Center for Psychological Integration
Autumn Backhaus, PhD Psychologist
Telehealth Services in California | In-person Services in San Diego
Connect | Grow | Bloom
Meaningful, change-making therapy starts with a Connection. A genuine relationship with your therapist facilitates your ability to make deep connections within yourself and beyond. As your therapist I will meet you where you are and join you as we move forward together. One of my primary tenants is to provide a supportive therapeutic space that is safe for vulnerability and exploration. Growth occurs when we can address some of the stuckness you feel, build on your strengths and start to get in touch with your core self. Through our work together, you will start to Bloom and flourish in the most important aspects of your life.
Meet Dr. Autumn
I strive to show up as my authentic self (emotion facing, attachment based, fallible, encouraging, tenacious, sometimes silly, and relationship centered). As a therapist my focus is on being genuinely present with you while we work through emotional experiential processing. Together we will develop an increased understanding of you with a focus on uncovering your joy and your passion. I believe in leaning into your innate wisdom, your truest hopes, and your deepest strengths to help you grow and bloom into the person you want to be in the world.
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I am committed to be an affirming, culturally responsive and humble therapist (and human) who provides a safe space for folx from diverse backgrounds and identities. I work to hold space for the unique needs and challenges of every client. I believe that therapist understanding of the complexities of those who have been traditionally marginalized, who have experienced discrimination, “othering”, minority stress, issues of community safety and social justice can be pivotal in the therapeutic relationship. If you are someone who identifies with diverse components of self (e.g. sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration, religion) I welcome you.
Therapy
Connection + Evidenced Based Practices
My services are particularly sought after for my expertise and passion for working with clients whose outward facing selves are high achieving but internally, they find themselves struggling with feelings such as anxiety, depression, emptiness, disconnection, shame, and doubt. I have 20+ years cultivating a specialization in health psychology and interpersonal trauma. I believe, because I see it every day, that trauma does not define us. It may influence us in ways that ebb and flow throughout our lifetime AND I firmly believe that we have the most power over our own joy and value driven life when we are open to exploring those influences within a trusting therapeutic relationship.
I might be a good therapeutic fit for you if you (are):
Going through a life transition
Going through peri/menopause (Midlife changes)
Struggling with stress
Seeking personal growth
Wanting to improve your relationships
Struggling with issues of family building (fertility/surrogacy/post-partum)
Wanting to (survive, lol) and (even) flourish as a parent
Have experienced trauma/complex trauma/attachment wounds/intergenerational trauma
Living with chronic medical conditions/cancer diagnosis
Have experienced stress/trauma related to societal marginalization
I have advanced certifications in the following Evidenced Based Therapies through the Veteran’s Administration/National Center for PTSD:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP)
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My therapeutic lens is primarily rooted/informed by Attachment Based Science, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP).
