Sierra Flynn, PhD, LMFT #153651

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and PhD-level clinician, my work is grounded in the belief that healing happens in safe, attuned, and authentically collaborative relationships. I support individuals and families who feel overwhelmed by trauma, anxiety, relationship distress, addiction, or major life transitions. My approach weaves clinical expertise with deep respect for each client’s lived experiences, resilience, and capacity for change.

My path as a therapist has been shaped through years of direct work with survivors of trauma, individuals navigating substance use, parents and caregivers, and families seeking to repair emotional disconnection. Across all of these contexts, I have witnessed how profoundly people long to feel understood, grounded, and connected—and how therapy, when done with presence and intention, can help make that possible.

I hold a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy and am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. My doctoral training emphasized both research and clinical application, allowing me to integrate evidence-based therapeutic models with a deep understanding of relational systems, attachment, and emotional development.

Healing is Possible

Alongside my doctoral work, I completed extensive clinical training in community mental health, trauma recovery settings, family therapy clinics, and substance use treatment programs. Much of my early career involved working directly with survivors of sexual assault and interpersonal trauma, where I developed a sensitivity to the complex ways trauma influences the nervous system, attachment patterns, and a person’s sense of safety in the world.

Areas of Specialization

I work with adults, adolescents, couples, and families, with a particular focus on:

  • Anxiety, depression, panic symptoms, and chronic overwhelm

  • Trauma recovery (including complex trauma, sexual assault trauma, and early attachment wounds)

  • Substance use and recovery, including family systems impacted by addiction

  • Postpartum transitions, identity changes, and perinatal mental health

  • Relationship distress, conflict, and attachment injuries

  • OCD-related symptoms, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions

  • Life transitions, grief, and periods of major change

  • Parent–child relational repair, emotional attunement, and family system support

My work is deeply informed by Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), which emphasizes supporting caregivers in becoming active agents of healing. I find that when families understand each other’s emotional needs—and learn to respond to distress with compassion rather than fear—the entire system can shift in powerful ways.

How I Help Clients Heal and Grow

Clients often come to me feeling overwhelmed by their symptoms, confused about their emotional responses, or unsure how to break out of old patterns. My goal is to help you reestablish a sense of safety—both internally and in your relationships—so you can access clarity, self-compassion, and emotional strength.

Together, we work on:

Rebuilding internal safety: Many clients describe feeling “on edge,” disconnected, or unable to regulate after trauma or chronic stress. I use grounding practices, nervous system education, and emotion-focused approaches to help you slow down, understand what’s happening inside your body, and feel more in control of your internal world.

Processing and integrating emotions: Emotions can feel confusing, frightening, or overwhelming, especially after trauma or during periods of transition. I help clients develop emotional literacy, make sense of their internal experiences, and learn to process emotions without shutting down or becoming flooded.

Developing concrete coping skills: Healing isn’t only emotional—it’s also practical. Together, we identify specific tools for self-regulation, communication, boundary-setting, and managing triggers. These skills support long-term resilience and help you feel more capable in your daily life.

Strengthening relationships and attachment bonds: Whether we are working individually or with family members, I pay close attention to relational patterns—how connection is formed, where misattunements happen, and what gets in the way of repair. Secure relationships are one of the strongest predictors of emotional health, and therapy can be a space to rebuild those foundations.

Therapeutic Approaches

My work is integrative and relational, drawing from several evidence-based modalities:

  • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) / parts-informed work

  • Somatic awareness and grounding techniques

  • Trauma-informed approaches including EMDR 

  • Attachment-based and systems-oriented models

These approaches allow us to work at multiple levels—thoughts, emotions, bodily responses, and relational patterns so treatment is both comprehensive and attuned to your unique needs. I believe therapy should feel like a balance of deep emotional work, practical skill-building, and compassionate exploration.

What It Feels Like to Work With Me

Clients often describe me as warm, grounded, and nonjudgmental. My style is active, engaged, and emotionally present. I don’t sit back silently, and I don’t expect clients to figure everything out alone. Instead, we move through the work together, at a pace that feels safe but meaningful.

I believe that people heal when they are understood, validated, and genuinely seen. Whether you are navigating trauma, anxiety, relational pain, or a major life transition, you deserve a space where your experiences are taken seriously and your strengths are honored.

My hope is to help you feel more connected to yourself, to your relationships, and to a life that feels aligned with your values.

Healing From Within

Seeking therapy is an act of courage. It means you’re ready for something to change, even if you don’t yet know what change will look like. My role is to walk alongside you, offer tools and insight, and help you discover pathways toward healing, clarity, and emotional safety.

If you feel drawn to my approach, I would be honored to support you through your next chapter.

I provide 50-minute individual therapy sessions for $150, and 50-minute couples or family therapy sessions for $170. I truly commend you for beginning your healing journey. Whether you choose to work with me or find the therapist who feels like the best fit for your needs, I wish you clarity, compassion, and strength as you move forward. You deserve support, and I’m honored to be considered as part of your process.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for a free 20-minute consultation.

Email: sierraflynnlmft@gmail.com

 Phone #: (909) 654-4609