PART OF THE COLLECTIVE AT A PLACE TO BE THERAPY

Ledette Gambini, LMFT, RPT

PLAY THERAPY

PSYCHOTHERAPY

EMDR

Ledette Gambini Profile

I’m here to help you heal from early life trauma.

Unresolved traumatic experiences get stuck in our bodies, as feelings, sensations, negative ideas about ourselves. Fears, anxiety, depression. We are easily triggered, and if the trauma happened in the first few years of our life, we may not even know why we are so reactive in certain situations. If the trauma was prolonged, we develop coping strategies for survival, that once that trauma is over probably are no longer needed, but the strategies remain. We develop parts of self that hold the trauma. It’s exhausting. And I can help you heal.

I have over ten years experience working with children, adolescents and adults. As an adoptive mom, I have focused my work on adoption, foster care and trauma. I earned an M.A. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Child Studies from Antioch University. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Play Therapist and trained in EMDR.

I was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. I am fluent in Spanish and can support you and your family in English or Spanish.

I weave together Child Centered Play Therapy, EMDR and Sandtray in my sessions with children and teens to identify and process early traumatic experiences. My work is done in a playful, age appropriate and child lead way and involves parents to ensure the child is supported both in therapy and at home. Even the scariest of experiences can be processed by children and adolescents to lessen the effects of trauma as they grow. Issues I typically work with include:

Adoption/family separation/foster care related trauma

Birth and early developmental trauma

Medical trauma

Abuse and neglect

Emotional/Behavioral Dysregulation

I works collaboratively with adults to help identify and process life experiences and heal the trauma that may be resulting in physical, mental or emotional distress. Issues I typically work with include:

Complex Trauma/PTSD

Grief and Loss

Adoption/foster care related trauma

I understand that parenting children who have experienced trauma requires a different approach in order to build safe attachments and felt safety for the child. I support parents by providing trauma informed parenting psycho education and parenting strategies.

MY APPROACH TO THERAPY

Dissociation

Fears and phobias

Grief and loss

Suicidal ideation

Dissociation

Attachment Trauma

Suicidal ideation

MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Safety & Connection

We all need to feel safe in order to truly connect. I strive to hold a safe, non-judgmental and supportive space for you to connect and heal.

LGBTQIA+ & Neurodiversity Affirming

You are welcome, seen and heard exactly as you are.

All Parts are Welcome.

All of your parts and all of your stories, no matter how “bad” or scary they may seem, deserve to be seen and listened to and are always welcome in therapy.

Agency Over Your Journey.

You (adult and children) have agency over the timing and depth of your healing process. I am here to support you.

TRAINING & EDUCATION

I’m committed to ongoing education & training to best support you.

  • M.A. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Child Studies from Antioch University

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist CA 118716

  • Registered Play Therapist

  • Registered Raising Kids With Big Baffling Behaviors Course Facilitator

  • Adoption Competency Mental Health Training from CASE Institute

  • Certified in Child Centered Play Therapy with a Neurorelational Emphasis

  • EMDR Trained with Annie Monaco, LCSWR, RPT-S and Ann Beckley-Forest, LCSW-R, RPT-S

  • EMDR Child Specialist with Ana Gomez, MC, LPC

  • Fundamentals of EMDR with Children in a Play Therapy Setting Annie Monaco, LCSWR, RPT-S and Ann Beckley-Forest, LCSW-R, RPT-S

  • Certified EMDR Sandtray Level 1 Practitioner with Ana Gomez, MC, LPC

  • Treating Attachment Wounds and Dissociation in Children and Teens: An Advanced EMDR and Play Therapy Integrative Approach with Annie Monaco

  • EMDR Interventions for Recent Trauma Recovery with Dr. Laurel Parnell: Proven Techniques for the Immediate Aftermath of Traumatic Events

  • Attachment Focused EMDR Workshop and Practicum - 22 hours with Dr. Laurel Parnell

  • Recognizing and Treating Youth with Dissociation with Annie Monaco

  • Using the Sandtray Processes in Play Therapy: Developing Advanced Sandtray Skills

  • Accessing Preverbal Trauma Using EMDR: Standard Protocol and Beyond

  • Theraplay Levels 1 - 6

  • Registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator