A Different Approach to Trauma Therapy
About Mary Fleisch, LCSW
I help adults heal from childhood trauma, anxiety, relationship wounds, and loss using EMDR, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and longer, immersive therapy designed to create meaningful, lasting change.
So... why trauma therapy?
Ah yes... the infamous question. I became a trauma therapist because I know firsthand that childhood has a funny way of following us into adulthood, even when we'd really rather it didn't...
That sent me down quite the rabbit hole. I wanted to understand why some people seem to move forward while others, despite years of therapy, insight, and genuinely trying, still feel stuck. (Spoiler: it's not because they're broken.)
I've spent my career studying trauma and how people heal because I've seen that lasting change is possible when we stop asking, "What's wrong with you?" and start asking, "What happened to you?"
This work isn’t about quick fixes.
It’s about using the right tools, at the right depth, with someone who knows how to guide you through it.
My Approach to Healing
Therapy works best when it feels safe, collaborative, and gives us enough time to actually get to the root of things.
After over a decade of facilitating traditional 50-minute sessions (and doing my own therapy work), I kept noticing the same thing: we’d just start getting somewhere meaningful… and then time was up. Week after week, we were stopping right when the real work began.
So I built my practice differently.
I use evidence-based approaches like EMDR, IFS, and somatic tools to help your nervous system process trauma, but in longer, focused sessions that allow you to stay with the work instead of constantly packing it away.
For many clients, that means EMDR and ketamine-assisted therapy intensives in my Oakland office: intentional, immersive blocks of time designed for deeper shifts in days, not months of starts and stops.
Through our work together, you’ll learn to:
feel calmer and more present in your relationships
regulate overwhelming emotions without being controlled by them
make sense of past patterns that hold you back
strengthen your ability to cope with stress and uncertainty
create meaningful shifts that last beyond weekly sessions
In addition to working with clients…
In addition to my work with clients, I’m also the founder of Wildhaven Therapy, a small trauma-focused group practice here in Oakland.
I mentor and support associate therapists as they learn EMDR, Ketamine Assisted Therapy, and other trauma-informed approaches. It’s something I love doing. Teaching keeps me curious, thoughtful, and always growing in my own work, too.
Outside of the therapy room, I’m a parent, partner, and dog mom who values a life that feels grounded and connected. You’ll usually find me reading, meditating, spending time in nature, or enjoying playful moments with my family and friends.
You’ll notice real changes, feeling steadier in your relationships, more confident in your boundaries, and better able to move through hard emotions without getting overwhelmed. We’ll build the skills and support to make that possible.
How Therapy With Me Works
1: Intro Call or Video
We start with a free 20-minute phone or video call to talk through what’s bringing you here and whether an EMDR or ketamine-assisted intensive is the right fit. This helps us clarify your goals and make sure the format feels supportive for you.
2. Preparation
Before your intensive, we meet for a preparation session to build safety, understand your history, and map out what you want to focus on.
This step helps you feel grounded and ready — not rushed into deep work.
3. Your Intensive
This is where the real shift happens.
Instead of 50-minute sessions spread out over months, we work together in focused half-day or multi-day blocks. Staying immersed allows your nervous system to fully process experiences without constantly stopping and restarting.
Depending on your needs, we may integrate EMDR, parts work (IFS-informed), somatic tools, or ketamine-assisted psychotherapy to support deeper processing.
This type of work looks and feels different than just venting. We will be working to clear those stuck points.
4. Aftercare & Ongoing Support (Optional)
After your intensive, many clients feel complete with the work we’ve done. Some choose a follow-up session or return later for another focused intensive as life unfolds, and some continue to work on their trauma history on an ongoing basis with intermittent intensives.
For clients doing ketamine-assisted therapy, integration sessions are built in to help process and anchor the experience.
You get to choose what feels supportive, whether that’s one focused intensive or occasional follow-up sessions.
Let’s work together to process what’s still weighing on you, so you can feel more present, steady, and fully yourself in your life.
