About Kim Salyer
Therapist in Pleasanton and Online Throughout California
Any therapist you contact will have an advanced degree in Counseling (or a related field), and I am no exception. What you might find more interesting, though, is that my first Master’s degree was actually in Communication, and I taught college Communication Studies classes for 15 years. I have always been interested in human relationships, the various ways (effective or not) that people express their needs, and helping people to understand and change their own patterns. While teaching allowed me to have a positive impact on many students, I found myself wanting to explore the dynamics of human relationships on an even deeper level. That’s when I earned my Master’s degree in Counseling and got licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
While I have been fortunate to have already helped many people through a wide range of psychological issues, my particular area of expertise is in trauma counseling. This stems from my own personal experiences with trauma and searching for therapy that worked. I finally found treatment that helped me, and also learned a lot along the way. Trauma can be very sneaky, affecting other areas of your life without you even realizing what’s happening, and does not always respond to talk therapy alone. I became trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which is a somatic based therapy that is well-supported by research in successful treatment of multiple issues including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). I have expanded my view of trauma to include relational trauma and attachment wounds.
Helping people with their ability to communicate better with their loved ones, was a natural transition for me, given my extensive training (and teaching experience) in Communication Studies. My thorough background in both Communication and Counseling, combined with my life-long passion for exploring human relationships and helping others, makes me ideally equipped to help you. Learn more about EMDR therapy in Pleasanton and online EMDR throughout California.