Creative therapy for making lasting change
—for adults in tampa & across Florida
In-Person or Online Somatic Therapy
My pain feels real.
I feel this in my bones.
Are You Someone Who…
Feels tightness or soreness in your muscles?
Experiences shortness of breath or rapid breathing?
Has tension in the jaw or shoulders?
Seems to get sick often?
Experiences head or stomach aches?
Tosses & turns most nights?
Your Body’s Talking
Your body seems to be constantly screaming at you… through new pains and constant fatigue. There aren’t enough words to describe the heart of this matter. You just know you’re tired of feeling like you’re talking to a brick wall.
Speaking of Stress
You sense all this chronic anxiety and stress must be connected between your mind and body. You gain some energy to research your fight. Then, you try new things and get overwhelmed, hoping for some insight into your mystery.
More than Skin Deep
You want to get to the root cause of your pain and anxiety. There’s got to be a way for your body to not be a source of pain. Your body is signaling and pointing to your own healing. You’re looking for therapy that could soothe your body’s deeper pain.
What is Somatic Therapy?
How therapy works
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between your mind & body to address the pains and stressful thoughts & emotions.
Somatic Therapy uses embodied approaches to help make tangible what is hidden. Understanding your internal sensations can help you become aware of issues and how to heal them.
Somatic approaches focus to relieve symptoms often stored in the body from our responses to stress and past trauma.
Somatic therapy combined with Art Therapy and EMDR can help you feel better because your solutions can come from your insightful images; your awareness of body pains; and your mindful, micro-movements.
With an Art Therapist, you will be guided through body-based art interventions like bilateral painting, nature sculptures, body sensation sketches, body movements, writing and more to clarify your insights that naturally arise.
Movement-based images
help communicate
when experiences are complex & words feel limiting.
It’s hard to speak of experiences and body pains. You’re not alone. Working together, you do not need to be good at artmaking. Simply trust the process because images can be like the saying, “a picture is worth a 1000 words?”
Using our bodies to make art is naturally soothing and relaxing. Working with me, you will find your own creative ways to move into this natural form of stress relief. Taking materials and making something into existence is a powerful accomplishment and helps you see your progress in therapy.
Somatic therapy is not about uncomfortable, painful movements. It’s about using gentle movements along with image making to move through difficult feelings, trauma or grief. We will respect all images and movements, view your work together and trust you as the interpreter of its unique meaning.
EMDR is another therapy approach that helps process pains (often stored in the body from trauma) by using movements to process painful sensations or memories. EMDR can also help strengthen your positive learnings in therapy.
Mindful practices and relaxation techniques help to release held tension and move though emotional blocks. These may be experienced in session through guided breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and imagery practices.
You’re unique.
Let’s tailor
somatic therapy
to reach your goals…
Create your Calm
Have a safe, confidential space to explore your lived experiences.
Create your Clarity
Gain awareness of your internal sensations and what to do about them.
Create your Change
Release negative experiences stored in the body that have caused your pains & reestablish your healthy mind-body connection.
What to Expect in a Somatic Therapy Session
Keep in mind, each therapy session is carefully tailored to you—because you’re unique with your own needs and goals. I respect that your therapy with me will unfold naturally…
Feel More Like Yourself…
The Backbone to Somatic Therapy
To guide your experience to your goals, each session is aimed at helping you connect to your lived experience, not just mentally. We also live through our bodies and natural environment in this sensory experience of life.
As your therapist, I recognize you may express yourself with a spectrum of interests. Interventions are collaborative and chosen to respect where you are currently comfortable using activities for body movement, the five senses, decision-making, emotions and thoughts.
The Session Flow
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We will say our ‘hello’s” briefly and choose what to work on today.
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We will begin with a warm-up activity so you can shift comfortably into movement-based work.
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You are then invited to use a particular art material or may be guided into a specific creative process or movement sequence. The emphasis is on the process itself, not the final product. You may find insights, explore through making or see symbolic meaning about the image or movements. Then we may discuss your thoughts, feelings and experiences together.
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Towards the end of session, we would reflect on your experience and your learnings from the process.
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At session end, we will tap into your strengths, your goodness. We’ll honor your growth as you keep what’s useful and let go of what no longer serves you. Supportive journaling or other therapy activities may be suggested to deepen your own flourishing through your therapy journey.
You’ve read this far… Somatic Therapy may help you…
Live in connection with your mind and body.
Grow your capacity to fully embrace life and handle its adversities.
Trust yourself by restoring your own inner wisdom.
Reconnect with others in worthy relationships.
Feel good in your own skin again.
Frequently asked questions about
Somatic therapy
FAQs
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Therapy is a process tailored to the individual. Share your concerns and know that your sessions can be accommodated based on your needs or you will be connected to supportive resources.
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Artistic skills are not necessary to benefit from art therapy. You’re here reading this now because you’re looking for a different way. Together, we will find ways to make images in therapy to help with your goals.
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Art therapists are clinicians with master’s-level or higher degrees trained in art and therapy. The practice is guided by ethical principles. All art therapists complete supervised training in working with diverse people.
As a Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC #19-261), I have completed the highest-level art therapy competency which requires passing the national examination, continued education and recertification.
Learn more about the American Art Therapy Association and the Art Therapy Credentials Board.
To support somatic work, I have completed Nature-Based Expressive Arts and Expressive Arts Therapy, EMDR, and Sensory Integration: Resourcing, Orienting and Grounding curriculum and additional consultation with an EMDR Consultant.
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How you will do in therapy depends on your unique situation, symptoms, and goals and how much you take part in the process. The greatest indicator of success in therapy is the effective relationship between you and the therapist.
I encourage you to read my site to learn more about me. I offer a free consult and can answer all your questions. If I’m not your right fit, I can provide other therapists to help you with your goals.
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Many people associate artmaking with children. However, art therapy works for all ages across the lifespan.
All adults use creativity in making their lives. Being creative means finding a new way to navigate your life, like what hours you work each day, how you take care of yourself or how you uniquely connect with your loved ones.
Art therapy helps connect you to your creative essence to live your best life.
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Yes! I specialize in providing somatic therapy online anywhere in Florida from Pensacola to Miami & in-between.
I will help you make a creative therapy space in your home. We will have a backup plan should the connection get interrupted during session.I recommend making yourself comfortable with a favorite drink and comfy seating and your favorite art supplies and paper. We will ease into the process and will practice calming techniques so you are supported all along the way.