Chantell Smeisser

About Chantell

My approach

I combine talk therapy, practical skills from CBT and DBT, and EMDR, a structured approach that helps your brain process painful experiences so they lose their hold on your daily life. My work is somatic and attachment-focused, and we move at a pace that feels manageable, guided by goals we set together.

About me

I’m originally from Hawaii, and warmth and kindness are central to how I work. I started in community mental health and now offer EMDR therapy and consultation in private practice across California. I know what it’s like not to feel understood, and it’s a big reason I do this work. My goal is for you to feel understood and to see real change.

More background

If you’re exhausted, you’re not imagining it. Carrying stress, trauma, or old pain while still showing up for work, family, and daily life wears a person down. Often the first sign isn’t a memory. It’s a change: you feel constantly on edge, shut down, can’t sleep, panic out of nowhere, or realize you’ve been reacting a certain way for years without knowing why.

I work with adults across California, many of them working through sexual trauma, childhood trauma, or years of being depleted. If you’re noticing trauma responses and can’t tell what they’re connected to, that’s a common place to start. You don’t need it figured out before we begin.

Sessions with me are warm, relational, and down-to-earth. You can laugh, cry, or get angry here, and you don’t have to hold anything back. I’m patient and kind, and I welcome all parts of you, including the parts that are hard to talk about. I also bring specialized training and a clear plan.

I use talk therapy to understand what’s going on, CBT and DBT skills for the moments when things feel too big, and EMDR to process the experiences that are still driving your reactions. I’ll guide you through each step at a manageable pace, and we’ll build a plan together around what you want to feel and do differently.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA License #99281) and EMDR-certified therapist. I started in community mental health, working with acute crises, complex trauma, mood disorders, and addiction, and it taught me to stay steady and practical when things are hard. I also work as an EMDR consultant and facilitator for basic training practicums.

If this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, book a free 15-minute consult, and we can talk about whether we’re a good fit. You can also find out more about me at chantellsmeisserlcsw.com.

Specialties

Types of therapy

Who Chantell works with

Ages

Adults, Elders (65+)

Communities

LGBTQ+, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Non-Binary, BIPOC, Black / African American, Latino / Hispanic, Asian American, Indigenous / Native American, Immigrant, Veterans, First Responders, Faith-Based, Single Parents

Languages

English

Education and training

Master of Social Work, California State University, Northridge

Master of Arts in Psychology, Pepperdine University

Certifications

EMDRIA Approved Consultant

EMDR Certified Therapist (EMDRIA)