Supporting the Sensitive and Empathic
Do you feel emotions more deeply and profoundly than others around you? Does that impact your life significantly? Empathy and high sensitivity are wonderful qualities and they can also be overwhelming. You've found the right place to help channel these qualities to work for you.
Some traits you may identify with...
Highly attuned to emotions
Feeling emotions—both positive and negative—more intensely than others.
People-pleasing
This can show up as prioritizing others' feelings over your own, fear of saying "no," or difficulty setting boundaries.
Sensitive to environment
Some people may experience overwhelm from noise, bright lights, sounds, images, or other sensory input.
Experiencing negative self-talk
People with high sensitivity may be less kind to themselves while at the same time have great empathy for others.
Emotional burnout
Holding feelings and space for others, as well as experiencing deep emotions, can be rewarding but also draining.
Avoidance
Avoiding situations, or responsibilities that trigger anxiety, discomfort, or distress.
Services
As a trauma-informed therapist, safety, validation, and trust are essential before any work can begin. I provide a balance of nonjudgmental listening and solid, practical tips to improve your relationships, self-esteem, anxiety, and overall quality of life. These also include tools to help balance and make sense of your emotions so you can work with them, rather than fear them. Some of the modalities I work with include:
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach that helps process trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress by using eye positions to access deep, unresolved memories. During a session, a therapist guides the client’s gaze to specific "brainspots" that correlate with stored trauma or emotions. This method engages the brain’s natural ability to heal, bypassing the rational mind to access deeper subconscious processing.
Parts Work
There are many aspects of yourself, each shaped by experiences in an often unaware world. These parts emerge to protect you, helping to manage difficult emotions. Understanding them is essential for living more authentically. "Parts Work" is a fundamental practice in healing from the deep-seated trauma we unknowingly carry.
Attachment
Attachment work reflects on the patterns in early relationships that may disrupt a person’s sense of safety and trust. This can lead to difficulties in forming secure connections, regulating emotions, and feeling worthy of love. Healing attachment trauma involves recognizing these patterns, developing self-compassion, and building safe, supportive relationships.
DBT & Mindfulness Skills
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills and mindfulness can improve emotional regulation, enhance relationships, and reduce stress. With techniques like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, DBT helps individuals manage emotions, build resilience, and lead a more balanced, fulfilling life.
About Me
Nice to meet you! My name is Nancy Roberts and I’m a licensed MFT specializing in trauma, highly sensitive persons (HSPs), and attachment/relational issues.
My journey to becoming a therapist started later in life. I spent nearly two decades working in healthcare communications, both for marketing agencies and in tech. Although the work was fulfilling, I often felt like I was wearing a mask to impersonate what a person in corporate life "should" act like.
Making the switch to working in mental health has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I'm honored when people choose me to walk alongside their journeys with them.
Training and Specialties
My style is integrative, based on a client’s needs and objectives; I weave in elements of DBT, mindfulness, somatic work, and attachment theories.
In addition to working with the HSP community, I also provide support to individuals with anxiety, self-esteem issues, emotion dysregulation, relationship challenges, perfectionism, people-pleasing, depression, and all forms of trauma. I consider my clients experts in their own lives and my role is to help them navigate their journey.
Through our work together, you'll find a find a warm, supportive presence to validate you and provide practical tools for your daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is therapy like?
I get it—opening up to a complete stranger can be scary! I'm here to make it less so, and for you to feel safe. Our first few sessions will involve getting to know each other and mutually deciding if it feels like a good fit. Our work will help explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a safe and confidential space. Sessions may include structured techniques, open-ended conversations, or practical exercises, depending on your needs.
Do I need to go weekly?
In the beginning at least, regular weekly sessions can help build trust and allow for meaningful progress over time. As you progress over time, we can evaluate the right cadence for you.
Do you see clients in person?
At the moment, I see clients only online, through a secure telehealth platform. Many clients appreciate the convenience of doing sessions from the comfort of their homes rather than dealing with parking, traffic, and taking time away from their busy lives to travel to an appointment.
What are your fees?
My fee is $175 per session and preferred forms of payment are Zelle, PayPal, and Venmo. I accept Kaiser NorCal, Aetna, and Optum in California and Aetna and Cigna in New Mexico. If I am out of network, your insurance may offer reimbursement for our sessions.
Do you see children or couples?
At the moment, I work with individuals only from the ages of 18 and up.
Contact Me
To begin, please complete our contact form with details about the assistance you need and your availability for a short phone consultation. If you have questions about fees or insurance, check out our FAQ page for more information.