About Julia Childs, LCSW
You don’t have to carry this all on your own.
I’m a therapist based in Pasadena, CA specializing in helping creative, highly sensitive, and empathic people heal from anxiety, depression, and trauma. I work with all kinds of people, but I’ve noticed LGBTQIA+ folks, people of color, and creative professionals of all ages tend to find their way to my office. Due to my background as a writer, I bring an awareness of the pressures, worries, and joys creatives experience. As a biracial Black woman, I am attuned to the ways identity, cultural norms, and generational trauma can impact daily life.
My practice style is holistic, relational, and somatic. I utilize EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) trauma therapy, parts work, emotionally-focused therapy (EFT), and depth-focused therapy to treat trauma, anxiety, and depression. I believe in the wisdom of the body, so I turn to somatic modalities when words fail to do us justice.
Originally from Ojai, California, I earned my BA in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, and my MSW with a focus on Critical Race Theory from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Over the years, I’ve implemented a therapeutic group specifically for Black domestic violence and sexual assault survivors at crisis center Peace Over Violence, developed creative writing therapy groups, and traveled to universities nationally and internationally to provide talks on generational trauma in the Black community.
In addition to my work as a psychotherapist, I write about mental wellness and mental health disparities and my work can be seen in Verywell Mind, Parents, and the American Journal of Public Health.
I’m here to help with…
Trauma
Depression
Anxiety
Artist & Creative Professional Issues
Relationship issues
Identity development
Self-esteem
Big life changes
My Training & Education
Licensed Clinical Social Worker #118828
Masters in Social Work with an emphasis on Critical Race Theory from California State University, Dominguez Hills
Bachelor of Art in English Literature from University of California, Los Angeles
EMDR Basic Training — EMDR Professional Training
Interweaving Somatic Approaches into EMDR Therapy with Simple and Complex Trauma — EMDR Professional Training
Working with Dissociative Identity Disorders — Pasadena Trauma Therapy
EMDR Certified (in progress, expected spring 2024) — EMDRIA
Emotionally-Focused Therapy Level 1 — International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
What to expect
I will help you understand who you are, what you believe, and how you want to connect with others.
In taking a holistic approach to this work, I am attuned to how trauma can manifest. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are often related to past trauma. Furthermore, those who’ve experienced trauma are usually exhausted by the ways trauma is harming their identity, relationships, and daily life.
In sessions with me, we will put together a roadmap. This will typically include weekly sessions, depth-focused talk therapy, a plan to work towards EMDR therapy, and even holistic lifestyle suggestions (think along the lines of breathwork, meditation, and acupuncturist referrals). Our work together will be in-depth, effective, and collaborative.
Therapy with me is…
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You’re a unique individual and deserve unique individualized care. I come to our work with a robust toolbox to create a treatment plan that is just for you.
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It is my promise to you that I will always tell you the truth. However, truth telling doesn’t mean I am harsh or critical. It means I am honest while holding deep compassion for your experience.
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We can’t find our light without exploring our shadow. In the therapy room, I embrace all of your shadow and hold the therapeutic relationship as a safe, nonjudgmental place. Come as you are and learn how to embrace the true you.
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I specialize in therapy for lasting change. This means our work together will be deep, looking at your past, the nuance of your present, and all the spaces in-between. Depth therapy and EMDR helps us access the subconscious mind and help you truly heal.
