Services Offered

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Sometimes reaching out for support can be a difficult thing to do. Yet, there is a spark of aliveness in each individual that realizes there is much more to life, coupled with a blossoming desire to change and grow. It is this momentum that allows one to engage in the process of therapy or coaching and to plant the seeds that will support and nourish your life. I am honored to be part of this journey of self-discovery as you move towards wholeness. I offer the following services to support and encourage your continual unfolding.

My approach to Somatic Psychotherapy is influenced by over 35 years of working in the field of body/mind integration. I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical and Somatic Psychology and am currently completing my doctorate in Clinical Somatic Psychology. My dissertation research focuses on the healing aspects of embodiment. Additionally I hold certifications in Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Movement Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Life Coaching , as well as extensive training in Energy Psychology (EFT), Process Work and the latest research in neuroscience informing how the brain contributes to change and the neurobiology of attachment.

Below is a description of the fields of work that I draw from in my psychotherapy sessions with clients. Although all of the modalities below can stand on their own, I often mindfully and skillfully integrate these different yet complementary approaches to find the right blend to meet your needs and desired outcomes.

                                                         Somatic Psychotherapy

Somatic Psychotherapy is a good choice when words alone may not be enough to create a deep lasting change.

Somatic derives its meaning from the Greek word Soma which refers to the living body. Our bodies and minds are intricately connected. Research has shown that the conscious mind is only about

10 % of our experience. Our subconscious holds the key to early experiences and memories which inform how we perceive the world, the relationships we chose and what we think, feel and believe. These unconscious imprints often lead to habitual behaviors and limiting beliefs that continue to hold us back until we are able to tap into the core experiences that formed our perception of the world. Additionally, many or our early experiences are pre-verbal and are only effectively processed and integrated when we include the body in therapy. The ability to tap into our body intelligence enables us to unhook unconscious patterns that may have eluded the conscious mind allowing us for perhaps the first time to make real change in our lives. 

Honoring the Body  ~

Somatic Psychotherapy is especially effective in understanding the wisdom inherent in our physical symptoms. Our bodies often express what we are unable to consciously own and bring forth. For instance, when we don’t honor our bodies need for rest, it will let us know through an injury or illness. Likewise, when we over ride a need we have or don’t speak our truth, our body may protest with a stomach ache or headache. Our bodies are always speaking to us. Are you listening? When we don’t listen, our bodies speak louder until we get the message. Increasing our awareness through the tools of Somatic Psychotherapy can enable us to live a healthier, more authentic and integrated life.

Embracing the Heart  ~

Somatic Psychotherapy approaches emotions as lived bodily experiences assisting us to effectively process emotions and connect with our hearts. Our feelings live in our bodies as sensation and offer us very important messages about what we need, want and what action is best for us in each moment. When we disconnect from our bodies we lose important information about how we feel – our gut feelings and what’s right for us. Feeling our emotions with a strong foundation of embodied awareness allows us to ground, center and focus our intention on what we want enabling us to make clear, insightful decisions. Our bodies also assist us to move e-motion, clearing blocks and re-establishing authenticity and congruency.

Anya’s approach to working with emotions honors each person’s pace creating a safe container in which to explore what’s right about our experience and to harvest the wisdom of our bodies. She brings her insight and ability to perceive on-going patterns, connecting the dots and offering ways to integrate our past into the present in a non-threatening, gentle and fluid way. She draws from the tools of Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Resourcing, Process work, Somatic Movement Therapy,
Creative/Expressive Arts and Psycho-Spiritual Integration.

Calming and Balancing the Mind  ~

Somatic Psychotherapy integrates mind and body bringing more balance to an unsettled mind by guiding the mind into the aliveness and presence of our body. When we focus the mind on the felt-sense of the body and our breath we immediately come into the present and ground our being into the wisdom of our body connecting to all of who we are and tapping into the unlimited resource and potentiality of life.

Connecting with Spirit ~

Ultimately, reconnecting with our bodies is a sacred journey. Bringing Spirit into matter is our life mission. Our bodies are our homes on this planet. Our bodies are the temple of our soul. We are in a new era of honoring our bodies and discovering how fully inhabiting this sacred temple is a spiritual journey. We deserve to be here, to connect with conscious enjoyment, pleasure and the pure joy of being in a body. To embrace our purpose, to manifest the life we want to live. It is not necessary to transcend the body and deny the body to be spiritual. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Embracing our human potential requires all of us, body mind, heart and spirit.

