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2930 Camino Diablo, Suite 310
Walnut Creek, CA 94597

9253220795

Mara Geib Johnson is a licensed marriage and family therapist offering psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and adolescents. Pete Walker provided the large majority of her post graduate school clinical training. Her practice specializes in, but is not limited to, PTSD and trauma treatment, drawing from advanced training under Pete Walker, M.A., LMFT ,a leading author and educator in the field of trauma therapy. He is best known for his work on Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and childhood trauma recovery and authored the book Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving.

Marriage and Family Therapist

Best way to contact Mara is to call 925-322-0795

Complex PTSD Therapy and Pete Walker’s Approach

If you are seeking therapy for PTSD or Complex PTSD (C‑PTSD) in the East Bay, it can be helpful to work with a therapist whose clinical training is deeply grounded in well‑established trauma frameworks.

My work as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in private practice in Lafayette, California is informed by advanced trauma training under Pete Walker, LMFT, author of Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving and The Tao of Fully Feeling. Pete Walker’s contributions to the understanding of developmental trauma, emotional flashbacks, and the inner critic have had a lasting influence on contemporary trauma therapy.

This page explains how Pete Walker’s work informs my clinical approach, while also clarifying my independent role as a licensed clinician providing individualized trauma therapy.

PTSD & Complex PTSD Therapy Informed by Pete Walker’s Work

Trauma Therapy in Lafayette, CA

If you are seeking therapy for PTSD or Complex PTSD (C‑PTSD) in the East Bay, it can be helpful to work with a therapist whose clinical training is deeply grounded in well‑established trauma frameworks.

My work as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in private practice in Lafayette, California is informed by advanced trauma training under Pete Walker, LMFT, author of Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving and The Tao of Fully Feeling. Pete Walker’s contributions to the understanding of developmental trauma, emotional flashbacks, and the inner critic have had a lasting influence on contemporary trauma therapy.

This page explains how Pete Walker’s work informs my clinical approach, while also clarifying my independent role as a licensed clinician providing individualized trauma therapy.

Pete Walker

Pete Walker, LMFT, is widely recognized for his pioneering work on Complex PTSD, particularly trauma rooted in chronic childhood neglect, abuse, and relational trauma. His writing helped bring broader clinical attention to:

  • Complex PTSD (C‑PTSD) as distinct from single‑incident trauma

  • Emotional flashbacks, which involve sudden emotional states rather than visual memories

  • The role of the inner critic and outer critic in trauma responses

  • The long‑term nervous system effects of developmental trauma

His book Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving is frequently recommended by therapists and clients alike for its accessible explanation of trauma recovery and its emphasis on compassion‑based healing.

My Training Under Pete Walker

I received advanced clinical training under Pete Walker, LMFT, whose work has significantly shaped how I understand and treat trauma in therapy. This training emphasized not only theoretical understanding, but also the practical, relational application of trauma concepts in the therapy room.

My training included a strong focus on:

  • Recognizing and working with emotional flashbacks in real time

  • Helping clients soften and transform the inner critic

  • Understanding trauma‑based fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses

  • Supporting long‑term recovery from developmental and relational trauma

While Pete Walker’s work informs my approach, I practice independently as a licensed therapist, tailoring treatment to each client’s unique history, nervous system, and goals.