Sandra Cohen Ph.D.

01/26/2025

The Los Angeles Wildfires have been devastating to many of you. I've written this article about sudden losses and PTSD to provide information and resources. My heart is with you: https://sandracohenphd.com/los-angeles-wildfires-ptsd/

Dr. Sandra Cohen, Beverly Hills psychologist, writes about the trauma of the Los Angeles Wildfires, sudden loss, PTSD, grief & how to heal.

10/25/2024

Are you considering therapy, but you have no idea what kind of therapist would be right for you?

Have you had a bad experience with a therapist and thought it was your fault? It's not. A good therapist compassionately understands your struggles, even with therapy itself.

If you are ready to consider therapy or even need to find a new therapist, look for someone who:

- Listens closely, is gentle, doesn’t intrude
- Makes connections you wouldn’t make
- Doesn’t expect you to trust right away
- Has no “trauma method.” It’s your therapy
- Let’s you open up in your own way and time
- Makes you feel you’re understood and safe

With the right trauma-informed therapist, you’ll find there is someone who just might understand. And, it will be a relief not to have to carry your trauma alone. As you begin to trust and open up, your world will be lighter.

Have you tried therapy before? What was your experience?

You don't have to struggle alone. Reach out.

For more on trauma healing and personal growth reach out in the comments, follow, or check out my blog through my LinkTree.



~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

10/23/2024

If you’ve experienced past trauma, an old trauma trigger will bring on Anxiety.

And, for Riley Anderson in Kelsey Mann’s "Inside Out 2", it’s her fear of being alone. So, it isn’t just the new emotions of puberty that make Anxiety now take center stage and push away Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust into the “Back of Mind.” Not even close.

No, Riley’s struggle with Anxiety goes much deeper than that.

Feelings can rattle you, overwhelm you, and bring on Anxiety. We see that in Inside Out 2. Riley will do just about anything to avoid these awful feelings.

Sometimes that happens after trauma. Old protection systems come into play, along with new ones.

Yes. Accepting all feelings and parts of yourself, even those you don’t much like, helps heal trauma. Everyone has Envy, Embarrassment, and Anxiety. These drive you to do things you regret.

Anxiety, panic, and catastrophic beliefs don’t have to take you over. Remember what Riley says: I’m strong … I’m weak. Sometimes I need help.” Everyone does. No one can figure things out alone.

If you’ve struggled with anxiety and have any questions, I’d love to hear from you.

To learn more, read my article “INSIDE OUT 2: Fear Of Being Alone Triggers Old Trauma & Brings On Anxiety” on my blogs.

For more on trauma healing and personal growth reach out in the comments, follow, or check out my blog through my LinkTree.



~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

10/17/2024

“Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or with a bear?”

The Man vs. Bear debate went viral this past year.

Overwhelmingly, women chose the bear.
Men were confused. Hurt. Even Outraged.
“Why would you ever choose a bear? It can kill you!”

So let’s be clear about why the Bear wins.

The Bear gets the vote because of the past traumas and shattered trust of too many women.

“Am I safe with you?” is always the question on a woman’s mind.

And while they know that no bear is safe, a history of trauma at the hands of men has left women terrified and hypervigilant around men.

Because bears want to be left alone. Bear attacks are rare. Not attacks by men. And there are clear ways to protect yourself from a bear.

This is a reality.
It’s not a personal malignment of men in general or good men in particular.
It’s about the state of the world women live in.

What about you? Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or with a bear? Which would you rather for your daughter, wife, or friend? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

To learn more, read my article “MAN Versus BEAR? Women’s Traumas, Shattered Trust, & Why The Bear Wins” on my blog.



~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

10/12/2024

You can’t cure Social Comparison Anxiety and FOMO stress by just quitting your social media scrolling.

That won’t heal your sense of inadequacy or your constant social comparison anxiety. Nor will it build your self-esteem.

You might be able to avoid these terrible feelings for a little while.

Not scrolling won’t put your anxious self-comparisons right in front of your eyes constantly, but you still suffer from the pain of not feeling good enough and that is what needs to be healed.

Healing FOMO stress means increasing your belief that you are good enough. It means understanding what you are truly missing and understanding why you don't feel good enough in the first place.

If Social Comparison Anxiety and FOMO feel overwhelming, it might be time to reach out to a therapist and talk it out. Read more about this phenomenon in my article "Do you Want To Cure FOMO? Quitting Scrolling Isn’t Enough" on my blog, through my LinkTree.

Have you struggled with FOMO and Anxiety? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Share your experience in the comments and I will follow up.

For more on trauma healing and personal growth reach out in the comments, follow, or check out my blog through my LinkTree.




~ ~ ~ ~

Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

10/10/2024

Feeling trapped by FOMO and constantly comparing yourself to others on social media?

You’re not alone. Curing FOMO goes beyond just needing to quit scrolling—it's rooted in deeper feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and the fear of being left out.

Simply stopping the scroll won’t solve the underlying emotional struggle.

Often, these feelings trace back to childhood trauma, where experiences of being overlooked or not feeling good enough can fuel a lifelong pattern of social comparison.

If you only deal with FOMO occasionally- finding yourself envious of what others are doing, or sad about what you’re not doing- you might feel better by simply remembering your accomplishments and positive traits. Reminding yourself you don’t need to be perfect or that how someone looks isn’t who they are.

But if those exercises don’t snap you out of it, it’s likely that you're struggling with bigger issues of self-worth and traumatic childhood experiences.

Therapy can help you uncover the roots of these feelings, allowing you to heal and build genuine self-worth that isn’t threatened by what others are doing.

For more on Social Comparison Anxiety, read my article “Do You Want To Cure FOMO? Quitting Scrolling Isn’t Enough” on my blog. Link is in the 'tree.

