Online Somatic Therapy in Chicago, IL

Somatic therapy still includes conversation, while also paying attention to what is happening in your body as you talk. That may include sensations, changes in breathing, muscle tension, posture, movement, or an urge to pull away, push back, or shut down.

When these responses show up, we can slow down and work with them in the moment. We might stay with a sensation or emotion, follow an impulse to move, experiment with movement or posture, or find more physical support and notice what happens. My approach is grounded in Somatic Experiencing (SE), which gives us a way to work directly with patterns in the nervous system as they are happening.

This can be especially helpful when you understand why you react a certain way but find that the response still happens automatically when you’re stressed or overwhelmed. Working with both mind and body can create more room for those responses to change.

We work at a pace that feels manageable. You don’t have to relive traumatic experiences or stay with sensations or emotions that become overwhelming.

For many people, yes. Somatic therapy can be especially helpful when you’ve gained insight into your patterns but still find yourself becoming overwhelmed, shutting down, or reacting in ways that are difficult to change.

My work is grounded in Somatic Experiencing (SE), which focuses on helping your nervous system become more flexible and resilient. Rather than trying to eliminate difficult emotions or erase the past, the goal is to help you develop a greater capacity to stay present, recover more easily from stress, and have more choice in how you respond.

Research on Somatic Experiencing is growing, particularly for trauma and stress-related symptoms. Like any therapy, results vary from person to person and depend on factors such as what brings you to therapy, your goals, and your willingness to engage in the work.

Yes. Many people have difficulty noticing what is happening in their bodies. For some, tuning into physical sensations may feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or even overwhelming, especially after trauma or other experiences that were too much to take in at the time.

You don’t need to come to therapy with strong body awareness, and you won’t be expected to focus inward when that feels like too much. We can begin with whatever feels more accessible, such as noticing the support of the chair beneath you, looking around the room, sensing your feet on the floor, or noticing an urge to shift your position.

As we work together, we can find ways of bringing attention to your body that feel manageable for you. With practice, you may become more familiar with your body’s signals and develop more capacity to stay with what you notice without becoming overwhelmed.

I currently offer online sessions only. Somatic therapy can work well online, and the practices we use in session can be adapted to working together through video.

Being in your own environment can also be helpful for somatic work. You have access to the things that naturally support you, whether that’s a favorite chair, a blanket, or even a pet nearby. We can also work with what’s available in your space through movement, posture, orienting, and other somatic practices.

When the session ends, you don’t have to immediately get in the car or navigate traffic. If you need a few minutes to settle before moving on with your day, you can stay in your own space and give yourself that time.

Online therapy also allows you to work with a therapist whose approach fits what you’re looking for, even if there isn’t a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) near you. I provide online therapy for adults throughout Illinois.

Yes. I’m licensed in Illinois and provide online therapy for adults throughout the state, including Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Although I now live in Florida, I lived and worked in Chicago for many years and continue to work with clients throughout Illinois.

Individual 55-minute therapy sessions are $200. There are additional costs if we incorporate the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) or Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) into our work.

You can find more information about these listening therapies and their costs on the SSP and RRP pages.

I am not in-network with any insurance plans. If your PPO plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, I can provide a monthly superbill that you can submit for possible reimbursement.

Because reimbursement varies by plan, I recommend checking with your insurance company about your out-of-network deductible, reimbursement rate, and coverage for telehealth sessions with a licensed clinical social worker.

You will also receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges as required by federal law.