Somatic Therapy in Petaluma and Online
Reconnect with your body. Change patterns at the root.
You may already understand your anxiety, self-doubt, or relationship patterns, but in the moments that matter, they still take over. Even when things seem fine on the surface, your body can stay tense or on alert, as if it learned this somewhere along the way and hasn’t fully updated. You might see the patterns clearly, but something else seems to step in and override that understanding. It’s not just in your thoughts. There’s a part of your system that stays activated or pulled in certain directions, often outside of conscious control. For some people, this connects to earlier experiences where the body learned to stay on alert, even if life looks stable now.
Somatic therapy works directly with the part of your system where these patterns are actually happening. Instead of trying to change your thoughts, we work with the part of you that holds stress, trauma, and emotional patterns beneath awareness—so change can happen in a way that actually holds. This work can be helpful whether you think of what you’re dealing with as anxiety, self-criticism, or patterns your body learned a long time ago.
What It’s Like to Work Together
This isn’t about pushing through or forcing change.
We slow things down and pay attention to what’s actually happening in your system, moment to moment. That might include subtle shifts in tension, breath, emotion, or activation—whatever is present.
The pace matters. We’re not trying to overwhelm your system or dig things up too quickly. Instead, we work in a way that helps you stay present with what’s happening, while also feeling grounded enough to not get pulled under by it. Most people find this feels different from the kind of work where you’re trying to figure things out or get somewhere.
Over time, this builds your capacity to be with experiences that may have previously felt too much, or too automatic to interrupt. And as that capacity grows, the patterns themselves begin to shift—without needing to be forced.
You don’t have to be sure this is the right fit. Reaching out is just a conversation—we can get a sense together
This Might Be a Good Fit
This work tends to resonate if:
Your body rarely fully settles—there’s a constant low level of tension, alertness, or pressure, even when things are okay
You understand your patterns, sometimes very clearly, but they don’t shift in the moments that matter
You’ve done therapy before, or worked through things cognitively, and something deeper still feels unresolved
Your reactions feel automatic—like something in your system responds before you have a choice
You have a sense your body is holding onto something you can’t quite access through thinking alone
You suspect earlier experiences may still be shaping how your system responds, even if you don’t think of it as “trauma”
You don’t need to check all of these. If some part of this feels familiar, it may be worth exploring.
What Happens Next
If you reach out, I’ll get back to you within 1–2 business days.
From there, we can schedule a brief consultation to get a sense of what’s going on and whether this feels like a good fit.
Alternatively, you can schedule a consultation directly on my calendar.
There’s no pressure to move forward if you schedule a consultation. It’s simply a chance to connect and see if this kind of work makes sense for you. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask me questions about therapy or working with me.
About Me
I’m a trauma-informed therapist with extensive experience working with anxiety, nervous system dysregulation, and long-standing patterns that haven’t shifted through insight alone
Somatic Therapy FAQ
What is somatic therapy, in simple terms?
Somatic therapy focuses on how your thoughts, emotions, and body are connected. Instead of only talking about your experiences, we also pay attention to what’s happening in your body—where patterns like anxiety, tension, and emotional reactions are often held.
Is this different from regular talk therapy?
Yes. We still talk, but we don’t stay only at the level of thoughts.
We also work with your emotional and physical experience in real time, which often leads to deeper and more lasting change.
Will I have to do anything uncomfortable?
There is some discomfort whenever we talk about difficult feelings. However, it is important that we go at a pace that feels manageable for you.
The goal isn’t to overwhelm you, but to gradually build your ability to stay present with your experience in a way that feels safe and supportive.
How do I know if this is a good fit for me?
If you’ve done some personal work but still feel stuck—or you’re looking for something deeper than traditional talk therapy—this approach may be a good fit.
We can also talk through this during a consultation.