Somatic Therapists in Ann Arbor, MI

Some challenges in life we hide and avoid, and over time those challenges only grow and become more disruptive. Feelings of shame and fear can hold us back from seeking support and solutions. Do you wish you could experience more pleasure, intimacy, and joy? Is a past trauma impacting your ability to connect with others and holding you back from living a full life? Psychotherapy can provide space to explore, gain insight, and establish knowledge and skills that allow you to live a more fulfilling life.

Note: current availability is limited to daytime appointments - Welcome! I’m Lio, a therapist at the Mala Child & Family Institute. I’m dedicated to empowering teens and young adults as they navigate LGBTQ+ identity, disability, Autism (including PDA and high-masking profiles), ADHD, and anxiety. As a neurodivergent and queer adult, I know that these experiences are often misunderstood and encounter a range of barriers. I also understand the impact that a safe environment can have on the development of self-worth, self-advocacy, and self-compassion.

My treatment approach is validating and understanding while at the same time sincere and direct. I use an integrative approach to help my clients to find balance in their personal, academic, and professional lives. I work collaboratively with clients to help them to explore their next steps toward reaching their goals and finding peace in their day-to-day lives. I am experienced in working with individuals with struggles related to binge eating, low self-image, anxiety, depression, and difficult life transitions.

Hi, I'm Madison, and I specialize in helping people who have experienced trauma, whether from their own lives or inherited from their families or culture. Experiencing trauma as a child can fragment us, especially if we don’t have the resources or support to process our emotions. We might conclude that “it’s all my fault,” which leads to feelings of isolation and despair that follow us into adulthood. Trauma needs to be released, then processed, to access the deeper experiences life has to offer.

Have you experienced a negative life changing event and have not felt the same since? Were you raised in an unhealthy or abusive home? Have you seen improvement with talk therapy but need something more? You could have trauma. Trauma can develop from a single incident like a car accident or sexual assault. It can also develop from multiple negative experiences over time. This could look like working in a toxic environment, having a very critical coach or parent or living in a home with domestic violence. If you are struggling with day to day life as a result of unresolved trauma, let's talk about using a different approach.

Just as the body naturally moves toward physical health, the brain's natural tendency is to move toward mental health. But sometimes the brain can be blocked from its natural tendency due to disturbing life experiences. When this block occurs, we can experience ongoing symptoms and emotional distress. Disturbing life experiences can affect our ability to optimally function in the present. Memories, feelings, and beliefs that are associated with difficult events can cloud our perceptions and responses to people and situations in the current circumstances of our lives.

This world can be a challenging and unforgiving place. I want to invite you into a space of safety and healing without stigma or judgment. It is important to be heard and understood. I come from a trauma informed approach which simply means I understand how the past can shape our present. I provide services to an array of beautiful souls that may have survived abuse, tragedy, grief, or loss. If you have made it this far, then that means you are a survivor. I want to help you transition into a place of balance and hope.

You've been taking care of others for as long as you can remember. You’ve always sacrificed your own well-being to help those around you. A friend broke up with her partner, so you’re the shoulder to cry on. There was a problem with a client at work, so you fixed it. Your husband and kids rely on you for everything from getting dressed to eating meals. “As long as everyone else is happy,” you tell yourself, “Then I’m fine.” But you’re not fine. You’ve completely lost touch with yourself and don’t have the time or energy to find your way back. You’re filled with guilt whenever you try to take a moment for yourself. It feels hopeless.

If you are someone who is experiencing anxiety, depression, symptoms of trauma, lack of motivation, feelings of hopelessness or isolation, lack of purpose, problems in your relationship or some other life issue I may be able to help. We can work together using evidence-supported treatments such as EMDR, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and mindfulness based approaches to create the changes that you want to see in your life.

As humans, we all experience challenges in our lives, and there are many reasons why someone may reach out for support. I believe that therapy can be helpful as it creates a dedicated space for people to express and explore their feelings and experiences. I aim to co-create a therapeutic environment where you can explore your areas of concern with curiosity and self-compassion, while engaging in personal growth, connection and healing.

Welcome! I believe that one of the essential ingredients of change and transformative psychotherapy is the relationship between the individual and the therapist. Feeling understood and comfortable not only helps reduce one's symptoms, encouraging self-acceptance, but also leads toward deeper work which promotes lasting change and a deeper experience of one's unique self.

Music can be a safe outlet for intense emotions. I help young people express themselves through music. Using a variety of music therapy techniques, including Nordoff-Robbin/Creative Music Therapy, improvisation, songwriting/composition, learning an instrument/singing, ensemble playing, listening to and combining music with other creative disciplines. I am a board-certified music therapist who works with people of all ages, from newborns to those at the end-of-life. Music touches us in ways that nothing else does, helping us feel safe, connected, even powerful. Music helps is express emotions, make meaning, process trauma and more.

I am honored to support you in your healing and wellness journey by offering a safe, empathetic and non-judgmental space for therapy! I work with clients going through depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, grief, and a range of contexts and life situations such as career stress, academic stress, work-life balance, relationship challenges, cultural adjustment issues, immigrant/assimilation challenges, inter-generational communications or immigrant family issues, adjusting to life stages such as starting careers, empty-nesting, or retirement, and challenges related to finding meaning and purpose in life.

My ideal client is motivated towards change and desires to lean in towards desired outcomes with curiosity and courage. My clients are open to investigating parts of themself that hold them back in life. These old scripts are likely connected to hurts and trauma that have caused painful patterns requiring healing in partnership with a clear, engaged practitioner. My definition of health is mind, body and emotions working in balance around True Self/Soul/Spirit/Essence–pick your favorite word for that part of you. Together we create therapeutic alliance towards greater balance, self agency, and relationship to self and loved ones.

Does your child have worries, sadness or angry outbursts that leave you speechless and frustrated? Or maybe you or your child have experienced something painful and difficult that leaves you feeling hopeless about the future. You might find your own anger, depression, or anxiety increasing as you try to understand your child or your own reactions to stress. We all strive to experience peace in our families and inside ourselves. I will assist you in developing confidence in your personal choices or your parenting choices so you can experience more happiness and success in your life.

You’re a little different. You’re seeking more out of life than mainstream society implies is possible. Perhaps you’ve always felt that there’s some piece missing but you can’t put your finger on it, or that you have a calling that you haven’t discovered yet. You feel things strongly. You may have been told that you feel things too much, or that you are too much. Maybe you’re looking for a better way to live with anxiety, depression, a trauma history, or an illness you can’t make sense of. Maybe you’re not sure what’s wrong, but you know things aren’t quite right. You wonder if there’s anyone else like you. I’m so glad you're here.

I focus on the treatment of trauma using a mind-body and mindfulness framework and work from the understanding that our life experiences are stored in the body. It’s important to pay attention not only to our thoughts and emotions, but also to the clues our body gives us. My goal is to help clients create their own sense of safety, enhance relationship to self, and to move towards a space of presence and increased well-being. I also offer consultation to clinicians hoping to deepen their understanding of parts work using a trauma-informed perspective.

As a parent, you work hard to support your teen's well-being amidst today's complex challenges. Teens often face difficulties with social media, peer pressure, academics, and other stressors. If you're feeling overwhelmed about how to help, know that seeking therapy is a proactive step toward providing your teen with the tools they need to thrive. Working together, we can support your teen in their journey toward adulthood.

Dr. Devaraj is passionate about working with clients with disordered eating and those who have experienced trauma. She has done extensive postgraduate training in counseling, eating disorders, and trauma through a series of courses, institutes, research, workshops, and seminars. She has become an advocate for maternal mental health and hopes to help people better understand postpartum depression.