About Aiyana

About Aiyana

I have always known that I would one day become a therapist, and my experiences have only strengthened my commitment to this work.

I strive to offer the kind of thoughtful, individualized support that I once needed after enduring relational trauma and narcissistic abuse. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for the complexities of healing, the impact of interpersonal traumas, and the importance of feeling understood. Today, those parts of my story feel like they occurred in a past life. I believe in the healing potential of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), combined with attuned, relational care that honors each person’s needs. Healing from trauma requires disconfirming experiences and embodied practices that allow adverse experiences to transform into sources of resilience, or simply lose their emotional charge. We will tailor our work to honor your unique experience, culture, pace, and what helps you feel safe enough to heal.

Long before becoming a therapist, I felt compelled to create spaces where people could feel seen and connected. I founded Open Circle Art Consortium, a non-profit organization that partnered with hospice and retirement communities to bridge generations through the creation of art. That experience deepened my appreciation for the healing derived from creative expression, connection, and simply being present with others through the stages of life.

As a Crisis Advocate with Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (formerly the Rape Crisis Center), I provided immediate support to survivors during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. This work reinforced my belief that healing begins with compassionate presence, empowerment, and being truly believed.

I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and continue to deepen my clinical knowledge through ongoing training and consultation. My clinical work has included serving individuals experiencing severe mental illness, addiction, trauma, and housing instability within a crisis residential treatment program. These experiences have affirmed my commitment to support others wherever they are in their journey, honoring them with dignity, curiosity, and respect.

I pay close attention to the moments you begin to doubt yourself, silence a need, or brace for someone else’s response. Here, we connect those present-day patterns to the experiences that shaped them, using EMDR, attachment-focused therapy, and other approaches to help you respond with agency, rather than survival. It is a privilege to witness people reclaim themselves, form new ways of relating, and take up space, liberated from that which was never theirs to carry.

If you have any questions about my experience or approach, I would be happy to connect with you.