Somatic Therapists in San Jose, CA

Please note: The VERY best way to get in touch is by email rather than phone. Are you feeling stuck in your life? Let’s sit together and explore all that weighs on you. I think of counseling as a form of mentoring. You have the answers in yourself. My role is being your companion and guide in accessing your own wisdom and power. You are stronger and more creative than you know. Therapy is an experience where I stay completely present to you, and help you explore, heal, and grow.

I am an Italian who has been living in The Bay Area for the last 40 years. I am fluent in English, Italian and Spanish. I have extensive experience and training in Hakomi, Somatic Based Psychotherapy and EMDR. I have more than 15 years of experience with Santa Clara County, Department of Families and Children Services, providing support and services to individuals, children and families who have been involved with the Child Welfare System. I also have 5 years of experience providing therapeutic services at a Medical Hospital Specialized in Treating HIV/AIDS patients who suffer from Addiction, PTSD and Trauma.

I choose to see life's challenges as invitations to know ourselves more honestly, and to accept ourselves as we are. I believe that when individuals are self-aware they experience life as more meaningful and challenges as less distressing. I help individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, life transitions and relationship issues, to embrace their wholeness and strengthen inner resources not yet recognized. From this place of knowing and alternate or adjusted perspective, individuals develop compassion for self and other, gain confidence in relationships, and feel more assured in their ability to address the challenges life presents.

Traumatic experiences, relationship attachment woundings and the general pressure to conform to social norms during our younger years can cause us to create some truly magnificent coping strategies. Unfortunately, these strategies can be integrated into our identity long after they've stopped serving their purpose. I am passionate about supporting people reconnect with their true nature, by exploring parts work and somatic experiencing. Our past does not define us, and this work makes it possible to access the inspired, motivated, wisdom that exists in abundance underneath our conditioning.

Welcome. We cannot solve life's problems except by solving them. My practice philosophy focuses on assisting every client find balance, peace, and happiness as defined by you. When we live in balance, we are better equipped to handle the storms of life, which can include relationship issues, being stuck in the past, worrying about the future, or struggling with traumatic life experiences. I begin by working with the client(s) to establish an honest and open relationship characterized by mutual trust and support. I believe in an integrative approach, which cultivates courage, emotional resilience, and mindful (somatic) awareness.

I work with parents, adolescents, and adults who need support from a variety of issues including issues related to parenting, general concerns about their children, coping skills for teens and adolescents, managing school stressors, recent diagnosis of ADHD, depression or anxiety, and more. Clients are looking for coping skills and communication strategies to create more harmony and strengthen relationships. I also work with families affected by infertility and those who are looking to build their family through third party reproduction and need support navigating the fertility industry.

Do you feel stuck? with compassion and empathy, I will guide you toward healing and growth to navigate life’s challenges, relationships, underlying traumas when appropriate and unhealthy family dynamics. I provide trauma-informed care to address root causes of anxieties, promote self-awareness and increase attunement in relationships while helping you gain tools to confront daily stressors and life transitions so you can thrive in your journey towards well-being. I am passionate about my work with women’s mental health, immigration-acculturation challenges, and parents struggling with bonding or those coping with a new diagnosis.

If you stay awake at night with troubling thoughts, feel lonely even when in a relationship, and use distractions of substances, media, sex, or work, I invite you to take ownership of your life. Relational issues in private or professional life, parenting, career decisions, unpleasant symptoms of depression or anxiety, moods preventing enjoyment of life, identity concerns, and problematic behavior patterns are all welcome here. I believe in a holistic approach to healing with the mind, heart, body, and spirit integrated. I use the Internal Family System (IFS), Trauma processing with CBT, and Emotional and Somatic Experiencing.

The diagnosis, the accident, the loss, the family dysfunction —these experiences can leave us feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, and unsure of how to move forward. The weight of these experiences feel like it's seeping into every aspect of your life affecting your relationships, self-esteem, ability to find joy. You imagine waking up with a renewed sense of vitality, fully present in the relationships that matter most to you. The scenes that once haunted you are replaced by a sense of calm and resilience. You now embrace your truth, boundaries intact, and confidently making decision that align with your well-being.

