Therapist in Fort Lauderdale

*Online Therapy in Florida and Chicago*

Portrait of Amy Hagerstrom. Therapist in Fort Lauderdale.

Hi, I’m Amy!

If you’re seeking a therapeutic approach that helps you move from simply getting by to truly flourishing, you’re in the right place.

Together, we’ll figure out what you need to feel more in control of your emotional and physical responses—whether you’re dealing with trauma, everyday challenges, or major setbacks. You deserve to feel safe and secure in your own body, even when life gets overwhelming.

I understand how fear, anxiety, trauma, and chronic pain can hold you back from facing the hard stuff. It’s easy to worry about how others might perceive you or to feel like your big emotions are too much to manage. But I’m here to help you navigate these challenges.

Are you wondering if somatic work is for you? Or if we’re the right fit?

Fort Lauderdale Therapist

While I can’t say I know exactly what you’re going through, I pay close attention to what you need in each session, making sure we’re always working in a way that feels right for you. My approach to somatic work is rooted in a deep understanding of your unique experiences, personal goals, and identity. I’m committed to supporting you in the ways that matter.

I love my life now, but that wasn’t always the case...

There was a time when I struggled with severe anxiety and depression. I used to feel like I was always on edge, reacting to everything around me. I found myself easily overwhelmed and shutting down when things got too hard. I didn’t know how to break free. But through somatic work, I learned how to reconnect with my body and finally feel more grounded and in control.

I know firsthand how powerful this work can be.

Your circumstances are your own, and your healing process will be different from mine. My goal is to help you regain control over your responses and find peace through somatic therapy, which is informed by:

  • Personal experiences – the foundation of my compassionate and empathetic approach.

  • Education – I hold a Master’s in Social Work with a Certification in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, with years of experience providing therapy to adults and children.

  • Training and certifications – including Somatic Experiencing, massage, yoga, and Safe and Sound Protocol.

  • More than thirteen years of experience – facilitating mind-body healing for others.

I’m fully committed to helping you feel grounded in who you are while supporting you throughout your healing process. Many of my clients also work with a talk therapist while seeing me for mind-body therapy, allowing for a comprehensive approach to their mental and emotional well-being. Somatic therapy is an excellent complement to other forms of therapy you may be engaged in.

Let’s see if we’re a good fit.

Does Your Story Sound Like Mine?

Traditional talk therapy? Been there, done that.

But I needed more.

If you’ve tried traditional therapy and it hasn’t worked for you, I want you to know you’re not alone.

Talk therapy was helpful, but for me (and many of my clients), it didn’t go far enough. While it addressed some of the challenges, the mind alone couldn’t get me out of the constant cycles of anxiety and overwhelm.

I used to feel like I was always on edge, reacting to everything around me. Anxiety and depression kept me stuck, and I didn’t know how to break free. But through somatic work, I learned how to reconnect with my body and finally feel more grounded and in control.

Your mind plays a crucial role in your health, happiness, and success, but your body also has a significant part to play.

So, if talk therapy hasn’t been enough, somatic therapy might be exactly what you need to:

  • Be more attuned to your emotions and physical responses, so you can feel more confident and in control.

  • Reduce triggers that push you into a state of overwhelm or reactivity, making it easier to face challenges without fear.

  • Spend less time feeling like you need to fight or flee when you’re outside your comfort zone, and more time living the life you want.

  • Work with your body, rather than against it, so you can make decisions from a place of security and conviction.

I needed a mind-body approach to reconnect with myself and live in a way that felt true to me.

Before immersing myself in somatic therapy, I felt like everything that happened in my life was beyond my control—like an external force was steering my life instead of me.

I felt exhausted and confused about what I wanted and needed. With the help of somatic practices, I’ve gained ease, energy, and clarity in my daily life.

Now, I’m living with more clarity and capacity for the hard stuff, and you can experience that freedom, too.

Let’s connect and find out if somatic therapy is the right choice for you. 

Finding Ease and Balance with a Somatic Approach to Therapy

I integrate several therapeutic practices to help you find healing and achieve both internal and external balance.

Somatic Experiencing (SE)

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-based approach that helps your body release the trauma and stress it's holding onto, so you feel calmer and more at ease.

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a gentle listening therapy that helps your nervous system feel safe and balanced. It helps you distinguish between real danger and those moments when things feel scarier than they are.

Polyvagal Theory

Polyvagal Theory explains how our nervous system protects us, but when it’s stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or collapse, you can feel anxious, shut down, or on edge. Working with your nervous system helps you feel calmer, safer, and more in control.

With these approaches, we’ll help your body and mind work together, so you can feel more balanced, more in control, and better able to face life’s challenges.

We only explore what you’re comfortable with, and I’ll never push you beyond what feels safe.

My approach is compassionate, firm, and deeply supportive of your growth.

Together, we’ll cultivate a renewed appreciation for your body and foster a deep trust in your ability to understand and manage your emotions.

Reach out to begin your path toward healing.

Therapy Qualifications

Education, Trainings, and Certifications

Erikson Institute: MSW with Concentration in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Somatic Experiencing Institute: Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP)

Safe and Sound Protocol Trained and Certified

Clinical Applications of Polyvagal Theory in Trauma Treatment, Dr. Stephen Porges & Deb Dana

Advanced Concepts in Somatic Experiencing: Tactile Sensation, Sonia Gomes

Trauma Coupling Dynamics, Kathy Kain

Developmental Trauma, Later Stages, Raja Selvam

The New School of Massage, Bodywork, and Healing: Diploma

Cityoga: 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, Certificate (CYT)

A tree trunk and plants with the sun shining on them. Fort Lauderdale Florida therapist.

Get Help from a Fort Lauderdale Therapist

Living with trauma, anxiety, or chronic pain can take over your life, leaving you feeling stuck and drained. It’s easy to get caught in cycles of fear and emotional shutdown, making it hard to manage relationships, daily life, or focus on what matters.

But there is hope. Therapy with a somatic approach can help you feel more in control of your emotions and body. I’ve seen clients reclaim their lives and find relief, and I believe you can, too.

You don’t have to stay trapped by your past experiences or your pain. Together, we’ll work toward lasting change and a path forward that feels empowering.