Frequently Asked Questions
About Somatic Experiencing Therapy
What is Somatic Experiencing (SE)?
Somatic Experiencing is a body-based approach to healing trauma and facilitating deep psychological transformation. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, SE recognizes that trauma and stress get stored in the nervous system and body—not just in our thoughts and memories.
Unlike traditional talk therapy that focuses primarily on the story of what happened, SE works directly with the sensations, tensions, and responses held in your body. This allows for healing that goes beyond intellectual understanding to actual nervous system regulation and transformation.
In sessions, we might:
Notice physical sensations and where you feel them in your body
Track how your breathing, posture, and energy shift moment to moment
Work with the impulses and movements your body wants to make
Release trapped survival energy from past experiences
Build your capacity to stay present with uncomfortable sensations
Develop body-based resources for self-regulation
This approach is gentle, goes at your own pace, and doesn't require you to relive traumatic experiences in detail.
What's the difference between SE and regular talk therapy?
Traditional talk therapy primarily works with your thoughts, beliefs, memories, and emotional narratives. It's valuable for gaining insight and understanding patterns.
Somatic Experiencing works with how trauma and stress live in your body and nervous system. While we definitely talk in sessions, we're constantly tracking what's happening in your body as we talk.
The key difference: You can understand why you react a certain way (insight from talk therapy) but still have your body respond automatically with anxiety, shutdown, or other protective patterns. SE helps your nervous system learn new responses at a physiological level.
Many clients find SE especially helpful when:
They've done years of talk therapy and still feel stuck
They experience physical symptoms (tension, pain, digestive issues) alongside emotional struggles
They dissociate or "go blank" in traditional therapy
They want deeper, more embodied transformation
Words don't capture their experience
That said, SE and talk therapy aren't opposed—they work beautifully together. I integrate both approaches based on what serves you best.
Do I need to have experienced trauma to benefit from SE?
Not at all. While SE was originally developed for trauma recovery, it's incredibly effective for:
Life transitions (divorce, career changes, becoming a parent, identity shifts)
Stress and overwhelm (nervous system dysregulation from ongoing stress)
Anxiety and panic (learning to regulate your activation)
Depression and shutdown (reconnecting with vitality and aliveness)
Relationship patterns (understanding your attachment responses)
Personal growth (deepening your connection to yourself and your intuition)
SE helps anyone who wants to feel more grounded, present, and regulated in their body—regardless of trauma history.
What happens in a typical SE session?
First Session (60-90 minutes): We'll discuss what brings you to therapy, your goals, and your history. I'll also introduce you to basic SE concepts and we'll begin noticing sensations in your body. This helps us establish a baseline and begin building your somatic awareness.
Ongoing Sessions (60 minutes): Each session is unique and follows what's alive for you that day. We might:
Check in about what's happening in your life and what you're noticing in your body
Work with a specific issue, relationship, or decision you're facing
Track sensations, tensions, and impulses that arise as we talk
Practice resourcing exercises to build your capacity for regulation
Work with incomplete survival responses from past experiences
Explore movement, breath, or posture that wants to emerge
Integrate insights and shifts into your daily life
The pace is always yours. SE is not about pushing you into overwhelming experiences. It's about building capacity gradually and working at the edge of what feels manageable.
How is SE different from other body-based therapies like yoga or massage?
Great question! While yoga, massage, bodywork, and other somatic practices are wonderful complements to SE, they serve different functions:
Yoga/Movement: Primarily works with your body through intentional movement and breathwork. Excellent for building body awareness and regulation.
Massage/Bodywork: Works directly with your physical body to release tension and promote relaxation.
Somatic Experiencing: Is psychotherapy that uses body awareness as the primary tool for psychological and emotional healing. We're working with your nervous system's responses, your relational patterns, and your psychological growth—all through the lens of what's happening in your body.
Think of it this way: Massage might release the physical tension in your shoulders. SE explores why your shoulders hold tension in the first place, what that tension is protecting you from, and helps your nervous system learn a new pattern so the tension doesn't keep returning.
Many of my clients do yoga, see bodyworkers, AND do SE therapy. They all support each other beautifully.
About Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
What is ketamine-assisted therapy?
Ketamine-assisted therapy combines the use of prescription ketamine (a legal, FDA-approved medication) with psychotherapy to facilitate deeper healing and psychological breakthroughs.
At sub-anesthetic doses, ketamine creates a gentle altered state that can:
Reduce the grip of rigid thought patterns
Allow access to emotions and insights that feel blocked in normal consciousness
Create a sense of spaciousness and perspective
Facilitate neural plasticity (your brain's ability to form new connections)
Provide relief from depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms
This isn't just "taking medication." The medicine is used in session, with me present, as a tool to deepen your therapeutic work. We prepare beforehand, experience the session together, and integrate the insights afterward.
