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Change the Roles. Change the Story.
Licensed counseling practice in Sunnyvale, CA · Individual, Couples, Family & Group Therapy · In-person & Online (CA)
Most people come to us with a familiar dilemma: you’ve tried the usual things — therapy, coping skills, new routines — and you tell yourself what you should do. Yet in the moment of stress, conflict, or shutdown, the same pattern takes over. Boundaries slip. You go numb, or you explode, or you disappear into caretaking. You know better but can’t always do better.
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That’s not a character flaw;
It’s a survival pattern shaped by past stress.
When we go through overwhelming experiences — rejection, chaos at home, abuse, loss, chronic pressure — we take on roles to survive: the Fixer, the Peacemaker, the Quiet One, the One Who Never Needs Anything. Those roles kept you safe then. But if they never get updated, they keep running your life now.
At Roiya Counseling, our work is grounded in evidence-based psychotherapy. We specialize in trauma healing through experiential work. This differs from talk-only approaches by helping change become something you practice, not just understand. We help you map the roles that formed under stress, explore what they’re still doing for you, and actively rehearse new ways of responding that fit who you are now. This is how post-traumatic growth becomes real: we’re not just managing behavior, we’re upgrading the roles underneath it so resilience feels natural, not forced.
Our work is grounded in evidence-based therapies, including DBT and Internal Family Systems (IFS),
guided by client-centered and feminist-informed values.
When appropriate, we integrate experiential and somatic methods—such as role-based work, EMDR, Brainspotting, and Gestalt—to support deeper, embodied change.
This layered approach helps insight become practical, repeatable, and visible in daily life.
Is This for Me?
You don’t need a diagnosis to start.
If one or two of the following patterns feel familiar, this may be worth exploring together.
Complex-trauma Patterns (life felt unsafe or unpredictable for a long time)
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Big feelings flip to numb/shut down, or you “over-function” to cope.
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A harsh inner critic; shame or guilt that won’t budge.
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“I don’t know what I feel” / trouble naming needs.
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Feeling disconnected from yourself or on autopilot.
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Relational-trauma Patterns ( hurt happened in close relationships)
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Drawn to familiar chaos or partners who echo past dynamics.
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Boundary fog: saying yes when you mean no; trouble trusting.
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Cycles of breakdown → make-up without real repair.
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PTSD Patterns (after something scary or way too much, too fast)
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Memory jolts or bad dreams that drop you back into it.
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Certain sounds, smells, dates, or places set things off quickly.
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Steering around reminders—routes, shows, conversations—until life shrinks.
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Always planning exits; jump at small noises; hard to settle.
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Body goes from 0→100: tight chest, shaky hands, stomach flips.
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Time gets weird—spacing out, losing chunks, or feeling far away.
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Snappy or shut-down; hard to feel close even with people you love.
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Looping self-blame (“I should be over this by now”).
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Sleep’s off, focus is foggy, everyday tasks feel heavier than they should.
Generational Patterns (what families pass down)
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Repeating roles: fixer, peacemaker, parentified helper.
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“That’s just how we do it”—unspoken rules, suppressed feelings.
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Stress responses that run in the family (always on guard, overworking).
Somatic Patterns (how the body carries it)
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Jaw/neck/shoulder tension, stomach knots, headaches.
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Shallow breathing, racing heart, startle easily.
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Fatigue, sleep issues, or stress-related digestion problems.
If you’re seeking lighter, prevention-focused support or opportunities for personal growth and community connection (outside of therapy), consider:
Roiya Lab for themed experiential workshops
Roiya Circle for community events
Roiya Intensive for clinical provider training or deeper personal growth and connection
If you’re in immediate crisis or feel unsafe, please call 988 (U.S.) or your local emergency services.
Session flow
Brief check-in → guided, bottom-up practice → clear takeaways → grounding and closure.
Between sessions
Bite-size reps (minutes, not hours) to help the new pattern sticks.
Progress checks
Quick milestones and simple tracking so you can see what works and adjust fast.
Safety & pacing
Trauma-responsive, choice-based care. Your voice, culture, and pace lead.
What to Expect?
Formats & Fit
Individual Therapy
One-on-one, confidential care to map patterns, practice new responses, and build skills for daily life. Best for focused personal goals or when privacy and pace matter most.
Couples Therapy
Two-partner sessions that strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and rehearse new ways of relating. Ideal for partners seeking repair, clarity about staying or separating, or support through big transitions.
Family Therapy
Therapist-guided meetings with key family members to shift dynamics and practice healthier interactions. Great for parent–child tension, life transitions, or patterns that affect the whole household.
Group Therapy
Intimate, supportive closed groups where you learn and practice with others, using the group as a micro world to rehearse for the macro world. Ideal if you want steady membership, a nonjudgmental space, and real connection while you begin or deepen your healing.
