Bren is a licensed marriage and family therapist located in Pasadena, California. She is a leading trauma therapist who specializes in working with clients who have experienced complex, developmental, or intergenerational trauma. Bren’s approach in anchored in psychodynamic theory. This means that who we are and how we experience the world is informed by the collective and meaningful experiences we have throughout our lives. In conjunction with her psychodynamic approach, Bren is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), a highly robust model that allows clients to rapidly process the trauma of their past and regain a feeling of control over intrusive traumatic memories, feelings of dissociation or disconnection with their body, and re-establish a felt sense of being fully embodied. In addition to being EMDR certified, Bren has trained at the master level in Attachment-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) and is an Approved Consultant by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). Complimenting her trauma-focused practice, Bren integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS), by holding a safe space for all the parts of a dynamic and complex internal system of the Self.

In addition to her expertise in trauma work, Bren is frequently acknowledged in the community for her specialty in working with children and families navigating high-conflict family dynamics, relational violence, and family court/DCFS involvement. Bren is inherently child-centered and employs a Structural Family lens, which allows a greater understanding for how power is distributed within a family system, as well as the often-unspoken family rules that apply to the system, for the function each family member serves within the larger system. Bren has worked extensively on high-profile cases, resulting in an understanding of the unique challenges such families often experience. Bren is an active member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). Additionally, Bren has been a guest lecturer at several distinguished universities, clinical organizations, and has provided training for employees of the Department of Mental Health (DMH).