Somatic Therapist Fresno | Joanne Lai
As a somatic therapist, it’s my mission to empower women to fully embody their truest selves. Through my holistic approach to somatic therapy, you’ll experience deep transformation and learn the tools you need to keep growing. Connect with me today to get started.
If you’re feeling disconnected from yourself or facing past trauma, chronic stress, a dysregulated nervous system, or unresolved emotions, somatic therapy can offer a path to healing and relieving pain.
I use this therapeutic approach to address your mental, emotional, and physical needs and promote your whole well-being. This type of treatment looks at the connection between the body and mind, recognizing that mental health concerns can show up in the body and vice versa.
Through somatic therapy techniques, I’ll help you learn to attune to your body, reconnect with the different aspects of yourself, release trauma, and embrace your whole complex identity.
Takeaway:
My Approach |
to somatic counseling
At Spiral and Bloom, our approach to somatic therapy centers on fostering a safe and nurturing environment. One where you feel empowered to explore your mind-body connection and embrace your most authentic self.
I believe that true healing occurs when we’re able to connect with our body and integrate all aspects of ourselves. By utilizing somatic experiencing practices, such as mindfulness, body awareness, and trauma-informed care, I’ll help you navigate emotional stress and uncover your growth potential.
Somatic therapy allows you to address deep-seated traumas and emotions stored within the body. For women experiencing burnout or feeling disconnected from themselves, this approach offers you the opportunity to explore your identities, reconnect with your body, and reclaim your sense of wholeness.
Burnout often manifests in physical symptoms, such as fatigue, chronic pain, muscle tension, and headaches. By tuning into bodily sensations and exploring how they relate to your emotional experiences, you can then address the underlying causes of stress, exhaustion, and negative emotions and release physical tension.
Traumatic experiences and burnout can lead to a sense of disconnection from yourself, your passions, and your values. Somatic therapies aim to empower you to reconnect with your body, intuition, and inner wisdom, which gives you a deeper understanding of yourself. It can also help you realign your life with your purpose and beliefs.
Through gentle exploration and embodied practices, you can heal from burnout and traumatic events, restore balance to your life, and cultivate greater resilience and well-being.
Somatic therapist in Fresno
Hello, I'm Joanne Lai, a licensed mental health professional located in Fresno, California. I specialize in using somatic therapy to help women heal and overcome burnout, trauma, stress, and cultural issues while strengthening their relationships with themselves and others.
Spiral and Bloom is built on the belief that lasting healing can happen when we connect with and embrace our bodies and identities. And, we must have a safe and accepting place to learn how to do this.
I join together somatic therapy and talk therapy to provide a holistic treatment that addresses all of your needs. We’ll use body movement in the present moment to help you forge a deeper relationship with yourself and attune to your body. You don’t have to heal on your own. I’ll join you on your journey of self-discovery and wholeness.
Learn more about my therapeutic services.
Spiral and Bloom is built on the belief that lasting healing can happen when we connect with and embrace our bodies and identities. And, we must have a safe and accepting place to learn how to do this.
I join together somatic therapy and talk therapy to provide a holistic treatment that addresses all of your needs. We’ll use body movement in the present moment to help you forge a deeper relationship with yourself and attune to your body. You don’t have to heal on your own. I’ll join you on your journey of self-discovery and wholeness.
- Credentials: Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified GYROTONIC® Trainer
- License number: 121155, California
- Education: Master’s of Art in Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Illinois Master’s of Science in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy, California State University, California
- In-Person and Teletherapy Available
- Providing trauma therapy since 2016
- Modalities used include: Somatic Experiencing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Attachment-Based, Breathwork, and Family Therapy
Learn more about my therapeutic services.
Meet Joanne Lai |
We believe in addressing the root cause of issues by integrating the mind and body into the healing process. Our approach to somatic therapy recognizes your deep interconnectedness and that true healing occurs when all parts of yourself are nurtured and balanced. Through somatic psychotherapy, we’ll support you in reconnecting with your body and inner wisdom.
At Spiral & Bloom, we’re passionate about helping women lead whole and fulfilling lives. We’re here to support your connectedness to each aspect of yourself and encourage your flourishing.
Holistic Treatment
We understand that you’re unique, with your own set of experiences, challenges, strengths, and goals. That's why we take a highly personalized approach to somatic therapy. Each session is carefully tailored to meet your specific needs, ensuring that you receive the support and guidance that promotes your healing.
Whether it's exploring past traumas, managing stress, or enhancing self-awareness, we’ll collaborate with you to create a customized treatment plan that addresses your concerns and goals, while fostering deep transformation.