                                                    Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing is a gentle and profound leading edge approach developed by Dr. Peter Levine to resolve and heal trauma. Dr. Levine was fascinated by the observation that prey animals in the wild though routinely threatened were rarely traumatized. In further study, it became apparent that wild prey animals utilize innate bodily mechanisms to regulate and discharge high levels of energy arousal which allows them to return to normal in the aftermath of highly ‘’charged’’ life-threatening experiences.

Although humans are born with virtually the same regulatory mechanisms as animals, these instinctive systems are often over-ridden or inhibited preventing the complete discharge of survival energies which allows the nervous system to regain its equilibrium. This “charged” energy can keep the nervous system stuck in a survival mode causing numerous symptoms, affecting the quality of life and the ability to relax, de-stress and find balance.

Dr. Levine found that the body plays an essential role in the healing of trauma. The key to healing traumatic symptoms in humans is in our physiology. What’s hopeful about this approach is that we do not have to live with psychological scars of trauma or learn how to just manage PTSD. We all have the innate capacity to heal from the effects of trauma when we learn how to harness and transform the body’s primordial intelligence. 


Somatic Experiencing reconnects us to our innate body wisdom allowing the body to inform the healing process through guided “felt sense” letting us know what needs to happen in order to "renegotiate" and heal trauma and distress in a non-overwhelming way. This allows us to safely discharge survival energies and to rebalance the nervous system. Individuals frequently experience a dramatic reduction in or disappearance of their traumatic symptoms, as well as an understanding and integration of their process.

In addition, Somatic Experiencing offers life giving tools that you can immediately use in your life to self-soothe, nourish, resource and regulate your own nervous system. A less stressed nervous system is more flexible, resilient and able to handle life’s challenges with more ease, enhancing our well-being, vitality and enjoyment of life.

Although Somatic Experiencing works with the body it is not Bodywork in the usual sense of the word. Gentle light touch or movement is sometimes used to assist the process with the permission of the client. However, the work is primarily verbal with the client and therapist facing each other.

                                                        Somatic Resourcing

Your body is your home and where you will spend the rest of your life. Wouldn't it be nice to feel comfortable in your own body and tap into the amazing intelligence that is part of your soma (body) wisdom? Somatic Resourcing is a deeply nourishing and beneficial practice that teaches you tools to self-regulate your nervous system modulating and reducing stress, self-soothe to bring comfort and balance when you feel out of sorts, discover your strengths through embodiment, increase your resiliency to handle life’s challenges, shift limiting beliefs and open up new pathways for creativity and intuition.

                                                   Somatic Movement Therapy

Somatic Movement Therapy works with the individual to access movement patterns and habits in order to bring more ease, connection, awareness and choice to how we move through our lives. Building on individual strengths we work to develop a healthy relationship with the body. Movement explorations and practices are individually designed to encourage full body movement and enhanced coordination. Gentle hands on re-patterning and awareness is used to release habitual holding patterns opening up to new ways to move, think and feel.


                                                  Neuro-Somatic Repatterning


Neuro-Somatic Repatterning draws on the wisdom of the body and the plasticity of the brain to re-pattern limiting beliefs and non-productive patterns into life giving, supportive options. Neuro-Somatic Repatterning is the synthesis of Anya’s extensive training in Neuroscience, Somatic Psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Somatic Resourcing.

The brain learns and changes through experience. Embodied experience is the most effective way to optimize learning and establish healthy neuronal networks and re-pattern old imprints towards positive outcomes. The result is an expanded sense of awareness and embodied possibilities that contribute to resiliency, wholeness, integration and an increased capacity for fulfilling one’s potential.

                                                                  Process Work

Process Work is an awareness based practice for self-growth, self-discovery and transformation developed by Dr. Arny and Amy Mindell which supports us in understanding our deepest motivations so that we might come into alignment with who we are, what we want out of life and harvest the meaning from all of our experiences. As we develop a healthier relationship between all parts of our self we free up more options and creativity in our life. What once was seen as a problem can be held in acceptance with support and slowly unraveled to discover its deeper meaning. Sometimes our biggest challenges turn out to be our greatest gifts. When we can follow the wisdom of our body/mind/spirit we are guided to step into our fullest potential. This allows us to shift perspective and move forward in life with more clarity, confidence and authenticity.