Inexplicable anger, unshakable depression, unrelenting anxiety... This is the fallout of unmet needs like care, attention, respect, and presence happening now and probably had happened for significant lengths of time in our childhoods. As I work with people on these chronic and traumatic experiences, they have shown me how these past traumas can be resolved; that you too can get rid of distorted negative beliefs about yourself; that everyone can improve the quality and selection of their relationships; and when we connect to our bodies and minds with wisdom and tenderness, we become sovereign and healed.

I believe that healing is an art that takes time, practice, and love. Your healing needs to be done with upmost care and with the greatest intentions. As an intergenerational trauma specialist, you and I will become archeologists of your past, uncovering the missing pieces to help you become whole again. In this journey, we leave no stones unturned. Though I work with most individuals and couples, I especially love to work with mothers, healers, therapists, nurses, and those in the caring field. I also love to work with artists, writers, and soul seekers who wants to better connect with themselves to further their creations.

To make real change happen we must choose. Choosing requires courage, strength & personal responsibility to undertake the intimate journey of self-discovery. The Japanese culture has a tradition of painting a broken section of pottery with gold, thereby embracing the meaning that beauty is found in the broken places. From a conscious & open heart space, I choose to meet you wherever you are in life, as life can hand us challenging situations at any moment, pushing our limits of pain, stress & comprehension. I am honored to co-create change with a diverse range of people, all ages & unique life stories,

Would you like someone to listen to you? Maybe you are struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, burnout, overwhelm, isolation, grief, trauma, attachment issues, excessive worrying, healing from past wounds, or your sense of identity and purpose. I would be honored to support you on your journey by providing you a safe and judgment-free space to explore your thoughts and feelings in the present and from the past.

Nobody’s childhood dream was to grow up and feel overwhelmed, alone, stuck or unworthy. I aim to help individuals heal from trauma-related issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship/family issues. If you find yourself living without a navigation system to understand emotional terrain or trauma that impacts your well-being; you are not alone. All of us go through rough patches in our lives. My approach is specific to meet your unique needs in a safe and non-judgemental space.

I'm not in the business of instigating change. I am in the delicate and complex work of empowering it. Because I believe you have the wisdom to bring about change. Because change is your work and your choice; my role is to set the stage, empty it, illuminate what stands in the way and explore with you the possibilities for change. Ultimately you decide.The fact that you're here already ensures it. My job is to notice your process, reflect and honor it. In this space, I have seen amazing change happen.

Welcome to my bio! The decision to pursue therapy is a courageous one, & finding the right therapist can feel daunting but it is possible. I'm a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in CA with 15+ yrs experience serving clients who desire to heal from anxiety, depression & challenging life transitions across the lifespan. I'm passionate about empowering others to bring their life, career, & relationships into thriving alignment in order to experience more authentic joy, abundance & fulfillment. You are more than capable & worthy of experiencing the change you deeply desire, & I would be honored to be a part of your healing journey.

Do you often feel unseen or misunderstood? Anxious and nervous when stepping into a social setting? Do you desire to speak your truth without fear of what others might think? Do you wish to feel more confident in expressing your authentic self? Wish to people please less? Are you hoping therapy can provide a safe space to explore the complexities of identity and self expression? I am here to help you navigate these challenges and help you identify root causes of behaviors, express your needs, set healthy boundaries, improve self-esteem and self-worth, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and enhance communication skills.

It's finally your time to heal. Sharlisa has experience in both the mind and the body providing unique and effective approaches to counseling. Sharlisa is known for providing clients with nurturing tailored therapeutic services that can be integrated into their daily lives. She views herself as a manufacturer of hope and healing. She provides culturally competent, holistic, and wellness focused services that promote transformative healing through transformative change by optimizing a client centered approach that utilizes knowledge, early interventions, open communication, somatic experiencing & increased awareness. It's your time.

With deep listening, together we will collaborate to identify your unique therapy goals. Coming into connection with distressing symptoms, making meaning of parts of yourself and your life brings forward opportunity for growth and transformation. Individual adult clients and adolescent clients, couples and families are all welcome.