Somatic Therapy
Somatic Therapy Overview
Somatic therapy in Santa Cruz focuses on how the body and nervous system influence emotional experience. Much of what we feel is shaped by processes outside of conscious awareness. Just as breathing and circulation happen automatically, the nervous system is continuously responding to the environment and working to maintain balance. When the nervous system perceives stress or threat, it may shift into states commonly described as fight, flight, or shutdown. In these states, it can become more difficult to feel connected, calm, or present.
The Somatic Therapy Process
Because of this, emotional distress is not always resolved through cognitive strategies alone. Persistent negative thoughts may be connected to nervous system activation or implicit emotional memory. In trauma-informed therapy, these patterns are often understood as protective responses that developed over time. In my Santa Cruz therapy practice, I use somatic therapy, polyvagal theory, and mindfulness-based approaches to support nervous system regulation. Practices such as breath work, body awareness, and sensory grounding can help shift these states and provide an “off ramp” when the mind feels stuck in repetitive loops.
Benefits of Somatic Therapy
This integrative approach to somatic therapy may support clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress-related conditions. Over time, clients often develop greater flexibility in responding to stress, along with increased access to connection, presence, and overall well-being.
My Approach to Somatic Therapy and What to Expect
I also integrate Jungian active imagination and guided visualization to access unconscious emotional material. These approaches can support deeper insight while also engaging the body in the healing process. Research shows that practices like meditation, visualization, and breath work can have measurable physiological effects, supporting both emotional and physical regulation. Somatic and polyvagal-informed therapy is available in-person in Santa Cruz and via telehealth throughout California.