If you find this helpful drop a comment below to share your experience with FOMO, then Follow for more on trauma healing and mental health.


~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

10/07/2024

Sadness is often misunderstood.

How many times have you been told to 'just get over it' or to 'cheer up' when you’re feeling down?

Society has trained you to avoid discomfort, but when you push sadness away, you lose an essential part of the healing process.

Sadness isn’t something to be fixed or rushed through—it’s a valuable emotion that helps you process loss, change, and trauma.

When you give sadness the space it needs, you allow yourself to truly heal.

Next time you’re feeling sad, or supporting someone who is, remember this: it’s okay to take your time. Sadness needs room to breathe.

If you want to better understand why sadness is so important? Read my latest post, “Inside Out: Why Sadness Matters.”



~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

10/05/2024

Sadness is often suppressed, overlooked, or seen as a burden, especially after trauma, but it plays a crucial role in your emotional well-being.

Maybe you’ve felt pressured to only feel certain ways, or have been taught that some emotions are weak or less valuable. Why does one feeling get center stage while others are banished and told to be quiet or go away as if they don’t exist?

Just like Riley needed a safe space to deal with all her feelings, so do you. Because unexpressed sadness or grief can only be bottled up for so long before it comes out in other ways, like fear, rage, or depression.

Riley becomes depressed because she hasn’t been able to feel Sadness and Grief for all her losses. If she could, she wouldn’t be depressed.

You can get stuck in depression if you don’t grieve – and you can’t usually do that alone. Sadness and Grief need to be heard by someone who cares. Someone who welcomes your feelings. If you are lacking a safe space to communicate your feelings, therapy is a good place to get started.

To learn more, check out my article- “INSIDE OUT: Why Sadness Matters, Especially After Trauma” on my blog.

Like and Follow for more on personal healing and growth.



~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

09/28/2024

Do certain situations make you feel overwhelmed, angry, or anxious? 😔

These reactions might be tied to unresolved childhood trauma.

Even when you think you've moved on, emotional triggers can bring those hidden wounds back to the surface. Sometimes in dramatic ways.

Recognizing your triggers, and discovering where they come from, is the first step toward healing and breaking free from those emotional patterns.

Is it time to reach out and get help? A trusted, trauma-informed psychotherapist can help you work through your trauma and find healing.

And if you have experienced this and are already in the therapy process, I'd love to hear your inspiring story.

Feel free to share your experiences of healing and growth with others in the comments.



~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

09/26/2024

CAPTION:

Why Do Adults Still Struggle With Childhood Trauma?

Trauma doesn’t go away just because you’ve grow up.

Many trauma-survivors develop coping mechanisms to get through the harrowing experiences. And while this serves them for a little while, those unprocessed feelings will resurface in adulthood, often unexpectedly.

The key to healing?

With the support of a trusted psychotherapist, you need to acknowledge your traumatic experiences & emotions. Working through your trauma is the only way to get past your past.

It’s never too late to start healing and move forward with your life. 🌱

Ready to take the first step? Seek the help you deserve!

For more resources on healing from childhood trauma, check out
“Why Most Adults Who Suffered Childhood Trauma Are Still Suffering” on my blog.

Like and Follow for more on personal healing and growth.



~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed several specializations.

I also love to write both professionally and creatively. So, I actively write on my two websites and for various publications.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

09/20/2024

Childhood trauma doesn’t just fade away—it hides deep within us, impacting our lives as adults in ways we may not even realize.

From dissociation and emotional numbness to unexpected triggers, unresolved trauma can cause ongoing pain.

The good news? Healing is possible. It starts with recognizing these hidden wounds and understanding the child inside.

If you think you're dealing with repressed childhood trauma reach out. Or look for a trauma-informed psychotherapist in your area and start your journey to feeling whole again.

For more on trauma healing and personal growth reach out in the comments, follow, or check out my blog through my LinkTree.



~ ~ ~ ~
Hi, I’m Dr. Sandra Cohen, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, specializing in trauma-informed care in Beverly Hills, California.

I’m deeply involved in the psychoanalytic world of empathic insight. Consequently, I extend this commitment to teaching others.

My private practice and psychotherapy work are at the heart of what I do. I am devoted to helping people and have developed a number of specializations over the years.

Follow along as we journey to promote healing and growth from childhood trauma and its aftereffects.

09/18/2024

Do you think you might have repressed childhood trauma?
Has something’s been nagging at you? You can’t remember anything specific, but you’ve been wondering about it. You’ve heard about repressed childhood trauma in adults. What is that exactly? Do you have it?

Many adults are still dealing with the hidden effects of childhood trauma without even knowing it. Trauma memories can be buried deep, causing dissociation, emotional numbness, and other life struggles.

Signs of Repressed Childhood Trauma include:

Trust Issues as an Adult
Avoidant Behavior
Anxiety, Depression, and/or Suicidal Thoughts
Chronic Physical Symptoms
Repeating Abusive Relationships
Dramatic Mood Swings
Substance Abuse & Addiction
Low Self-Esteem & Shame
Fear of Abandonment or Insecure Attachment

Remember, you're not alone.

Healing takes therapy with a trauma-informed psychotherapist; one who specializes in working with survivors still struggling with trauma’s aftereffects. You must feel heard, supported, and cared about; all the things you didn’t have early in your life.

With the right support, healing and freedom from childhood trauma are within reach.

To learn more about Repressed Trauma read “9 Signs of Repressed Childhood Trauma in Adults & What To Do About It” on my blog. Find the link in my LinkTree.

For more on mental health, personal healing, and growth, Follow, Like, & Share.