Somatic Therapists in California

Coming home to yourself is a daily practice that can feel impossible amidst the grind of everyday life. When waking up feels like a chore and you're wondering, 'is this all there is?', you know it's time to get support. You deserve to create space for what is being asked to move through you. I help sensitive creatives tune back into your inner wisdom, shed the weight of heavy experiences/beliefs, and live a balanced & beautiful life on your terms.

I believe that our purpose here is to learn and grow. Challenges arise merely to help us break through our self-inflicted limitations. When we stop learning, we get stuck. When we're stuck, we stop growing. When we stop growing, we suffer. Unfortunately, most of us are living in this paradigm and aren't aware there is another option. I am passionate about helping my clients breakthrough into a much more fulfilling one, in which true inner freedom lives.

I love discovering the emerging potential of my clients, and supporting their unique personal development and evolution. I'm experienced working with highly sensitive individuals, and those who self-identify as having a history of trauma. Adults who are self-motivated, and those who have or desire a mind-body-spirit practice, are a good fit for the support I provide. I adapt to the needs of children and adults alike. I believe therapy can be a powerful tool to unlock our greater creativity and feelings of interconnectivity and trust, so that my clients can thrive in the web of life.

Stress, self-consciousness, sadness, fear: they're part of being human. But if feelings like these are becoming so overwhelming that they're affecting your well-being, I can be a supportive ally on your way toward healing and balance. In working with clients facing anxiety or panic, traumatic experiences, depression, body image issues, or creative or relationship struggles, I provide insight, tools, and support. We'll explore your core beliefs, improve communication, boost your self-compassion, figure out what's holding you back, and brainstorm strategies.

Are you ready to stop feeling desperate, anxious, confused, stuck and unable to trust yourself to make decisions? Would you like to heal long-held trauma that's interfering with your life? If this sounds like you, help is available! Using an integrative approach of Internal Family Systems (IFS Therapy), Somatic-Attachment and Relational Psychotherapy, I will collaborate with you to gain confidence and skills to support your growth and healing. You'll learn the skills of emotional regulation as you diminish anxiety and panic. As your healing progresses, you'll experience the joy of being present and connected.

The clients I work with benefit the most when they embrace the comfort and discomfort that comes with building a therapeutic relationship. Reading all the blurbs is an excellent way to get brief insight into the character of a potential therapist, but whether or not someone will be a good fit is a difficult question with so many options. We know the relationship you build with your therapist is the largest indicator of success. With that in mind, go with your gut! Enjoy the process and embrace the change or help you seek.

I specialize in working with humans of all ages. I see individuals facing a range of mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, or stress-related issues. I provide compassionate and grounded evidence-based approaches for a holistic and effective treatment. Clients needs may include validation of their experiences, a safe space to express themselves, and practical tools to manage their symptoms and improve their overall well-being. Client’s goals may involve gaining a better understanding of their mental health, developing coping strategies, enhancing self-esteem, and ultimately achieving a higher quality of life.

I have been successful helping clients return to healthy and dynamic lives who have experienced severe anxiety, depression, and debilitating trauma from physical, emotional and sexual abuse. I have also helped families and couples with relationship issues including; frustrated parents with young children and/or challenging teenagers, couples stuck in bad communication cycles, and people who have lost themselves, their motivation and direction.

Someone like you may be drawn to my unique style of work because talk therapy isn’t delving deep enough into the painful emotions you feel, the chronic pain you hold, or the spinning thoughts that rule your life. You may crave a nourishment from your life you’ve lost touch with in the busy-ness, trapped in people pleasing, poor boundaries and unresolved old pain. You may remember you once felt vibrant and connected to yourself, and perhaps something greater. Are you ready to get back?

I Wendy De Augustine, L.M.F.T., MA., am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have a MA in Art Therapy. I specialize in individual, couple, group and family therapy. My areas of focus include art therapy, narrative therapy and working with children, adolescents and adults. I received a 62-unit Masters of Arts degree in Psychology with a major in Marriage and Family Therapy/Art Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. I work extensively with depressed teens and adults, utlizing different techniques through a Narrative and Post Modern lens to provide what is most helpful to my clients.

