Briana Shea

I’m a trauma-centered psychotherapist and a Puerto Rican clinician who deeply values the impact of culture, family systems, early attachment, and identity on a person’s inner world. I hold a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have dedicated my work to supporting adults navigating trauma, complex family dynamics, attachment styles, and the places where identity and lived experience intersect.

I’m curious about how past trauma and toxic stress shape the way we see ourselves—and how they can quietly limit authenticity, expression, and connection. I use somatic therapy as well as tools drawn from EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients unravel the quiet ways trauma lives in the body and reclaim a more spacious, nourishing, and vibrant sense of self.

My approach is trauma-centered, relational, playful, and embodied. I believe healing requires understanding both the nervous system and the narratives we’ve inherited from family, culture, and society. I incorporate somatic practices to support regulation and connection with the body, EMDR-informed strategies to process trauma safely and effectively, and IFS to help clients meet the parts of themselves that learned to protect and survive.

At the same time, I show up as a real person in the room. I bring playfulness, humor, and honesty into the work because healing happens together and shouldn't feel stiff. I’ll challenge you when it’s needed and I’ll also celebrate your insight and growth.

I honor culture and identity as integral aspects of what makes you, you. Whether we’re exploring generational patterns, attachment wounds, or the masks you’ve had to wear, our work centers on helping you move toward a life that feels more aligned. I collaborate with you to set a pace that feels supportive, not overwhelming

Your first session is a grounded and welcoming space where you can simply show up as you are. We’ll talk about what led you here, what patterns you’ve been navigating, and what you want your life to feel like moving forward. I ask about your history at a pace that feels safe and culturally sensitive, and I pay close attention to how stress and trauma may be showing up in your body even before you have the words.

You can expect me to be warm, human, and present. While we are meeting virtually, I am not a blank screen! If something needs to be named, I’ll name it with care. If humor helps loosen what’s been tight, we’ll use it. If a gentle challenge helps interrupt an old pattern, I’ll offer it while staying fully attuned to your timing and needs.

By the end of the first session, you’ll have a sense of my style... supportive, real, culturally attuned, and body-based. You'll also have a clearer picture of what our work together might look like as we move toward more spaciousness and self-trust.