Somatic Therapy in Chicago
*Online Somatic Therapy in Illinois and Florida*
Living with trauma, anxiety, or chronic pain can feel overwhelming, leaving you constantly triggered, reactive, or shut down. It may seem impossible to manage your day-to-day responsibilities or nurture meaningful relationships. This isn't the life you imagined, and you know it's time for something different.
Somatic Therapy offers a compassionate and effective way to help you make that change. By integrating Somatic Experiencing and Safe and Sound Protocol, I can support you in your healing process, helping you regain control and find more peace and connection in your life.
Hi, I’m Amy!
You might feel overwhelmed by anxiety, weighed down by trauma, or struggling with chronic pain. These challenges can create ongoing fear and uncertainty, making it difficult to manage responsibilities, maintain relationships, or live the life you want. You may avoid tasks, worry about others' opinions, and feel trapped by persistent concerns about the future. I understand, and I'm here to help.
I help people feel more grounded and secure, empowering them to face challenges like daily stressors, personal responsibilities, and relationship struggles. Together, we’ll work on easing discomfort in your body and finding joy in your relationships and daily life, whether it’s overcoming physical pain or achieving emotional balance.
If you’re ready to feel more fulfilled, present, and connected in your life, schedule a free 20-minute consultation today.
Somatic Therapy in Chicago
My Approach to Somatic Therapy
I offer a compassionate and effective approach that helps you navigate the challenges of trauma, anxiety, chronic pain, and other emotional and physical struggles. Through Somatic Experiencing (SE), Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), and other somatic techniques, we work together to help you:
Become familiar with your body’s signals: Learn to listen to what your body is telling you and gain more control over how you respond to life’s stressors and challenges.
Release Stuck Energy: Heal old wounds and reduce overwhelming stress that manifest as present-day fight, flight, or freeze responses, as well as chronic pain and unpleasant sensations.
Differentiate between safety and danger: Develop the ability to stay grounded instead of automatically reacting or going numb when faced with stress.
Trust your body and emotions: Make decisions from a grounded place rather than a fearful one.
Ease physical symptoms: Reduce the severity of your physical symptoms, allowing you to be more present and enjoy what life has to offer.
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
This body-centered therapy helps release trauma and chronic stress stored in the body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, SE addresses how your body and nervous system responded to trauma, focusing on tuning into your body's sensations to release stuck energy. This recalibrates your nervous system, reduces triggers, and fosters resilience, creating a greater sense of well-being and a deeper connection with your body. Typically, you'll be seated as we work together to tune into the sensations in your body. If you’re open to it, I may invite you to stand, engage in gentle movements, push against a wall or desk, or hold something comforting, like a pillow, when I notice that it may feel helpful for you.
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
SSP is a specialized music therapy designed to bring a sense of safety to your nervous system. By using filtered music that targets the vagus nerve, SSP helps you tune into signals of safety and ease hypervigilance, tension, and anxiety. This leads to a more balanced nervous system, better capacity for stress, and healthier coping mechanisms, enhancing your ability to feel secure and at ease even in challenging situations.
Polyvagal Theory
My approach is grounded in Polyvagal Theory, which recognizes that our nervous system is designed to protect us. Trauma, anxiety, and chronic pain can leave you stuck in a state of heightened alertness, causing significant physical and emotional distress. Together, we’ll become more attuned to your different nervous system states by observing your body’s signals as you experience various emotions and discuss different situations. We’ll identify what your mind and body need in each state and use somatic practices to address those needs effectively.
Attachment Theory
Trauma and early relational experiences can deeply affect how we connect with others and ourselves. The patterns we develop in response to these early connections can make it difficult to feel safe and secure in relationships. By understanding and addressing these dynamics, we can work together to build more secure and trusting connections that support your well-being.
My Role as a Somatic Therapist
Therapy is not about me telling you what to do. It’s about us working together to find what works best for you. You’re in the driver’s seat, and I’m here to guide and support you. You choose what to share, what to explore, and how far you want to go. My approach is to ease you in and out of comfort and discomfort, helping you build a stronger connection with your emotions and your body’s responses. We’re not aiming to eliminate anxiety or discomfort entirely—that’s part of being human. Instead, we’re working to help you feel better and become better at feeling.
What You Can Expect with Somatic Therapy
Compassionate Support:
I’m here to offer warmth and understanding as we explore how your challenges affect you. I believe that everyone’s thoughts, feelings, triggers, and behaviors make sense when viewed through the lens of their life experiences, biology, temperament, and relationships.