I welcome individuals and partners of all backgrounds and life experiences into this shared work, with specific interest and experience in the areas of anxiety, depression, trauma, grief work, life transitions and existential inquiries. I honor wherever you are on your journey and believe in cultivating space, and curiosity as we navigate this path together.

I'm passionate about working with queer, neurodivergent folks who have experienced trauma. I also enjoy working with folks who identify as part of the “still COVIDing” community. I offer support around exploring gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and coming out. I also enjoy supporting folks in developing secure attachment and healing past attachment wounds. A lot of the folks I work with are experiencing anxiety, depression, burnout, and stress. They are seeking a better understanding of themselves and some relief. I support them in bettering their relationships with themselves and others.

I am an integrative therapist, using a holistic model and techniques from somatic, relational, inter-subjective, and transpersonal psychology, as well as techniques from my own long-standing spiritual practices, such as drumming, chanting and Vipassana Buddhist meditation practice. I got my masters in Psychology with a Somatic Concentration from JFK, Orinda, CA in 1997. As LGBTQIA identified and a Pacific Islander, I know that both trauma and healing can come from our individual and cultural histories. I welcome anyone seeking growth or healing and I'm committed to healing within marginalized communities. My areas of specialty include people with histories of trauma and/or addiction, people looking to integrate spiritual experiences, people of color and members of the LGBTQ community.

Maybe you're wondering why the same negative behaviors keep happening or you feel like you can't get out of your own mind to make changes. I utilize somatic techniques to support clients facing the challenges of chronic illness or cancer, anxiety, depression and OCD. I am deeply committed to helping my clients improve their overall well-being, reduce their anxiety, and manage the symptoms of OCD through a holistic, body-centered approach.

Do you want to break free from painful experiences in your past? You can heal the wounds that have been holding you back, and live your life more authentically and joyfully. I work with people who are survivors of trauma, such as childhood abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, and sexual abuse and assault, or are adult children of alcoholics and dysfunctional families. I'm also a sex-positive, LGBTQIA+ affirmative, polyamory-friendly and kink-informed therapist, and I'm passionate about helping clients with issues regarding sexuality and sexual identity. Let's work together to make meaningful and lasting changes.

Are you looking to create new ways of relating to yourself and others? Are you searching for support to manage stress or a time of change? Do you want to feel more joy? Sometimes difficulties feel too big, and one can experience pain and stress. Folks seek me for support with stress, anxiety, depression, physical pain, trauma, the process of acculturation and belonging, loss and grief, sexuality, parenting issues, chronic illness, and creative blocks. They want to heal from the impact these have on their mental and emotional experience, relationships, and health. They hope to feel more aliveness and regain a sense of purpose.

There are many ways to find healing. I use an integrative approach that draws from various modalities such as Gestalt, Nonviolent Communication, mindfulness, somatic healing, and attachment-based therapies. Using a compassionate and collaborative style, I seek to help you work through challenges that are affecting your relationships and the life you want to live. Humor and play can also have wonderful healing benefits, and I often find ways, when appropriate, to fold them into our sessions. Exploring the connection between the mind and the body is at the foundation of the work we will do together.

As a holistic-somatic therapist, I hold a non-pathologizing perspective, emphasizing your innate wholeness and capacity for healing. I relate directly and spontaneously, focusing on mind-body-presence. Rooted in a compassionate and mindful eco-psycho-social context, I focus on supporting adult individuals and couples. Most of my clients are processing trauma, anxiety, shame, grief, co-dependence, and ADHD patterns with the aim of achieving a sense of secure connection both internally and externally. As a path to gain insight into the intricate dynamics of your process and behaviors sessions may focus on felt-sense resources.

One of the bravest things we can do is work to understand our own stories. While we are a product of our family, ancestors, environment, and society, we don't have to stay stuck in patterns that no longer serve us. We all have the ability to change and live a more balanced, meaningful life. You might be feeling stuck juggling school/work, other's expectations, and conflicts with family, or you might be struggling to find meaning as you go through life transitions, immigration, work and relationships. I am here to support you as we create a safe space for you to explore your journey and goals.