Issues Mary Works With
Complex Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and Stress
Harm reduction for Addictive Behaviors
Couples therapy/ Relationship therapy
Estrangement and Strained Family Relationships
Religious or Spiritual Trauma
Narcissistic Abuse
Physical & Emotional Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Emotional Neglect
Traumatic Events
Relationship Issues
Perfectionism
People-Pleasing
Self-esteem Issues
Childhood loss of a parent, caregiver, or sibling
Training Highlights
EMDR Certified Therapist
EMDRIA Approved Consultant
Flash Technique trained therapist
EMDR 2.0
Internal Family Systems Level 1
Advanced course integrating Internal Family Systems, Structural Dissociation, and Somatic Therapy with EMDR
IFSCA Stepping Stones Comprehensive 16-week IFS course
Fluence Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy
Ketamine and EMDR 5-day training
Internal Family Systems for Couples, 2-day training
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples, externship, and Core Skills (levels 1 & 2)
Gottman for Couples Level 1 trained therapist
Ongoing consultation in IFS/ EMDR and EFT for couples
Licensure & Education
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, #94264
Master of Arts, Social Work, San Jose State University
Bachelor of Arts, International Development Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
Professional Affiliations
Frequently Asked Questions
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While I do offer ongoing therapy, most of my work is focused on EMDR and ketamine-assisted therapy intensives. I’ve found that longer, more focused sessions often create deeper and more lasting change than traditional weekly therapy.
I always leave a bit of space in my schedule for returning weekly clients, but I am not currently accepting new weekly therapy clients.
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Clients often describe me as steady, warm, deeply attuned, and direct. My style is collaborative and grounded, we go deep, but at a pace that feels safe and intentional. You won’t be pushed, judged, or “fixed.” We work together.
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I primarily work with adults healing from childhood trauma, complicated family dynamics, anxiety, and patterns that feel hard to break, especially people who feel high-functioning on the outside but overwhelmed underneath.
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Yes. I offer in-person EMDR and trauma therapy intensives in my Oakland office, serving clients from across the East Bay and greater Bay Area. Preparation and follow-up sessions can also be done virtually throughout California.
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Instead of 50-minute sessions spread out over months, intensives allow us to stay immersed in the work for several hours or multiple days. This often helps your nervous system process more fully, without the constant starts and stops of weekly therapy.
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In addition to working with clients, I run a small trauma-focused group practice in Oakland and mentor associate therapists. I’m also an EMDRIA-approved consultant, supporting other clinicians as they deepen their trauma therapy skills.
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Intensives are often a good fit if you feel stuck in weekly therapy, want to make meaningful progress faster, or prefer focused, immersive work rather than stretching things out over months. During our consultation, we’ll talk through what you’re hoping for and decide together what format makes the most sense.
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Many of my clients have already done years of therapy and understand their story really well, but still feel reactive or overwhelmed. My work focuses less on insight alone and more on helping your nervous system actually process and release what’s stuck, often through EMDR, parts work, and longer sessions that allow deeper change.
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Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate of Expected Charges Under the No Surprises Act.
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your healthcare provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises -
No. You’re always in control of what you share. Approaches like EMDR don’t require you to retell every detail of painful experiences. We focus on helping your brain and body process safely, without retraumatizing you.
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That’s completely normal. We don’t rush. Building safety and trust is always the first step. We move intentionally and collaboratively, so you never feel pushed into something you’re not ready for.
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Not at all. Many of my clients are high-functioning, capable people who are doing well on the outside but feel anxious, disconnected, or exhausted underneath. You don’t have to be in crisis to want deeper support.
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My practice is built around depth and focus. I specialize in trauma-informed approaches like EMDR and ketamine-assisted therapy, offer intensive formats for accelerated healing, and also mentor other therapists in this work. My goal isn’t just to help you just cope, it’s to help you create real, lasting shifts.
Ready to take the next step?
I offer trauma-informed therapy and intensives in Oakland for adults healing from anxiety, depression, complex trauma, PTSD, and CPTSD.
Schedule a free 20 minute phone or video consultation to see if we’re a good fit.