Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal D’Angora.
Crystal, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey toward becoming a trauma therapist started as many do, with my own personal trauma challenges. I was born to teen parents from impoverished families with a prevalence of alcoholism. Although we were a close family and had relatives nearby, my parents’ circumstances meant I was often left alone to grow up fast and felt like an outsider amongst my peer group. Exposure to the instability of alcoholism and poverty in my family led me to experience a great deal of anxiety as a child, and I often found myself contending with racing fears and thoughts as I lay in bed at night. I was, however, lucky enough to be exposed to creativity as a means of expression and healing from an early age.
My parents’ youth also meant that they often brought me to parties and music events, or that we would stay with family out of necessity. This instilled in me a deep appreciation for community and artistic culture. Things became particularly difficult when at age 13 my parents divorced and were both preoccupied dealing with their own wounds. I suddenly had to figure things out for myself and was met with many trials and dangers as a teenager in this big city. The saving grace for me at that time was entering performing arts middle school, which opened up many doors for me. I continued studying dance and theater through to high school graduation, which helped me through some of the most painful and traumatic times in my life.
The arts paved my way to finding other movement-based modalities to continue my personal growth and exploration. I had wonderful teachers who introduced me to yoga and meditation along the way as well. In addition to enjoying dance and theater, I began my studies in early childhood development and writing at UCLA, where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree. I also immersed myself in studying Kundalini yoga and meditation back in 2001 and became a teacher shortly thereafter.
The integration of the arts and mind-body healing set me on a path of finding greater inner peace, self-esteem, and compassion for others, and helped me to build a community of like-minded people. I discovered that a meaningful component of my own healing would be to share the tools that so beautifully supported me in times of suffering.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have experienced a variety of challenges along the road, but receiving the healing benefits trauma modalities like EMDR and Somatic experiencing, has built my resilience. And studying yoga, and meditation always grounds me. With these tools at my disposal, I feel like I can more easily roll with punches when they hit.
As a child, I often felt different and alone. I knew we were poorer than many other families, my parents had to work a lot, we never had new clothes, and relied upon help from family when necessary. My parents stressed to me the importance of gratitude for all that we did have, however, and I loved learning how to be creative with making a little go a long way. Once I was of working age, I knew I could use my skills to provide for myself and consider my resourcefulness as a great strength.
Another challenge I experienced came about while I was running my own Pilates and yoga studio in LA from 2008-2011.
I realized that I didn’t enjoy the business side of things and was feeling flattened by the day-to-day of it. I recognized that my joy and success were found in sharing the teachings with students, which prompted me to sell my business.
I was also noticing a trend that brought me back to my early interest in working with psychology and trauma. Many of my yoga and Pilates students were having big emotional releases and even uncovering traumatic memories in movement sessions. Even though I had studied child psychology in my undergrad years, I did not feel sufficiently equipped to manage the needs I saw arising with my students.
I knew I needed more training! I had the benefit of receiving good therapy, Somatic, and emdr work along the way and hoped to help others in kind. Even though I was busy mothering a toddler and our family felt financially stretched, my husband supported my choice to go to school for my Masters in clinical psychology.
This was one of the most challenging times of my adult life. There were many times when I felt like I had bitten off more than I could chew. I was exhausted by the vigorous demands of juggling parenthood, making money, and completing coursework and intern hours. Not to mention dealing with all of my own history of trauma that the Master’s degree and MFT program were forcing me to contend with.
It was then that I had to work harder than ever to practice what I preach! I relied upon my self-care routines, meditated, danced, did yoga, leaned into my relationships and community for support, and used the valuable therapies that I now share with my clients – Somatics and EMDR – to heal myself.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I run a private practice as a trauma therapist on the Westside of Los Angeles. My work as a trauma therapist hinges on my experiential faith in the healing capacity of an integrated body and mind. My therapy and yoga sessions are rooted in several years of experience as a yoga and meditation practitioner and instructor, a passion for social justice, and reverence for the Spirit of nature and Eastern philosophies. All of this points to the innate power we all possess to heal ourselves – it gives the power back to margeniled individuals and provides tools that last a lifetime. I utilize Somatics, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and mindfulness-based psychotherapy to facilitate relief from the emotional distress associated with disturbing life experiences.
I believe that healing can be a sacred act of play! For me, this comes from hikes in nature and dance, music, and playing with my family, but I encourage my clients to find what this means to them. I am committed to guiding clients toward lifestyle choices that promote joy and resilience. I am so grateful and proud to witness so many people find joy in their daily lives, where stress and fear once reigned supreme. I pull from a breadth of training styles when I teach yoga and offer classes in prenatal and post-natal yoga, children’s and adult yoga classes, incorporating Kundalini, Hatha, and Pilates techniques.
I balance my life as a yoga teacher, wife, mother, and trauma therapist by utilizing these tools personally as well. This personal experience with and trust in the work that I share is what feels necessary and integral to the success of my business. I care deeply for the clients I see in my Mar Vista office and have a holistic and eclectic approach to therapy that seems to fit a variety of lifestyles.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My family traveled across the United States in a small pick-up truck with our dog camping along the way. My parents homeschooled me for that month on the road, and much of what I learned came from seeing historical sites and natural wonders.
We spent most nights playing music and telling stories around a campfire. It was precious and so influential on who I am and what I value today.
Pricing:
- 50-minute therapy sessions $170 each (with some sliding scale spots)
- Private and semi-private yoga sessions $150
Contact Info:
- Address: 3657 Stoner Ave. Mar Vista, CA 90066
- Website: Crystaldangora.com
- Phone: 818-287-0832
- Email: email@crystaldangora.
com
Image Credit:
Hellopinecone www.hellopinecone.com
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