Somatic Experiencing® Therapy FAQ in Houston

Talk therapy is valuable. Insight matters. Words matter.
But healing doesn’t always happen at the speed of understanding.

Traditional talk therapy focuses on:

• thoughts

• beliefs

• memories

• interpretation

• meaning-making

Somatic Experiencing® focuses on:

• nervous system regulation

• body sensations

• stress responses

• safety and capacity

• physiological healing

Talk therapy helps you understand why you feel the way you do.

Somatic therapy helps your body stop reacting like the danger is still happening.

Many clients come to somatic therapy in Houston after years of talk therapy saying:

“I understand everything… but my body still feels stuck.”

Somatic Experiencing® bridges that gap. It brings the body into the conversation so insight can finally land. When the nervous system shifts, thoughts and emotions often follow naturally.

It brings the body into the conversation so insight can finally land. When the nervous system shifts, thoughts and emotions often follow naturally.

This is not either/or. Somatic Experiencing integrates beautifully with traditional therapy. It simply adds the missing piece: the nervous system.

Yes, Somatic Experiencing® is grounded in neuroscience and the understanding of how the nervous system responds to stress and trauma.

Somatic Experiencing® sessions are slow, intentional, and collaborative.

We don’t dive into the deep end. We build safety first.

In a session, we might:

• notice physical sensations in your body

• track subtle shifts in breath and tension

• explore emotions without overwhelm

• build awareness of nervous system states

• strengthen grounding and presence

• increase your capacity for stress

• practice returning to regulation

You stay in control the entire time.
There is no reliving trauma, no forced catharsis, and no emotional flooding.

Many clients describe this work as the first time therapy doesn’t feel like a fight.
It feels like relief.

No.

You do not have to relive painful experiences in order to heal.

Somatic Experiencing® works by helping your nervous system process stress in small, manageable ways. We focus on what your body is experiencing in the present moment, rather than forcing you to revisit overwhelming memories.

We move at a pace your system can tolerate.
Safety comes first, always.

Anxiety, burnout, and chronic stress are not just mental experiences.
They are nervous system states.

When your system has been under pressure for too long, it can get stuck in patterns of overdrive or shutdown.

Somatic therapy works directly with the body to:

• release stored stress

• reduce constant urgency and tension

• increase your capacity to handle stress

• help your system return to a more regulated state

As your nervous system settles, many people notice:

• clearer thinking

• more energy

• better sleep

• less reactivity

• greater emotional resilience

The first session is not an exercise in telling your entire life story.

The intake session is 90 minutes, and together we come up with a roadmap: a plan in your own words so that as we review your progress, you can have clear, objective markers that illustrate improvement over time. 

This depends on your goals and what your nervous system has been carrying.

Some clients begin to feel relief within a few sessions as their system starts to settle.
For others, deeper patterns take more time to unwind.

There is no fixed timeline.
The goal is not speed — it’s sustainable change.

This approach may be a good fit if you:

• feel stuck despite having insight

• struggle with anxiety, burnout, or chronic stress

• feel like your body is always “on” or braced

• want a therapy approach that goes beyond talking

The best way to know is through a consultation.
We can talk briefly about what’s going on and see if this feels like the right fit.

Yes.

I offer in-person sessions at my office in Montrose, Houston, as well as online therapy for clients located in Texas.

Both options can be effective.
We can discuss what feels like the best fit for you during your consultation.

This is a self-pay practice.

I do not accept insurance directly, which allows for:

• greater privacy

• no required diagnosis

• flexibility in how we work together

You can find detailed information about fees on the Investment page.

Yes.

Many clients use:

• out-of-network insurance benefits

• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill for reimbursement.

Somatic Experiencing® is a body-based approach that focuses on regulating the nervous system through present-moment awareness of physical sensations.

Unlike some trauma therapies, SE™ does not require you to revisit or process traumatic memories directly.

The focus is on helping your body release stored stress gradually and safely.

Somatic Experiencing® is often a good fit for people who want a gentler, more gradual approach to healing, especially if they feel overwhelmed by the idea of diving directly into difficult experiences.

Rather than focusing on retelling or reprocessing specific events, this approach works with how stress is held in the body in the present moment.

By helping the nervous system settle and release stored stress over time, many people begin to experience relief without needing to revisit every detail of what they’ve been through.

The next step is to schedule a free, 30-minute phone consultation.

This is a conversation where we:

• talk about what’s been feeling difficult

• explore what you’d like to change

• determine whether this approach feels like a good fit

At that point, you can decide if you’d like to schedule a 90-minute intake session, which can take place online or at my office in Montrose. 

Schedule your phone consultation today.