationships, your work, and the parts of life you have been wanting to return to or begin.
I offer therapy that is engaged, relational, and grounded in the present moment. We might talk, notice what is happening between us, laugh when something is unexpectedly funny, or slow down when a conversation needs more care.
I also welcome feedback. I don’t want something I say or do to feel off, confusing, or unhelpful, but if it does, my priority is to create enough safety that you can bring it up and feel heard by me. That process of repairing and coming back together is an important part of the therapy itself.
Trauma Therapy and EMDR Services
Therapy that makes room for all of you
You may be carrying the effects of trauma, struggling in relationships, questioning who you are, or feeling worn down by systems that have not made room for you. I offer specialized, affirming care for queer, trans, and non-binary people, while welcoming anyone who wants to feel more whole, connected, and at home in their life.
What I can help with
In their words
Highly Recommended
I have been close colleagues with Erica for almost 10 years in training and clinical settings. She is one of the first therapists I reach out to for clinical consultation. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a therapist who can hold and acknowledge your individual struggles while also holding the fact that your individual experiences are in the context of larger systemic ills.
Erica is deeply passionate about helping people heal deep seated developmental trauma demonstrated through her extensive training in somatic healing modalities. Furthermore, she is especially talented at supporting people with marginalized identities.
– Lawanda Jackson, LMFT
Five Stars All The Way!
She has a really soft, open, non-judgmental approach that makes it easy to share hard things. She has a lot of tools and tricks up her sleeve to help get you “unstuck”. I really loved the touch therapy when we were able to meet in person. We have even done some nature therapy sessions in the redwoods (pre-COVID).
But even now that we have to meet remotely via ZOOM – she’s helped me move through a really tough period. I don’t know how I would have made it through all the turns and uncertainty of 2020 without her. She’s great! 5 stars all the way!
– Anonymous
Eternally Grateful
Erica has unlocked a permission inside of me to access and want love. The arrival of this realization was facilitated by a great amount of dexterity and patience on Erica’s behalf.
I am sure of it and I am in awe of it. The tool and awareness of self love is immeasurable. It is the starting point for much of my own work and I am eternally grateful for the ways that Erica has helped me center on this truth.
-Anonymous
Meaningful Part of My Journey
Working with Erica as my individual EMDR consultant was a meaningful part of my journey toward certification. She consistently went above and beyond my expectations, offering thoughtful guidance, unexpected resources, and new directions to explore. What I appreciated most was that she never pretended to have all the answers. When she wasn’t sure about something, she drew from her wealth of knowledge and helped me find the right resources and people to explore it further. She also gave me tools and perspectives that have stayed with me well beyond our consultation.
–Maria Ross, LCSW
Professional Colleague
Erica has been a professional colleague of mine for over 10 years. I have utilized Erica’s expertise as a consultant and found her to have an extraordinary array of knowledge. Her proficiency in the arena of somatic therapy is truly impressive.
– Morty Diamond, LCSW
Go To Referral
Erica Berman is an amazing therapist. I have known her for over 5 years and have watched her expand her trauma knowledge and skill set. She is a go to referral for me if someone needs trauma informed care. Erica brings in her somatic experience to add to her other skills when healing trauma. She is kind and caring and is someone I can count on to work effectively with those with a variety of diverse backgrounds. Erica is never complacent in her work she continues to strive to further increase her skills. She is one of a few therapists I know that I would recommend to any loved one seeking support.
– Cathy Hanville, LCSW
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to identify as LGBTQIA+ to work with you?
No. I specialize in working with queer, trans, and non-binary clients, but you don’t need to identify as LGBTQIA+ to work with me. I welcome anyone seeking trauma healing and a therapeutic approach that understands the whole person within the context of their life.
How do I know if EMDR is right for me?
Undigested stressors and trauma can overwhelm our systems, making it hard to live fully in the present. If you find yourself ruminating, checking out, or getting triggered in your day-to-day life, EMDR is one way we can work with experiences from the past that continue to show up in the present. We can talk together about whether EMDR might be a good fit for you during your initial consultation.
What are EMDR intensives?
EMDR intensives are a short-term, focused approach that offers more time and space for trauma processing than traditional weekly therapy. Longer sessions allow us to work toward specific treatment goals in a concentrated period of time, with time built in for assessment, preparation, reprocessing and integration.
Do you offer online therapy?
Yes. I offer virtual therapy by secure video or phone to adults located in California. We’ll talk together about whether telehealth is an appropriate fit for your needs.
What are your fees?
Individual therapy sessions are $200 for 50 minutes.
EMDR intensives begin with a 90-minute assessment and preparation session for $360. Intensive sessions are $240 per hour and can be scheduled for up to five hours in one day, with a one-hour break.
EMDR consultation for clinicians is $150 for 60 minutes.
Do you take insurance?
I do not accept insurance and am considered an out-of-network provider. I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Because benefits vary by plan, I recommend contacting your insurance company directly about your out-of-network mental health benefits.
Are you accepting new clients?
I currently have one weekly opening for virtual therapy with an adult in California. I expect additional availability for EMDR intensives in December.
Do you use AI in your therapy practice?
I do not use AI to write clinical notes, record or transcribe sessions, generate treatment plans, or process sensitive client information. Your privacy and the confidentiality of our work are extremely important to me. That said, I welcome discussing AI use in our sessions from a non-pathologizing and curious place if that is something that you would like to bring in.
Can I work toward EMDR certification through consultation with you?
Yes. I am an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™, and all 20 consultation hours required for EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ certification can be completed with me. If you’re pursuing certification, I’ll track and document our consultation hours and support you through the consultation requirements. A recommendation for certification is based on my assessment of your EMDR practice and readiness for certification.