Somatic Therapy in Chicago

Compassionate Mind-body support to help ease overwhelm, calm reactivity, and restore a sense of steadiness.

Online Somatic Therapist for Residents of Illinois

Beach and Ocean at sunrise. Chicago Somatic Experiencing Therapy
Beach and ocean at sunrise. Chicago Somatic Experiencing Practitioner

Talk therapy can help, but sometimes understanding your emotions isn’t enough—you still feel stuck.

Somatic therapy is different. It works with both mind and body, helping you release tension and shift automatic stress responses.

Instead of just thinking your way through challenges, this approach helps you feel more connected to yourself and move through life with greater ease.

It takes courage to acknowledge when something isn’t working, and I truly respect that.

Portrait of Amy Hagerstrom in a park. Somatic Therapy in Chicago.

Hi, I’m Amy!

I’m really glad you’re here.

Stress and overwhelm can take over fast. Maybe you’re snapping at loved ones, avoiding hard things, or shutting down when it all feels like too much. Or maybe it’s more subtle—anxious spiraling, zoning out just to get through the day, or a heaviness in your body that won’t go away.

Either way, something isn’t working.

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, I help people break free from these patterns and build resilience—so they can feel more in control, connected to the people they love, and capable of handling life’s challenges.

Together, we’ll help your nervous system settle, ease emotional and physical tension, and create space for relief, clarity, and more ease in your daily life.

Somatic Therapist in Chicago

Man on bike looking out at water, smile on face. Somatic therapy in Chicago
  • PTSD

  • Anxiety

  • Burnout

  • Chronic Pain

  • Chronic Illness

  • Life Transitions

  • Guilt and Shame

  • Complex Trauma

  • Family/Relationship Conflict

  • Emotional Reactivity/Overwhelm

  • Substance use and/or other addiction

Common Issues and Concerns of people Seeking Somatic Therapy

Even after talk therapy, stress, emotional pain, or physical discomfort can linger—often showing up in your body as tension or restlessness. It can feel like you’re stuck in overdrive, unable to fully relax or feel connected with yourself.

While talk therapy provides valuable insight, it doesn’t always address how your body holds onto stress. Through Somatic Experiencing (SE) and if you choose, Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), we’ll work together to release the weight you’ve been carrying. As this tension eases, you’ll feel calmer, more connected, and better equipped to handle life’s challenges.

Somatic therapy helps you:

  • Tune into your body’s signals and respond in ways that feel supportive.

  • Release the tension and stress keeping you stuck.

  • Build the capacity to stay steady in stressful situations.

  • Reconnect with what truly matters to you.

We’ll go at a pace that feels right, focusing on what your body needs to feel more at ease and aligned with yourself and your life.

Healing from the Inside Out: My Approach to Somatic Therapy

This work is deeply personal, and I want you to know that I hold it with care. You deserve support that meets you where you are—without judgment, without pressure. Just a space that’s yours.

Dive Into Somatic Experiencing and Safe and Sound Protocol for Lasting Change

  • Woman resting in chair with eyes closed and head resting on hands. Somatic psychotherapy Illinois

    Somatic Experiencing

    Somatic Experiencing is a gentle yet effective therapy that helps release stored trauma and stress from your body, calming your nervous system and restoring balance.

  • White over-the-ear headphones over a flowering plant. Mind-body therapy in Illinois

    Safe and Sound Protocol

    Safe and Sound Protocol uses specially filtered music to calm your nervous system, helping you sense safety and feel more grounded in your daily life.

Somatic Therapy FAQs

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Individual 55 minute sessions are $180.

    **If you feel like somatic psychotherapy could be the missing piece in your healing but cost is a barrier, I offer a limited number of reduced-fee spots based on availability. If a lower fee would help make this work more accessible, let’s talk and see what’s possible.

    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

If you’re feeling stuck in cycles of emotional reactivity, shutting down, or just moving through life feeling disconnected, I want you to know that you’re not broken. What you’re experiencing makes sense, given what you’ve been through. And more importantly, you don’t have to stay stuck here.

Somatic therapy can help you slow down, reconnect with your mind and body, and start healing what’s underneath these patterns. I’d be honored to walk alongside you in this process, creating a space where you feel safe, supported, and truly heard.

Together, we’ll create space for you to feel more grounded, present, and connected—to yourself and the life you want.

Reach Out Today

Get started by filling out the form or clicking on the link to set up a consult call to get started.

https://calendly.com/amy-amyhagerstrom/consultation

If you don’t see a day and time that fits your schedule, send a message on the form below and we will find a time that works for both of us.

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