go beyond traditional talk therapy.

Somatic Therapy in Santa Rosa, Ca

You’ve tried everything you can think of to feel better, but nothing’s sticking.

You have been doing all of the things. You eat well, exercise and take supplements. Maybe you have tried various meditation and self-help programs. Perhaps you’ve even been to therapy before and have insight into your family patterns and childhood traumas.

But you’re still feeling…

Frustrated by the discomfort you experience in your body.

Disconnected from a sense of vitality and enthusiasm for your life.

Overwhelmed by the constant mental noise of your inner critic.

Somatic Therapy can help you discover a fuller expression of yourself.

Somatic Psychotherapy is an evidence-based method incorporating an integrative body-mind approach. It successfully treats anxiety, depression, attachment wounds, trauma and other chronic conditions.

  • Somatic Psychotherapy explores the interface between the Body-Mind connection.

    This holistic dynamic approach views the Body and Awareness of sensations, imagery and movements as the focal point in therapy for gaining insight and creating change.

    Somatic Therapy invites us to connect to the inherent wisdom of our Body. When we start to turn our attention and lean into this wisdom, the body becomes the doorway through which healing and transformation occurs.

    Through body-oriented exercises the client is guided towards developing their inner and outer resources as unresolved psycho-emotional patterns and traumas heal.

    My unique integrated Somatic Therapy approach is my own synthesis of all the body-mind-spirit modalities that I have studied and utilized for myself, my clients and my students for over 25 years.

  • I will guide you through a somatic process utilizing body-based exercises and explorations that will be tailored specifically for you, your goals and your unique nervous system.

    We will first explore all of the triggers - internal, external and relational - that are keeping you feeling stuck and trapped.

    We will explore how all of these triggers manifest for you in your physical sensations, movements, feelings, thoughts and behaviors.

    I will guide you through a creative process where we will map your different nervous system states.

    This mapping process will bring deeper awareness, compassion and insight into the habitual learned survival patterns that lead you down the spiral of stress and overwhelm.

    Our exploration together will include using imagery, mindfulness, gentle movements, body and breath awareness.

    Through this exploration you will discover new options, new patterns of movement, thoughts, feelings and behavior that are more life-affirming and regenerative for you.

  • My unique somatic process will enable your nervous system to re-wire your self-defeating body-mind cycles of anxiety and overwhelm.

    Through our work together you will gain embodiment tools to use to regulate yourself whenever you experience challenges or life stressors.

    Our process together will help you create newer healthier and more vital neural connections as you start to embody a felt-sense of support, safety and regulation.

    We will explore your life-affirming resources and resiliencies, and amplify all of your unique ‘super-powers’.

    This somatic journey will build your nervous system’s capacity for experiencing greater vitality and joy, and move you from survival mode into thriving mode.

At the end of the day, I want you to know:

Whatever it is that you’re experiencing, the power to change is already inside yourself. Tapping into your body’s innate wisdom is what will fuel your healing.

Is Somatic therapy right for you?

Somatic therapy is a good fit for you if you…

  • Have experienced traditional talk therapy to be limited or ineffective for you.

  • Are struggling with the impacts of chronic stress, worry and tension on your physical health.

  • Notice patterns in your relationships where you feel shut-down and unable to communicate your needs.

  • Feel stuck by the stories from your past, and held back by disempowering beliefs about yourself.

What we’ll work on

With Somatic therapy, you can…

Improve your ability to stay present and connected to yourself, your relationships and to your life.

Learn to listen to your body’s cues so that you can respond from a place of regulation instead of reacting out of anxiety and overwhelm.

No longer feel hijacked by your survival states and able to experience more joy, creativity and expansion in your life.

Gain new embodiment tools to ground, support and build your capacity when experiencing stressors or triggers.

All parts of you are welcome here.

All of you is welcome here.

Questions?

FAQs

  • A Somatic Psychotherapist not only has the skills of traditional talk therapy, but has the added advantage of knowing how to listen, attune and respond to the subtle cues of the body and nervous system’s communication.

    For over 25 years I have been studying, practicing and teaching a wide-range of body-brain-movement therapy techniques to help people transform their anxiety, overwhelm, grief, trauma and chronic pain.

    Through my years of experience I have created my own unique blend of integrated somatic therapies that I have found to be the most effective for helping people get unstuck and move out of survival mode and into thriving mode.

    In sessions with me the main somatic modalities that I utilize will include:

    -Gentle movement, body awareness and re-wiring neural connections from NeuroMovement® and TheFeldenkrais®Method of Somatic Education

    -Awareness and integration of nervous system states from Applied Polyvagal trauma-informed therapy

    -Developing safety, support and increased capacity in the body through The Biology of Trauma lens (Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Parts work)

    -Utilizing mindfulness, breath, imagery and self-compassion from Buddhist meditation practices

  • Yes, Somatic Therapy is really effective through online work. Through the screen I am still able to listen, track and attune to your body and nervous system thoroughly.

    I am able to guide you through all of my somatic techniques as successfully online as in-person. Whether seated, lying down or standing up all of the movements can be explored online in your own space.

    At times I may ask you to adjust your screen when changing positions so I can be in connection with you, tracking your body’s subtle cues and shifts throughout the entire exercise.

    In general there are always advantages to working in-person, but there are also a significant number of advantages of working online. Since Covid many people have discovered that they actually prefer it as well.

    People appreciate the convenience of online therapy, not having to leave their home or office, get in their car and deal with traffic. They find that this actually alleviates a lot of extra stress and tension in their body when arriving to therapy as well as transitioning after the session.

    Safety is one of the key components to working with your nervous system when shifting chronic body-mind patterns through a somatic therapy process.

    Having sessions in your own environment orients you to an experience of familiarity, comfort and safety which can truly support the changes and facilitate the healing process.

  • In preparing for sessions together I encourage you to create a “therapy space” in your home or office that will support you in feeling the most comfortable and safe to express yourself.

    Choose a space in your environment that is private in which you will be uninterrupted for an hour.

    Gather together items that will help you to feel comforted and grounded through your senses such as a cup of tea, water, blanket, box of tissues, essential oils, etc.

    I also encourage you to have a notebook, pen, and colored markers for our mapping exercise and for taking notes.

    I suggest having some pillows, bolsters and a yoga mat nearby. Some of the movements may be done on the floor.