7 Tips for Overcoming Anxiety with Somatic Therapy in the Bay Area (and Beyond)
In the fast-paced rhythm of the Bay Area, anxiety can feel ever-present—like a constant background hum. Whether you're managing a high-stress job in tech, navigating a major life transition, or struggling with relationship patterns like people-pleasing, anxiety can take a toll on both your mental and physical health.
As a psychotherapist who specializes in Individual Therapy for Anxiety and Depression, Life Transitions, Relationship Therapy, People-Pleasing and Codependency, Women's Issues, and Somatic Therapy, I support clients in reconnecting with their bodies and emotions—especially when talk therapy alone doesn’t feel like enough.
If you’re ready to reduce anxiety and feel more grounded in your everyday life, somatic therapy may offer the nervous system support you need. Whether you're located in the Bay Area or are an American expat living in London or Europe, these seven somatic-based tips can help you reconnect with your body, regulate your emotions, and feel more like yourself again.
1. Understand the Basics of Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy focuses on the intricate connection between your body and emotions. Instead of relying solely on verbal processing, somatic therapy helps you tune into physical sensations, such as tightness in your chest or tension in your jaw—clues your body gives about your emotional state.
Well-established somatic approaches include:
Somatic Experiencing (SE) – Developed by Dr. Peter Levine to help complete interrupted fight/flight/freeze responses and discharge trauma stored in the nervous system.
Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) – Created by Elaine Miller-Karas and her team at the Trauma Resource Institute, TRM focuses on building resiliency through “resourcing” and tracking body sensations to bring the nervous system back into regulation.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy – Developed by Pat Ogden, combines somatic awareness with attachment theory and neurobiology.
Understanding the principles of somatic therapy allows you to begin viewing anxiety not as something “in your head,” but as something your body is trying to communicate.
✅ Source: Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.
2. Work with a Therapist Who Honors Your Body’s Wisdom
As a therapist trained in mindfulness and somatic therapy, I work with clients both locally and internationally to explore how anxiety shows up in the body. Whether you're a Bay Area native or an American expat living in London or Europe, I offer individual sessions tailored to your unique nervous system and life story.
My approach blends somatic modalities like Somatic Experiencing, TRM, and iRest Yoga Nidra, with depth-oriented psychotherapy. Whether you're working through relationship wounds, healing from burnout, or reconnecting with your sense of self, somatic therapy offers powerful tools for transformation.
📍 Interested in working together? Book a free consultation to learn more about somatic therapy sessions available in California, Florida, and internationally.
Incorporate Body Awareness Practices
Practices like yoga, iRest, and body scans can improve your ability to notice and respond to subtle shifts in your nervous system. These gentle, non-invasive techniques build interoception—your awareness of what’s happening inside your body—and are especially helpful for those with anxiety, chronic stress, or dissociation.
By bringing attention to how your body feels in the moment, you increase your capacity to regulate emotion and decrease reactivity. This is especially powerful for women and people-pleasers who’ve been taught to override their inner signals.
✅ Source: Miller, R. (2014). iRest Meditation: Restorative Practices for Health, Resilience, and Well-being. New Harbinger Publications.
4. Practice Grounding Techniques for Anxiety
Grounding techniques are essential somatic tools for helping your nervous system return to a calm state. Practices may include:
Deep diaphragmatic breathing
Orienting to your surroundings (noticing colors, shapes, and sounds)
Feeling your feet on the floor or placing your hands on your heart
Resourcing—a TRM technique where you recall positive people, places, or experiences that help you feel safe and supported
These techniques activate the parasympathetic nervous system, signaling to your brain and body that you are safe—reducing the physiological symptoms of anxiety.
5. Try Movement-Based Therapies
Movement allows the body to express what words cannot. Whether it’s trauma-informed yoga, dance therapy, Tai Chi, or intuitive movement at home, moving your body can support emotional release and increase presence.
Somatic therapies that involve movement can be particularly supportive for women healing from body disconnection, perfectionism, or intergenerational trauma. Gentle movement reestablishes your rhythm, helping you come back to yourself.
6. Create a Safe and Soothing Space at Home
Your external environment affects your internal one. Carve out a corner of your home where you can practice somatic techniques free from distraction. This space might include:
Soft lighting
A yoga mat or meditation cushion
Calming music or nature sounds
Aromatherapy (lavender, rose, or grounding woodsy scents)
Journals or artwork
Creating a sensory-rich space signals to your nervous system that it is safe to slow down and soften—something many anxious clients have never experienced consistently.
7. Be Patient with Your Progress
Healing anxiety through somatic therapy is non-linear. Some days you'll feel calm and present; other days you may feel stuck or overwhelmed. This is not failure—it’s your nervous system rewiring.
Celebrate small wins, like noticing when your anxiety starts or successfully grounding yourself. These are signs of nervous system resilience. Healing happens gradually, and each mindful step you take builds a foundation for lasting transformation.
✅ Source: Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. Norton.
Ready to Heal Anxiety at the Root?
If you're tired of feeling overwhelmed and want to explore a body-based approach to healing, you're not alone. Whether you live in the Bay Area, are relocating internationally, or are an American expat in London or Europe, I offer online individual therapy tailored to your unique nervous system, story, and goals.
👉 Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how somatic therapy can help you feel more grounded, resilient, and emotionally connected.
Specialties:
Individual Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
Individual Relationship Therapy
Therapy for Codependency and People-Pleasing
Therapy for Life Transitions
Mindfulness and Somatic Therapy
Therapy for American Expats in London and Europe
Women’s Issues
