A more embodied approach to healing
Somatic Therapy in Western Washington & Online
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to healing that recognizes the interconnectedness of the body, mind, emotions, and nervous system. Rather than focusing solely on thoughts or talking through experiences, somatic therapy invites us to pay attention to how those experiences are showing up in your body, emotions, and relationships in the present moment.
Our bodies are continually responding to and holding the imprint of our experiences. Sometimes, even when we understand something intellectually, our nervous system and protective patterns haven't quite caught up. Somatic therapy creates space to explore these deeper responses, develop greater awareness of what's happening within you, and begin creating change that extends beyond intellectual understanding.
My approach draws from somatic psychotherapy, trauma-conscious yoga, mindfulness, yogic philosophy, polyvagal theory, and other body-based practices to create a flexible, individualized way of working. Rather than asking you to push through discomfort or follow a predetermined sequence, we slow down and pay attention to what feels supportive, what feels like too much, and what your body might be communicating along the way.
This means there is no "right" way to do the work. Depending on your needs, our work might include gentle movement, breathing practices, mindfulness, grounding, guided self-inquiry, parts work, or simply noticing what's happening inside you. We'll adapt the work to you, not the other way around. Throughout the process, your sense of choice, agency, and safety remain central.
My approach is also rooted in social justice and recognizes that trauma doesn't happen in a vacuum. Personal, relational, generational, and systemic experiences can all shape how we move through the world, experience our bodies, and relate to ourselves and others. Your experiences don't have to meet some threshold of "big enough" to matter. We make space for the whole context of your life and honor the ways your identities and lived experiences shape your healing.
At its heart, this work is about developing a different relationship with yourself and your body- not forcing yourself to change, but learning to listen with greater curiosity, compassion, and choice. Over time, you can begin to feel more at home in your body, more connected to yourself, and more able to move through difficult experiences without losing yourself in the process.
It’s not about fixing what’s “wrong”, it’s about learning how to listen to your system, build safety from within, and access more calm, connection, and choice in daily life.
How does somatic therapy work?
Learn to stay present and feel more at home in your body.
Somatic therapy is a flexible, individualized approach that supports trauma healing, emotional regulation, and self-connection for trauma survivors, deep feelers, and really, all humans navigating life's challenges.
In our work together, we'll explore what's happening beneath the surface of your thoughts and emotions, paying attention to the ways your body and nervous system respond to different experiences. Rather than trying to control, suppress, or push past what you're feeling, we'll practice working with your body rather than against it, developing greater awareness of what you're experiencing and finding ways to move through overwhelm, emotional flooding, anxiety, and disconnection with more choice and compassion.
Depending on what feels supportive and relevant to you, our sessions might incorporate gentle movement, breath work, mindfulness, grounding, guided self-inquiry, or other somatic practices like Brainspotting. Sometimes the work involves slowing down and noticing what's happening inside. Other times, it might involve exploring a particular sensation, emotion, memory, or protective response with greater curiosity and support.
Through these practices, you may begin to notice greater body awareness, mental clarity, grounding, and a deeper sense of calm. You may find it easier to recognize what your body is communicating, stay present with difficult emotions, and develop a more trusting relationship with yourself. For some people, this work can also bring a sense of emotional or energetic release as experiences that have been held in the body begin to shift.
These experiences can sometimes be powerful or unexpected. You never have to force a release or push beyond what feels supportive. My role is to stay alongside you, help you stay grounded and connected to yourself, and make space for whatever your experience is asking for in the moment.
This approach gives you…
A deeper understanding of your nervous system - so you can recognize your patterns and responses with greater clarity and less judgment.
Practical ways to regulate and reconnect - through breathwork, mindful movement, grounding, and awareness practices that can support shifts in how you feel, both in and outside of sessions.
An increased capacity for resilience - so you can navigate life's ups and downs with more ease, presence, and confidence.
Support in healing the impact of past stress and trauma - by developing a greater sense of safety within yourself and reconnecting with your own inner resources.
Frequently asked questions about somatic therapy
FAQs
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Traditional talk therapy often focuses on exploring thoughts, emotions, experiences, and behaviors through conversation. Somatic therapy incorporates those same elements while also paying attention to what's happening in your body and nervous system.
Sometimes, you can understand exactly why you respond a certain way and still find yourself repeating the same patterns. Somatic therapy offers another way to explore those experiences, helping you connect what you know intellectually with what you're experiencing internally. It doesn't have to be one or the other; somatic work can be integrated with traditional talk therapy to support a more holistic therapeutic experience. Learn more.
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Somatic therapy can be helpful for people navigating complex trauma, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, attachment wounds, chronic stress, and difficulty regulating their emotions. It can also support people who feel disconnected from themselves, struggle to identify or communicate their needs, or find themselves repeating patterns they understand intellectually but have difficulty changing.
You don't need a specific diagnosis or even a history of trauma to benefit. Somatic therapy can be valuable for anyone wanting to develop greater self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and a more trusting relationship with themselves. Learn more.
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Somatic therapy looks different for everyone and can vary depending on what you're working through and what feels supportive in the moment. Sessions may include traditional therapeutic conversation alongside practices like breath work, gentle movement, mindfulness, grounding, guided self-inquiry, or noticing sensations and emotions as they arise.
Sometimes we'll explore a particular feeling, memory, or protective response. Other times, the work might involve slowing down, reconnecting with yourself, or simply noticing what's happening internally. There's no predetermined sequence or expectation that you need to do anything a certain way. We'll adapt the work to your needs, preferences, and capacity. Learn more.
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No. Although my approach is informed by trauma-conscious yoga and incorporates elements of mindful movement, yoga philosophy, and other body-based practices, somatic therapy doesn't require you to do yoga, exercise, or move your body in any particular way.
Depending on your needs and preferences, we might explore gentle movement, breathwork, grounding, meditation, or other practices. Sometimes, simply noticing what's happening inside your body is enough. Your comfort, autonomy, and sense of choice are always central to the process. Learn more.
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That's completely OK. For some people, tuning into their bodies feels unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or even overwhelming, particularly when they've experienced trauma or learned to disconnect from physical sensations as a way of coping.
We don't have to start by focusing inward or asking you to notice things that don't feel supportive. We can work gradually, finding different ways to build awareness and connection while respecting your boundaries and capacity. Sometimes, developing a greater sense of choice around when and how you connect with your body is part of the healing itself. Learn more.