Somatic Therapy California with Joanne Lai, LMFT
Reclaim your power, reconnect with your body, and discover your authentic self.
Somatic therapist in California
I’m Joanne Lai, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in somatic therapy. I believe that healing is a deeply personal journey, and my work focuses on helping you rediscover the innate wisdom your body holds.
I blend somatic therapies with psychotherapy and mindfulness-based approaches to create a therapeutic space that is both grounding and empowering. My goal is to support you in reconnecting with your body, processing past experiences, and moving forward with renewed clarity and resilience.
I blend somatic therapies with psychotherapy and mindfulness-based approaches to create a therapeutic space that is both grounding and empowering. My goal is to support you in reconnecting with your body, processing past experiences, and moving forward with renewed clarity and resilience.
- Credentials: Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified GYROTONIC® Trainer
- 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
- Google rating: 5 stars
- Specialty area(s): Trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, burnout, women’s issues, stress management, anxiety, depression, cultural concerns, identity work, relationship issues
- In-Person and Online Somatic Therapy California
Meet Joanne Lai |
I blend somatic practices with traditional talk therapy, offering a comprehensive healing experience that attends to both your mind and body. By integrating these methods, I help you care for your mental health, increase your body awareness, and achieve deeper, lasting change.
Holistic and integrative approach
I bring specialized expertise in somatic therapy for women, with a focus on the experiences and challenges that are often unique to a woman's life. I create a safe, nurturing space where you can explore your inner world, reconnect with your body, and grow at your own pace.
Deep understanding of women's issues
Spiral & Bloom is more than a therapy practice—it’s a sanctuary where you can feel truly seen and welcome. Here you’ll find:
Why choose Spiral & Bloom Embodiment Sanctuary?
I bring a deeply empathetic approach to every session, honoring your unique journey and pacing our work together in a way that feels right for you. My goal is to create a therapeutic relationship where you feel truly heard, respected, and supported.
Warm, compassionate care
You can access my services from anywhere in California, making it easier to fit therapy into your busy life.
Flexible telehealth options
At Spiral & Bloom, healing happens from the inside out, with a focus on reconnecting you to your inner strength and wisdom. I’m here to walk alongside you as you rediscover your power and create meaningful change in your life.
Somatic therapy is a holistic approach to healing that emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. It’s more than just talking about your experiences. This body-oriented therapy helps you notice physical sensations and understand how emotions and experiences show up in your body. As you begin to listen to your body, you learn more about what you need to heal. Somatic therapy techniques are used to address traumatic memories, chronic pain, mental health conditions, emotional distress, and more.
In a typical session, we may engage in gentle movement, breathwork, or guided imagery to access deeper layers of your experiences and understand any physical sensation. These practices help you release tension stored in your body and cultivate a stronger, more compassionate relationship with yourself. By listening to your body’s cues, you can tap into your inner wisdom to help guide your healing, leading to profound insights and meaningful change.
What is somatic therapy?
How can somatic therapy help women heal?
Healing is a unique and personal process for each individual. Somatic therapy honors your individual needs, experiences, and complex identity. This approach supports your healing by helping you:
Somatic therapy helps you learn how to access the deep healing power that resides within you. It's about reconnecting with every part of you to live more fully and authentically.
- Release stress, trauma, and other forms of emotional pain
- Reduce anxiety and increase emotional resilience
- Process a traumatic event
- Strengthen your mind-body connection
- Identify and understand your bodily sensations
- Cultivate self-compassion and mindfulness
- Improve relationships by fostering a deeper understanding of yourself
- Address physical symptoms, negative emotions, any trauma response, PTSD, or other mental health needs
- Reclaim a sense of power and control over your life
Somatic therapy helps you learn how to access the deep healing power that resides within you. It's about reconnecting with every part of you to live more fully and authentically.
Some may argue that somatic therapy lacks extensive empirical support like that of CBT or EMDR therapy. However, a growing number of research studies support somatic therapies, particularly somatic experiencing, and their effectiveness in treating trauma. If you want to learn more, read my blog post on the criticisms of somatic therapy.
What are the criticisms of somatic therapy?
Finding a therapist who feels like the right fit is essential. You can use therapy directories like Psychology Today and Inclusive Therapists to find licensed therapists. You can also use the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute’s practitioner directory. If you’re searching for somatic therapy in California, I offer in-person sessions in Fresno and virtual appointments for residents across the state.
How do I find a somatic therapist near me?
A somatic therapist helps you understand how your emotions and experiences manifest physically. We guide you in reconnecting with your body so that you can become aware of sensations and what your body is trying to tell you. We help you release stored tension and trauma and process emotions at a deeper level.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic therapy actively involves the body. We use mind-body techniques, such as breathing exercises, movement, and touch to access and heal stored trauma. The therapist's role is to provide a supportive space for exploration, guiding you through techniques that help you attune to your body and heal.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic therapy actively involves the body. We use mind-body techniques, such as breathing exercises, movement, and touch to access and heal stored trauma. The therapist's role is to provide a supportive space for exploration, guiding you through techniques that help you attune to your body and heal.
What does a somatic therapist do?
Somatic Therapy
FAQs about
More somatic therapy resources:
4 highly recommended somatic therapists in California
4. 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
3. 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
1. Jenny Randt
- Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Additional training: Certificate from Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, Certificate from Somatic Resilience & Regulation
- Specializes in working with: trauma & PTSD, anxiety, stress
2. Bianca Hovda, LMFT, SEP
- Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Additional training: Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
- Specializes in working with: trauma & PTSD, depression, anxiety
Therapy is a deeply personal process, and it's important to work with a therapist who feels like a good match for your unique needs, values, and goals. When looking for a therapist, consider factors such as their therapeutic approach, specialties, and the kind of atmosphere they create in sessions. Pay attention to how comfortable you feel during your initial conversations, and trust your intuition about whether you feel heard and understood. The right therapist should help you feel safe to explore difficult emotions, provide support in a way that resonates with you, and be open to adjusting the pace of therapy to meet you where you are. If I’m not the right fit for you, I’ve put together a list of other somatic therapists in California who might better meet your needs. These therapists use a body-centric approach that incorporates somatic experiencing therapy, body movement, or body psychotherapy.
Start your somatic healing journey today
Healing is an ongoing process, and taking the first step can be the most challenging. Spiral & Bloom is here to provide you guidance as you reclaim your power and reconnect with your body. Whether you’re struggling with traumatic events, childhood abuse, burnout, or your nervous system, or are simply seeking a deeper connection to yourself, somatic therapy can help you find relief and healing.
Reach out today to learn more or schedule your first somatic psychotherapy session.
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Sources
Andersen, T. E., et al. "A Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Somatic Experiencing for Chronic Low Back Pain and Comorbid Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms." European Journal of Psychotraumatology, May 2017. Accessed October 23, 2024.
Brom, D., et al. "Somatic Experiencing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Outcome Study." Journal of Traumatic Stress, June 30, 2017. Accessed October 23, 2024.
Madison Loeser, O., et al. “Healing the Body and Mind: Sensory and Somatic Interventions for Interpersonal Trauma.” 2021. Accessed October 23, 2024