A Tailored Approach
If you're seeking transformative, lasting healing, Spiral & Bloom offers a compassionate and welcoming environment, where you can come as you are and find acceptance. Here, you’ll receive somatic therapy that involves:
Why choose Spiral & Bloom for somatic counseling in Fresno
Without a doubt. Somatic therapy offers invaluable benefits that extend far beyond traditional talk therapy. By engaging with and learning to listen to your body's innate wisdom through somatic practices, you can foster your self-awareness, emotional regulation, and stress reduction.
Somatic experiencing therapy has been used for healing trauma, as well as treating chronic pain, depression, and other mental health conditions. A recent study found that somatic therapy was effective in reducing participants' symptoms of PTSD and increasing their mindfulness.
I've utilized somatic therapy techniques with numerous women to help decrease distressing physical and psychological symptoms and improve mental health. This form of trauma therapy has helped so many of my clients resolve past traumas held in their bodies leading to profound healing and liberation.
Somatic experiencing therapy has been used for healing trauma, as well as treating chronic pain, depression, and other mental health conditions. A recent study found that somatic therapy was effective in reducing participants' symptoms of PTSD and increasing their mindfulness.
I've utilized somatic therapy techniques with numerous women to help decrease distressing physical and psychological symptoms and improve mental health. This form of trauma therapy has helped so many of my clients resolve past traumas held in their bodies leading to profound healing and liberation.
Is somatic therapy worth it?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and somatic therapy are different forms of treatment. Both are often used to treat trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
EMDR primarily focuses on reprocessing traumatic memories in the brain through bilateral stimulation. It's more structured and protocol-driven, with sessions planned around specific phases, including history-taking, preparation, desensitization, installation, and body scan.
Somatic therapy aims to address the mind-body connection and uses a wide variety of techniques to promote healing. This method is more flexible and individualized, with the therapist tailoring treatment to the unique needs of each client.
Both EMDR and somatic therapy can be effective in treating trauma and promoting healing. They may also be used in conjunction with one another or as standalone approaches, depending on the client's needs and preferences.
Is EMDR the same as somatic therapy?
Somatic therapists play a crucial role in guiding you through the relationship between your emotional experiences, mental health, and physical sensations. They might start a session with an activity to increase awareness of your bodily sensations, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or body scans. They'll likely then encourage you to notice and describe physical sensations as they arise. This can help you connect with and process emotions and experiences stored in the body.
During sessions, they may use movement and posture exercises to help you release tension, build body awareness, and promote relaxation. Somatic therapists will also encourage you to explore and process memories, emotions, or a traumatic experience stored in the body. This might involve guided imagery, visualization, or somatic experiencing techniques to gently release stored tension and emotions.
Various somatic therapies, such as body-centered awareness, breathing exercises, and mindfulness, can facilitate your healing and personal growth. By fostering a safe and supportive environment, I'll help you explore and understand how past traumas, stressors, and emotions show up in your body. I’ll also empower you to cultivate a deeper connection with yourself that promotes your resilience and self-awareness.
During sessions, they may use movement and posture exercises to help you release tension, build body awareness, and promote relaxation. Somatic therapists will also encourage you to explore and process memories, emotions, or a traumatic experience stored in the body. This might involve guided imagery, visualization, or somatic experiencing techniques to gently release stored tension and emotions.
Various somatic therapies, such as body-centered awareness, breathing exercises, and mindfulness, can facilitate your healing and personal growth. By fostering a safe and supportive environment, I'll help you explore and understand how past traumas, stressors, and emotions show up in your body. I’ll also empower you to cultivate a deeper connection with yourself that promotes your resilience and self-awareness.
What does a somatic therapist do?
Somatic Experiencing Therapy
FAQs about
Somatic Experiencing Therapy
More somatic therapy resources:
4 highly recommended somatic therapists in California
1. Laurie Phuong Ertley
- Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Additional training: Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Attachment-Focused EMDR Therapist, Sensorimotor Therapist
- Specializes in working with: people of color, cultural identities, trauma, depression, anxiety
2. Inertia DeWitt
- Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Additional training: Certified Brain Health Professional, Certified Yoga Teacher, EMDR Practitioner, Somatic Therapy Practitioner, Brainspotting Practitioner
- Specializes in: somatic therapy
3. Kanchan Sachdev
- Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Additional training: Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Expressive Arts Therapist, Brainspotting Practitioner, Gottman Method
- Specializes in working with: trauma, relationships, immigrant issues, inter-racial couples, and person-of-color challenges
4. Alicia Phonsurin
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Additional training: Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, EMDR Practitioner,
- Specializes in working with: complex trauma
Begin healing your mind, body, and spirit today
At Spiral & Bloom, we're committed to nurturing all of you. We'll prioritize your mental health alongside your physical health to support your overall wellness.
With our compassionate approach and expertise in somatic therapy, we’ll guide and support you on your healing journey. Reach out today for a free consultation.
