Chantal Austin

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, PMH-C

I’m really glad you’re here. You may find yourself replaying the past, questioning your safety, feeling like you have to be perfect, or carrying a quiet belief that “I should have known better.” Trauma does not just live in memory. It lives in the body. It can show up as anxiety, intrusive thoughts, emotional reactivity, numbness, or a constant sense of vigilance.

Specializing in perinatal trauma, postpartum anxiety, and EMDR therapy to support birth trauma

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Chantal is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing virtual therapy to clients statewide in California.

Meet Chantal

Hi, I’m Chantal a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I work with Black women, femmes, and non-binary people of color who are ready to heal from trauma and reclaim a sense of steadiness in their lives. Many of the people I support are navigating childhood trauma, sexual trauma, betrayal, medical trauma, or painful relationship patterns that continue to echo in the present.

My approach balances deep compassion with clear accountability. I will hold space for your pain, and I will also support you in shifting the beliefs and patterns that keep you stuck. Therapy with me is active and intentional. It is not just about talking through what happened. It is about helping your brain and body move through what happened.

Chantal Austin ACSW therapist offering perinatal mental health, anxiety, and postpartum support in California

My approach balances deep compassion with clear accountability. I will hold space for your pain, and I will also support you in shifting the beliefs and patterns that keep you stuck. Therapy with me is active and intentional. It is not just about talking through what happened. It is about helping your brain and body move through what happened.

I am trained in EMDR therapy, a structured, body-based trauma treatment that helps the brain reprocess painful experiences so they no longer feel overwhelming or all-consuming. I often describe trauma as an unhealed wound. If something is stuck inside that wound, it cannot fully close. EMDR helps remove what is stuck so healing can happen in a more complete way.

We move slowly and intentionally. Safety and resourcing come first. Your nervous system sets the pace. My role is to guide, support, and help you build the tools needed to feel grounded throughout the process.

Clients often describe the shift as neutralizing. The memory remains, but it loses its charge. What once felt activating begins to feel integrated. There is more steadiness, more perspective, and more choice.

Healing does not mean forgetting. It means zooming out. It means recognizing that while trauma is part of your story, it is not the most important thing about you. If you are ready to stop carrying it alone and begin moving toward steadiness, clarity, and self-trust, I would be honored to work with you.

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We Might Be a Good Fit If…

You are tired of feeling like the past is still running your present. You are ready to stop surviving and begin integrating your story in a way that feels grounded, empowered, and aligned with who you are becoming.
You notice patterns in your relationships that feel familiar but painful. You may find yourself overreacting, shutting down, people-pleasing, or striving for perfection just to feel safe.
Anxiety feels rooted in something deeper. You may experience intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, emotional reactivity, or a constant sense of “I’m not safe.”
You carry beliefs like “I should have known better,” “It was my fault,” or “I have to be perfect.” Even when you logically know they are not true, they still feel real in your body.
You want more than coping skills. You want to understand what happened and actually reprocess it, so it no longer feels overwhelming.
You are curious about EMDR therapy but want someone who will move at your pace, prioritize safety, and explain the process clearly.

EMDR treatment supporting anxiety relief and emotional healing

What is EMDR?

EMDR Explained

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured, body-based trauma therapy designed to help your brain process painful experiences that feel “stuck.”

Trauma is not just what happened to you. It is how your brain and nervous system store what happened. When experiences are overwhelming or occur without support, the brain does not always process them fully. Instead, they remain activated. That is why certain memories still feel intense, triggering, or emotionally charged years later.

EMDR helps your brain finish what was interrupted.

Through guided bilateral stimulation such as tapping or eye movements, we activate the brain’s natural healing process. Over time, the memory begins to feel less overwhelming. It does not disappear, but it loses its charge. Clients often describe it as a neutralizing effect. The event becomes something that happened, not something that is still happening.

What EMDR Is Not

EMDR is not traditional talk therapy. You do not have to retell every detail of your trauma. You are always in control of the pace.

Before any reprocessing begins, we build a strong foundation of safety and coping tools. This preparation phase is essential. Trauma healing that moves too quickly can feel unsafe. We move intentionally and collaboratively.

Your nervous system sets the pace.

EMDR therapy for trauma healing and emotional processing for Black women

What EMDR Can Help With

EMDR is especially effective for:

Childhood trauma
Sexual trauma
Medical trauma
Betrayal and relationship wounds
Intrusive thoughts
Perfectionism rooted in trauma
Persistent negative beliefs such as “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault”

How This Works

  
  How It Works – Asia Williams
  
Step 01
Schedule a Free Consultation
You'll start by scheduling a 15-minute consultation using my appointment link. This is a low-pressure conversation where you can ask questions, share what's bringing you to therapy, and get a feel for whether working together feels like a good fit. There is no expectation to have everything figured out. This time is simply about connection and clarity.
Step 02
Decide If We're Aligned
After the consultation, if it feels like a good fit for both of us, we'll move forward together. If not, Asia can help guide you toward other options that may better meet your needs. Feeling comfortable and supported matters.
Step 03
Your First Session (Intake Appointment)
Your first full session is called an intake. This is where we take time to understand you more fully. We'll talk about what's been happening in your life, what you're struggling with, what you've already tried, and what you're hoping therapy can support. We'll also review important background information at a pace that feels manageable, not overwhelming.
Step 04
Set Goals and a Rhythm That Works for You
Together, we'll identify goals that feel meaningful and realistic. We'll decide how often to meet, whether that's weekly or biweekly, and choose a consistent day and time that fits your schedule. Calendar invites will be set up so sessions feel easy to keep track of.
Step 05
Ongoing Therapy and Support
As therapy continues, sessions will focus on helping you better understand yourself, navigate stress and relationships, and build practical tools you can use outside of sessions. Goals can evolve over time, and we'll regularly check in to make sure therapy is supporting what you need most.

Investment and Payment Options

I believe therapy should feel accessible, not intimidating. Being clear about cost is part of creating safety and trust from the start.

I accept Quest Behavioral Health, Anthem Blue Cross CA, Blue Shield of CA, Carelon, Cigna, Aetna, and Anthem EAP. If you plan to use insurance, we will verify coverage before your first full session so there are no surprises.
For clients who prefer private pay, my rate is $150 per session.

My goal is to support you in a way that works for your life, not adds more stress. You are always welcome to ask questions about payment, insurance, or options during our consultation.

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