Somatic Psychotherapy can help:
  • Resolve and integrate traumatic experiences
  • Integrate and process pre-verbal imprints that live on in your subconscious memory and body
  • Create a positive and healthy relationship with your body and physical symptoms
  • Re-pattern the nervous system for optimal functioning and resiliency
  •  Reduce stress and overwhelm with life giving tools to manage day to day challenges
  • Integrate and process feelings as all feelings live in the body as sensation
  • Change unconscious beliefs and patterns to support your growth
  • Disarm your inner critic and use your body/mind to support you, not sabotage you
  • Tap into your body intelligence which is the source of creativity and intuition
  • Discover your truth and core sense of grounding and centering
  • Move from reacting to responding from your authentic self
  • Re-program ways of thinking that no longer serve you
  • Integrate mind and body to support your full potential
  • Increase self-esteem and confidence
  • Enhance relationships and learn how to communicate more effectively
  • Support recovery from depression and anxiety through understanding the role your body plays.
  • Support better health, optimal weight, eating habits and vitality by learning how to hear what your body is telling you.
  • ... And More.

                                               Common Questions:

What happens in a somatic psychotherapy session?

The initial session is a time to get to know each other and to determine if we are a good match for working together. We spend time talking about your goals and what you would like to get out of therapy. We will go over the intake form you filled out prior to your session (will be emailed to you when you schedule an appointment) and see if you have any additional questions or things you would like to share with me. It is my intention for you to be heard, understood and met in our time together. As relationships do take time, it is the beginning of establishing how we will work together and what you need in general and from me to feel comfortable and safe to explore the issues which bring you to therapy.

After the initial session, we will work together to meet your goals. If you are unclear about what your goals are, that is where we will start. Sessions begin with a check in. The check in can be verbal and/or somatic. A somatic check in might be an inquiry into what your body is feeling in this moment. What are you sensing and what are you needing. This may lead us into the session to follow the messages of your body as we deepen exploration through awareness, breath and sometimes movement and sound.

At times we will be working with re-patterning the nervous system through Somatic Experiencing and other neurobiological modalities. During this time, I will mindfully and gently assist you in following the movement of your nervous system through felt-bodily sense and help you to integrate feelings, thoughts, images and body sensations as I guide you (and your nervous system) towards regulation and balance.

There is no standard sessions as you are in charge of where we go and your body is brilliantly telling us what needs to be processed. As your therapist, I am trained to observe and listen to both your body messages and my body wisdom as we collaborate on creating new life giving experiences. As a skilled facilitator I offer insight, support and encouragement to invite your whole being (including your nervous system and brain) to open up to new possibilities.

What is the difference between Somatic Psychotherapy and Body Wisdom Life Coaching?

As both a therapist and coach there can be a fine line between how I work as a coach and how I work as a therapist. However, therapy is more focused on dealing with day to day challenges, developing communication and coping skills and resolving past trauma and experiences that are getting in the way of leading a full life.

Coaching is more solution focused with a forward momentum of meeting particular goals. That said, I bring to both deep listening and observation to increase awareness and enhance personal growth. There is sometimes an overlap when a coaching client discovers that an old trauma is in the way of her achieving her goals. In that case, we may put coaching aside for a period of time and do some trauma therapy to resolve past issues. After which time, we can resume coaching. On the other hand, a therapy client may feel she is ready to focus on a particular project or bring her gifts into the world and wants to be coached in this next phase.

How often should I come?

Most clients come weekly and find this works best especially at the beginning of our work together. Weekly sessions help establish trust and relationship, as well as supporting changes in the body and nervous system which require consistency in order to establish new neuronal pathways leading to lasting change. Our bodies learn through experience so it is essential to build a reservoir of positive experiences in order to shift the balance toward where we are to where we want to be.

Coaching sessions are scheduled on a monthly basis with three 60 minute sessions per month. Please see the section on coaching for further information.

What do you charge?


I  charge $110 per 50 minute session and $165 per 80 minute session.
Some sliding scale slots are available to committed clients with financial need.

Note: Coaching fees differ in both price and scheduling. See the coaching section for further information.

Do you take insurance?

I only take private-pay at this time. Reduced fee services are available on a limited basis for those with financial need.

What forms of payment do you take?

Payment is expected at the time of service for psychotherapy and at the beginning of the month for coaching programs. I take cash and checks. You can also pay with a credit card through Pay Pal. Pay Pal accounts are free to set up at www.paypal.com. Those paying through Pay Pal must submit payment to Anya’s Pal Pay account prior to their scheduled session. Be sure to call or email for instructions well in advance to scheduled session.

Cancellation policy:

Full payment is expected if you do not show for an appointment or cancel with less than a 24 hour notice.

If you still have questions or would like to schedule an appointment:

Please contact Anya at 413 517-0232 for a free initial phone consultation or email: somawisdom@comcast.net