A Focus on the Body:
Through Somatic Experiencing and Safe and Sound Protocol, we’ll explore how your body holds trauma and stress. Together, we’ll tune into your body’s signals, build capacity to stay present with intense sensations, and understand what your body needs to feel safe. Strengthening this connection can reduce discomfort, enhance resilience, and empower you to face life’s challenges with confidence.
Safety First:
In somatic therapy, we focus on expanding your window of tolerance, and you never have to revisit old memories unless you choose to. If they do come up, we take care to ensure you feel resourced to avoid retraumatization. We take things slowly, tapping into distress briefly and then returning to a more resourced state—a process called pendulation. This gradual approach builds your capacity to handle unpleasant thoughts and feelings, increasing resiliency and capacity for the hard stuff in life.
Holistic Healing:
Holistic Healing: When anxiety, trauma, or chronic pain takes hold, it can impact every part of your life—making it hard to be fully present in your work, relationships, or time with loved ones. By focusing on both your mind and body through somatic therapy, we can create deep, lasting healing that helps you reconnect with yourself and the world around you. As we work together, you may find relief from the constant stress and discomfort, allowing you to rediscover joy in activities and relationships that once brought you happiness.
If you’re ready to ease the grip of trauma, anxiety, or chronic pain and reclaim a sense of peace and connection, schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation. I’m here to support you every step of the way.
Somatic Therapy FAQs
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Somatic therapy, like Somatic Experiencing (SE), focuses on the body’s responses to stress and trauma, rather than just talking about your thoughts and feelings. It helps you tune into what’s happening in your body, so you can release built-up tension and feel more grounded.
SE is the foundation of my approach, and even if you choose to include the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), our work together will still be guided by SE’s principles. You can choose to explore SE, SSP, or a combination of both, depending on what feels right for you.
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Yes, as long as you’re open to becoming more connected with your body.
I’ll be there as a supportive presence, guiding you through the process at a pace that feels right for you. Sometimes, it’s helpful to avoid tuning in too deeply at the start or to focus on noticing what feels comfortable or neutral. The most important thing is feeling safe, and that often means taking things slowly. We’ll use plenty of practices to support you along the way.
That’s perfectly okay! I’ll be there as a supportive presence to guide you through the process in a way that feels comfortable for you. Sometimes, it’s helpful to avoid tuning in at the beginning of the session or focus on noticing what feels nice or neutral. The most important thing is felt safety, and often that means taking things really slow. We’ll use plenty of tools to support you along the way.
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Yes, absolutely! Many people find that somatic therapy complements traditional talk therapy. While talk therapy focuses on exploring thoughts, emotions, and past experiences through conversation, somatic therapy works directly with your body’s responses to stress and trauma. It’s not only about releasing stored stress, but also about supporting your nervous system in learning how to better differentiate between safety and danger—something that often gets confused due to past life experiences.
The two approaches—talk therapy and somatic therapy—can work together to support your overall healing. Talk therapy can help you process things on a mental level, while somatic therapy addresses the body’s role in holding onto stress and trauma. Together, they often lead to deeper, more lasting change.
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I currently offer virtual sessions only. Somatic therapy can be just as effective online because you’re in a space that feels comfortable and familiar. Being at home allows you to use personal comfort items, like a cozy blanket or a favorite chair, and even have your pet nearby, which can help you feel more at ease during our work together.
This sense of safety and control in your environment can enhance the effectiveness of the therapy, making it easier for us to focus on your healing.
Plus, online sessions make life easier—you don’t have to take time off work, deal with traffic, or worry about finding parking. It’s therapy that fits into your routine, with less stress and more convenience.
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Individual sessions are $180.
I don’t accept insurance, but I’m happy to provide a receipt that you can submit to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement.
There are additional costs for those who choose to include Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). The costs will vary based on whether you listen to the protocol outside of our sessions. For more details, please see the breakdown on the SSP page.
Get Help from a Chicago Somatic Therapist
Whether you’re dealing with the lingering effects of trauma, overwhelming anxiety, or chronic pain, I understand how challenging it can be. The constant triggers, worry, and emotional shutdowns can leave you drained, making it hard to manage daily life, maintain relationships, or focus on what truly matters. Avoiding challenges and fearing others' opinions only deepens the cycle of fear and uncertainty.
There is hope. With somatic therapy and the right tools to regulate your emotions, you can begin to experience real change. I’ve seen it happen with many clients—you can reclaim a fulfilling life and find the lasting relief you deserve, and I’m here to support you every step of the way.