Melissa Herrera, AMFT 161403

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Bilingual Trauma Therapist

Ventura, CA and Telehealth Sessions

(805) 258-4540

melissa@irimiyacounseling com

Supervised by Teresa R. Morales, LMFT 114980

I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) trauma therapist offering a deeply attuned, integrative approach to healing for teens, adults, and couples. My work is grounded in the understanding that trauma is held not only in the mind, but also in the body and nervous system, and that meaningful healing requires compassionate attention to the whole self.

My approach integrates bottom-up approaches, somatic therapy, and parts work, offering a delicate, mind-body framework for trauma resolution. Through this lens, I support clients in processing unresolved experiences, developing a more compassionate relationship with themselves and each other, and moving beyond survival-based patterns into greater regulation, connection, and authenticity.

I work with teens navigating identity, emotional overwhelm, and the impact of early or ongoing trauma, helping them build insight, regulation, and a stronger sense of self. With adults, I support the processing of both recent and long-standing trauma, including experiences of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and complex relational wounds, while also addressing anxiety, depression, and grief. I work with individuals experiencing fragmentation, depersonalization, or derealization—states where the mind disconnects to survive overwhelming pain. Using a "parts-work" and stabilization-first framework, I help clients bridge these gaps, fostering internal safety and working toward the integration of the self.

I help couples decode how trauma and attachment patterns shape their dynamics. By slowing down reactivity, we create space for deeper emotional connection and new patterns rooted in communication and mutual safety. I focus on helping partners understand the ways trauma and attachment patterns shape their relationship dynamics.

I bring a steady, grounded presence to my work, creating a space where clients feel both supported and gently guided toward meaningful, lasting change.