HOLISTIC THERAPY SESSIONS

WITH DR. NATALIA RAPPA

Dr. Natalia Rappa is a Long Beach local and her life has revolved around the beach for as long as she can remember. She has decided to set roots here in order to build her family and provide mental health support to this community that has provided her much nurturing.

Dr. Rappa has a love for learning. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and a doctoral degree in school/clinical psychology from Hofstra University. She has specialized training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). In addition, she pursued further training to become an EMDR certified therapist to treat trauma.

She is a holistic psychologist and integrates these different approaches to meet the unique needs of each of her clients. Dr. Rappa primarily works with adolescents( high school age) and adults in transitional life phases dealing with anxiety, depression, and trauma.

The belief at the core of her work is that our mind and bodies want to heal and have an innate wisdom to do so. With a non-judgmental environment, strong therapeutic rapport, and supportive coping techniques, clients are able to access this wisdom within them.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Rappa is an adjunct professor at Molloy University, where she teaches child and adolescent development. Previously, she worked as a school psychologist for four years and as a staff psychologist for a group practice for two years.

SESSIONS WITH NATALIA

Therapy sessions with Dr. Rappa (Natalia) have a holistic approach that offer a balanced, empowering space where you can explore and process thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Sessions are often structured yet flexible, weaving in the teaching and learning of practical tools as well as personalized support and validation. 

Here’s what you might expect:

  1. Mindfulness: Sessions may start or include grounding exercises to bring you into the present moment. These practices help increase awareness of your thoughts and feelings without judgment, building a foundation of calmness and clarity.

  2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Practical tools are often introduced to help you understand and reshape thought patterns that impact your emotions and behaviors. This could include techniques for managing anxiety, reframing negative thoughts, and practicing new coping skills outside of sessions.

    3. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): If trauma or distressing memories are an area of concern or you have not found relief with traditional therapy practices, EMDR may be integrated into sessions. EMDR is designed to help reprocess and reduce the emotional charge around difficult memories that may lead to current symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, or depression. The reprocessing will allow you to digest the memories in a more adaptive way that allows you to move forward with a greater sense of peace in your daily life.