When you’ve been carrying stress, anxiety, or trauma for a long time, it often shows up in the body before the mind has words for it. Tight shoulders. A racing heart. A sense of numbness. Difficulty relaxing. Feeling disconnected from yourself, from others, or from the world around you.

At Calm Again Counseling, we offer somatic therapy for Oakland residents who want to heal not just with their thoughts, but with their whole body. Somatic therapy helps you understand how your nervous system responds to life experiences — and teaches you how to find safety, grounding, and regulation again.

Whether you prefer online therapy from your home in Oakland or in-person sessions at our Noe Valley office in San Francisco, we make it simple to begin. Our team of trauma-informed therapists is here to walk alongside you with care, clarity, and compassion.

Book a FREE 15-Minute Consultation

Connect with our intake coordinator and get matched with the therapist who feels right for you.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy is a body-based, trauma-informed approach that helps you notice and work with the physical sensations, patterns, and emotions held in your nervous system.

While traditional talk therapy focuses on thoughts, somatic therapy focuses on the body’s experience — especially how it holds onto stress, trauma, or chronic overwhelm.

This is because trauma isn’t only stored in memories or beliefs. For many people, trauma lives in:

Muscle tension
Shallow breathing
Constant alertness
Numbness or disconnection
Trouble resting or feeling safe

Somatic therapy helps you gently reconnect to your body in a way that feels supportive and empowering. Through techniques such as grounding, breathwork, nervous system regulation, and mindful awareness, you’ll learn to shift out of survival mode and into a sense of stability and presence.

At Calm Again Counseling, somatic therapy is always consensual, non-touch, and paced gently. You are fully in control of the process.

What Somatic Therapy Can Help With?

Our Oakland clients seek somatic therapy for many reasons, including:

Trauma & PTSD
(including complex trauma, childhood trauma, and relational trauma)
Anxiety & chronic stress
especially when the body stays tense, alert, or overwhelmed
Depression & emotional numbness
feeling emotionally “shut down” or disconnected
Burnout & overwhelm
common for Bay Area residents balancing work, family, and life transitions
Physical symptoms related to stress
such as headaches, tightness, digestive troubles, or fatigue
Attachment wounds & relationship struggles
where the nervous system becomes activated during conflict or closeness

Somatic therapy helps you build a kinder relationship with your body — one where you can notice what you feel, understand why it’s happening, and respond with compassion rather than fear.

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Our Somatic Approach for Oakland Clients

At Calm Again Counseling, we combine somatic therapy with a deeply trauma-informed, evidence-based approach. From your very first conversation, we focus on helping you feel safe, supported, and understood.

Here’s what makes our somatic therapy approach unique:

Expert Therapist Matching

Our client coordinator carefully matches you with the therapist who best fits your goals, preferences, and personality — ensuring you start therapy feeling comfortable and genuinely supported.

Safe, Inclusive, and Affirming Care

Calm Again Counseling is an LGBTQIA2SP+ and BIPOC-affirming practice. We honor all identities, lived experiences, and cultural backgrounds. Your story is welcome here.

Flexible Options for Oakland Clients

Choose online sessions from anywhere in Oakland or the Bay Area — or visit us for in-person therapy in Noe Valley, San Francisco. Many Oakland clients prefer online therapy for convenience and comfort.

Trauma-Informed Somatic Techniques

Our therapists draw from Somatic Experiencing, mindfulness practices, grounding work, and nervous system education to help you reconnect gently with your body.

Integrated, Personalized Treatment Plans

While somatic therapy is foundational, we integrate other evidence-based modalities such as:

EMDR
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Brainspotting

The result is a holistic, deeply personalized path to healing that supports both your mind and your body.

What to Expect During Somatic Therapy Sessions?

Somatic therapy is gentle, collaborative, and paced according to your needs. Here’s what the process often looks like:

1. Your First Session

You and your therapist will explore how stress, emotions, and past experiences show up in your body. There is no pressure to go deep immediately — the priority is safety, grounding, and connection.

2. Building Awareness

You’ll learn how to notice physical sensations without becoming overwhelmed. This might include observing your breath, posture, or areas of tightness — always with curiosity, never judgment.

3. Nervous System Regulation

As you grow more comfortable noticing sensations, your therapist may guide you through grounding techniques, gentle movement, or breathwork to help your body shift out of survival mode.

You’ll learn skills to calm your body when you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected.

4. Processing at a Safe Pace

As your body develops more capacity for regulation, you can begin to process emotions or experiences that were previously too overwhelming to face.

Your therapist will help you move between activation and calm — a process called titration and pendulation — so healing feels safe and steady.

5. Integration and Growth

You’ll learn how to apply somatic tools to daily life — during stress at work, challenging conversations, or moments of anxiety. Over time, your body becomes more resilient and more able to return to calm.

Many Oakland clients experience more groundedness, emotional clarity, and self-connection within the first 6–8 weeks of consistent therapy.

Why Oakland Clients Choose Calm Again Counseling?

Oakland residents choose us because they want therapy that feels both effective and deeply human. Our practice offers:

A trauma-informed team trained in somatic and evidence-based therapies
Convenient online therapy for Oakland and the Bay Area
A welcoming, identity-affirming space for all backgrounds and identities
Affordable options with superbills for PPO insurance reimbursement
A warm, compassionate approach to healing the mind-body connection

“From my very first session, I felt heard, understood, and supported.” — Willa V.

“It’s a safe space and I can’t recommend it enough!” — Matt R.

FAQs About Somatic Therapy in Oakland

How is somatic therapy different from talk therapy?

Somatic therapy focuses on the body’s responses and the nervous system, helping you notice and regulate physical sensations connected to emotions and trauma.

Can I do somatic therapy online if I live in Oakland?

Yes. Somatic therapy works extremely well online, and many Oakland clients choose virtual sessions for convenience.

Do you take insurance?

We do not bill insurance directly, but we provide superbills for clients with PPO plans who may qualify for reimbursement.

How long does therapy usually last?

We recommend at least 6–8 weeks of consistent weekly sessions to begin noticing meaningful shifts.

Is somatic therapy right for trauma?

Absolutely. Somatic therapy is one of the most effective treatments for trauma because it helps the nervous system release old survival responses safely and gradually.

What if I don’t feel comfortable with body-based work?

Your comfort always comes first. We only go as far as your nervous system allows, and you can pause or slow down at any time. Your therapist will guide the process at a pace that feels safe for you.

Start Your Healing Journey with Somatic Therapy

You deserve to feel grounded, connected, and safe in your body again. Whether you’re navigating trauma, anxiety, burnout, or chronic stress, somatic therapy can help you begin the shift from survival to calm.

Book a FREE 15-Minute Consultation

Call or text (415) 480-5192 or visit our Contact Page to get started.

Serving Oakland, the Bay Area, and online throughout California.

Our mission is to accelerate recovery from trauma and promote calm, connected communities.

An LGBTQIA2SP+ & BIPOC affirming practice

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Call or text now (415) 480-5192

Our location:

4155 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94114

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