Is ketamine-assisted therapy right for me?
Ketamine-assisted therapy can be particularly helpful for:
✓ Treatment-resistant depression or anxiety
✓ Complex trauma or PTSD
✓ Persistent negative thought patterns
✓ Feeling emotionally "stuck" despite other therapeutic work
✓ Seeking deeper spiritual or psychological insights
✓ End-of-life anxiety or existential distress
It may not be appropriate if you have:
Certain medical conditions (uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac issues)
Active psychosis or certain psychiatric conditions
Substance use disorders (we'll assess this individually)
No stable support system or housing
We'll do a thorough assessment to determine if ketamine therapy is safe and appropriate for you.
What does a ketamine session look like?
Preparation (1-2 sessions before medicine session): We'll discuss your intentions, what you hope to explore, any fears or concerns, and prepare your mindset for the experience.
Medicine Session (2-3 hours):
You'll take the ketamine (usually as a lozenge)
You'll recline comfortably with eyeshades and calming music
I'll be present the entire time, occasionally checking in
You'll have an internal experience that can include insights, emotions, memories, or simply a sense of spaciousness
The acute effects last 45-60 minutes; we'll spend time afterward discussing your experience
Integration (1-2 sessions after): We'll work with what emerged during your session, integrate insights into your life, and process the experience somatically.
Most clients do a series of 3-6 ketamine sessions spaced 1-4 weeks apart, with regular therapy sessions in between.
Is ketamine therapy safe? Is it addictive?
When used in a therapeutic context at appropriate doses with proper screening, ketamine therapy is very safe.
Safety measures I take:
Thorough medical and psychiatric screening
Starting with lower doses and adjusting as needed
Being present for the entire session
Medical consultation when appropriate
Careful attention to contraindications
Regarding addiction: At the doses used in therapy (much lower than recreational use), ketamine has minimal addiction potential when used appropriately. We'll discuss your substance use history during assessment to ensure this modality is safe for you.
How much does ketamine-assisted therapy cost?
Ketamine sessions require extended time and specialized training. Pricing includes:
Preparation session(s)
2-3 hour medicine session (including medication)
Integration session(s)
Current Ketamine pricing starts at $450. This is separate from my standard session rate and reflects the extended time, specialized training, and medication costs.
Logistics & Practical Questions
Do you accept insurance?
No, I'm a cash-pay practice. Here's why:
Insurance companies dictate how many sessions you can have, what we can work on, require diagnoses that may not fit your situation, and often push for short-term symptom management rather than deep transformation.
By not accepting insurance, I can:
Focus entirely on your healing rather than insurance requirements
Offer longer sessions when needed
Work at the depth and pace your healing requires
Maintain your complete privacy (no diagnosis goes to insurance companies)
Create a true therapeutic partnership based on your goals, not insurance limitations
I know this is a financial consideration. That's why I offer a sliding scale to make therapy accessible at different income levels.
What is your sliding scale? How does it work?
My standard rate is $195/hour. I reserve a limited number of sliding scale spots for clients at different financial stages of life.
Sliding scale philosophy: I believe transformational therapy should be accessible. What matters most isn't the exact dollar amount—it's your genuine commitment to the work and your investment (both financial and personal) in your healing.
To request sliding scale: During our consultation or first session, we'll have an honest conversation about what feels sustainable for you. I ask that you offer the highest rate you can reasonably afford, as this allows me to offer lower rates to others who need them.
Please note: Sliding scale spots are limited and based on my current capacity.
Do you offer pre-paid packages?
Yes! Many clients find that committing to a package reduces decision fatigue and supports consistency in the work.
Current packages:
Foundation Package - 4 sessions
Ideal for: Trying out somatic therapy, working on a specific issue
Transformation Package - 10 sessions
Ideal for: Deep work on attachment, trauma recovery, major life transitions
Packages include:
Reduced per-session rate
Priority scheduling
Email check-ins between sessions when needed
Packages can be customized based on your needs and financial situation. Contact me to discuss options.
What's your cancellation policy?
24-hour notice required for cancellations or rescheduling.
Late cancellations or no-shows: You'll be charged the full session fee.
Why this policy matters: When you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, I can't fill that time, which means I'm not available for someone else who could have used that session. This policy ensures I can sustain my practice and remain available for clients who need me.
First-time courtesy: I waive the fee for your first late cancellation, understanding that life happens.
Emergencies: If you have a genuine emergency, please reach out. We'll work something out.