Somatic Therapy | San Francisco

Takeaway: If you’re longing to embody your authentic self but aren’t sure how to get there, you’re in the right place. My practice offers specialized, virtual somatic therapy in San Francisco and throughout California. Connect with me today to discover how our work can help you come home to yourself.

Somatic therapist serving San Francisco

I'm Joanne Lai, a licensed therapist providing somatic psychotherapy for women facing burnout, trauma, chronic stress, and cultural challenges. My practice, Spiral and Bloom, centers on the idea that true healing and transformation begins by reconnecting with your body and sense of identity within a supportive environment. By blending somatic and talk therapy, I'll support your growth by fostering mindful body awareness, self-connection, and self-compassion. 

  • Credentials: Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified GYROTONIC® Trainer

  • Teletherapy and in-person somatic psychotherapy available.

  • Additional specialty areas: Women's issues, childhood trauma, identity and self-discovery, mind/body connection

1. Joanne Lai |

Here you'll feel seen, heard, and supported as you explore your experiences at your own pace. 

Safe, Nonjudgmental Environment:

I blend somatic experiencing and other body-oriented approaches with mindfulness and talk therapy to provide a comprehensive approach to healing.

Specialized in Trauma-Informed Somatic Practices:

I founded Spiral and Bloom with you in mind. Here you're invited to come as you are and embrace every part of yourself. Numerous women have found the support they needed to foster their healing through the care they received at the sanctuary. 

Why choose Spiral & Bloom Embodiment Sanctuary?

Access therapy from the comfort of your home, available throughout California.

Teletherapy Convenience: 

Each session is tailored to meet your unique needs, whether focusing on emotional regulation, burnout recovery, or personal growth.

Individualized Approach:

Years of dedicated training in somatic modalities ensure quality and compassionate care.

Experience & Training:

More somatic therapy resources:

4. Laurie Phuong Ertley 

Laurie is a dedicated therapist who integrates somatic experiencing and trauma-focused therapies to foster emotional healing, self-awareness, and physical health. Her approach helps clients navigate trauma, anxiety, and attachment challenges by reconnecting with their bodies and accessing deep emotional understanding. Laurie's practice empowers individuals to move beyond old patterns and develop healthier, more fulfilling relationships. She offers individual, family, and couples therapy.
  • Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
  • Teletherapy or in-person: Online therapy is available for California residents. In-person appointments are held in San Francisco, CA. 
  • Additional specialty areas: Relational/marital conflict, work performance, grief, addiction recovery, coming out, chronic pain, depression, cultural identity, healing trauma, life transitions 
  • Read bio

    2. Jenny Randt

    Jenny is a somatic practitioner based in Berkeley. Her approach to holistic healing is deeply rooted in the body-mind connection. She works with children and adults, and is particularly skilled in helping clients navigate chronic pain and concerns linked to distressing experiences and unresolved trauma. 
    • Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
    • Teletherapy or in-person: Sessions are available in person at Jenny's Berkeley office or virtually across California. 
    • Additional specialty areas: Trauma recovery, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain
    • Read bio

      3. Bianca Hovda, LMFT, SEP

      Bianca is a therapist in Oakland who offers a warm, compassionate approach to healing that focuses on the body-mind connection through somatic experiencing, expressive arts, and integrative therapies. Her work is particularly supportive for those managing ancestral and developmental trauma. She helps clients deepen their relationship with themselves and others, and encourages them to rediscover their authentic selves through creative and therapeutic exploration. Bianca provides therapy for teens, adults, and couples.
      • Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
      • Teletherapy or in-person: In-person appointments are available in Oakland and virtual therapy is open to California residents.
      • Additional specialty areas: Anxiety, depression, attachment/developmental trauma, self-esteem, self-harming, parent support 
      • Read bio

        Therapy can feel vulnerable, so it's important to find a therapist who is a good fit for you and with whom you feel safe. Clinician's vary in their approaches, counseling techniques, directness, conversation style, and more. When you decide to go to therapy, look through the therapist's profile to get a better feel for them. Many providers offer free consultations, so potential clients have the opportunity to ask questions. To help you explore your options, I’ve put together a list of other great somatic therapists in California.  

        Somatic therapy is a body oriented therapy used to address a wide range of issues including grief, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, chronic stress, nervous system disregulation, physical symptoms, and more. I specialize in treatment for burnout, stress, trauma recovery, relationship issues, and identity concerns. I use somatic approaches to treat your whole person and promote your holistic healing. 

        What does somatic therapy treat?


        You can search for somatic therapists through directories like Psychology Today, Therapy Den, or specialized platforms like the Somatic Experiencing International® directory. If you're looking for somatic trauma therapy in San Francisco or other areas of California, I offer virtual services for clients across the state. 

        How do I find a somatic therapist near me?

        A somatic therapist helps you explore the connection between your mind and body to process emotions and resolve trauma or distress. Sessions often include gentle exercises like body scans, grounding practices, mindfulness meditation, breathwork, and guided movement to help you build body awareness and release stored tension. For example, a session may involve focusing on physical sensations to help you notice how it feels in your body and its emotional connections.

        What does a somatic therapist do?

         Somatic Therapy

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        You don't have to try to navigate the healing process on your own. At the Embodied Sanctuary, you'll have a supportive setting to address feeling stuck or disconnected, relationship issues, traumatic experiences, stress, cultural and identity concerns, and more. I'll help you attune to yourself and gain a deeper understanding of how to care for your mind, body, and spirit. We'll tap into your inner wisdom and power to help guide your healing journey. 

        I offer personalized, virtual somatic psychotherapy in San Francisco and throughout California. If you're ready to reconnect with yourself and create positive change in your life, contact me today to schedule your free consultation. 

        Sources

        Kuhfuß, M., et al. "Somatic Experiencing – Effectiveness and Key Factors of a Body-Oriented Trauma Therapy: A Scoping Literature Review." European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2021. Accessed November 8, 2024.

        Neslihan, A.Ö. "The Effectiveness of Somatic Experience Based Stabilization Program for Refugee Women's Post-Traumatic Stress." Psycho-Educational Research Reviews, 2021. Accessed November 8, 2024.