Somatic Therapists in San Jose, CA

Your decision to evolve your place in the world is one of courage, vulnerability, and commitment. We create space for awareness of stressors, habits, and unconscious life patterns so that you actively heal, create, and live your authentic soul-centered life. My focus includes: trauma/C-PTSD, intergenerational trauma including childhood abuse and neglect, and surviving Borderline/Narcissistic parents; survivors of interpersonal violence; neurodivergent women; depression; anxiety; life transitions; complicated grief; religious trauma; thriving in recovery; psychedelic integration; and psycho-spiritual awakening.

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.

I work with parents, adolescents, and adults who need support from a variety of issues including stressors related to trauma, 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. They might also be interested in trying EMDR to process recent traumatic events or traumatic memories and experiences they went through in the past.

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.

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.

Would you like someone to listen to you? Maybe you are feeling stuck or 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.

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.

Looking for deeper healing and not just symptom relief (although that is also important)? Can't relax, are too irritable, or find yourself bursting into uncontrollable tears at times? Want to overcome traumatic or adverse experiences? To improve self-esteem and relationships? To feel lighter (not be weighed down by past experiences)? Learn to change your patterns & emotional triggers, and transform your responses to hindering situations. You'll gain skills to be more grounded, less reactive, and can start to improve your mood, well being, and relationships.

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.

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.

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.

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,

Hi, my name is Michelle Gentle. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Orange County, California working with clients statewide via telehealth. I work with adults and I’m passionate about supporting clients during whatever life challenges arise. I am LGBTQ+ affirming. My approach to therapy is holistic and varies based on the needs of each client I work with. I utilize a trauma-informed, developmental, and attachment-based lens. Common modalities I use include are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.

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.

Do you often feel unseen or misunderstood, anxious about social situations, or hesitant to speak your truth out of fear of judgment? Are you yearning to express your authentic self with confidence and let go of the need to please others? If you’re seeking a safe, supportive space to explore your identity and self-expression, therapy could be the next step in your journey. I’m here to help you uncover the root causes of these feelings, empower you to set healthy boundaries, boost your self-esteem and self-worth, and develop effective coping and communication skills.

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.

My training as a licensed MFT has taught me to treat a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, parenting issues, relationship problems and trauma. I also have advanced training and experience working with PTSD, past trauma, panic and phobias. My goal and passion is to provide you with the tools to create and maintain life-affirming change in order to lead a more balanced and empowered life. I am EMDR trained, which is a powerful method for releasing past trauma and the depression and anxieties that go with it.

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.

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 facilitator 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 heal, explore, and grow.