Searching for a therapist can feel surprisingly overwhelming. You may find yourself scrolling through page after page of profiles filled with familiar phrases: trauma-informed, holistic, compassionate, safe space.
These qualities matter, of course. But they may not tell you what you most want to know:
What will it actually feel like to sit with this person?
When you’re looking for a somatic therapist in Santa Monica, the number of choices—and the different kinds of training behind them—can make it difficult to know where to begin. My hope is that this guide helps you slow the process down, understand what you’re looking at, and approach your search with a little more clarity and trust in yourself.
Somatic therapy isn’t just one method
“Somatic therapy” is an umbrella term for approaches that include the body and nervous system in the healing process.
Traditional talk therapy often begins with thoughts, memories, and the stories we tell about our experiences. Somatic therapy also pays attention to what is happening beneath the words: the tightening in your chest, the holding of your breath, the impulse to pull away, the heaviness in your body, or the sense that you have gone numb.
Different somatic therapists work in different ways. Some follow a particular model, such as Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, or Hakomi. Others integrate breath, mindfulness, grounding, imagery, gentle movement, or body awareness into a broader therapeutic approach.
My own work has grown from more than 25 years of experience with mindfulness, yoga, dance, holistic counseling, and body-centered healing. I draw from somatic practices, Internal Family Systems, and other humanistic and experiential approaches. Rather than following a rigid protocol, I pay attention to what is happening in the present moment and what your particular system may need.
Two therapists may both describe themselves as somatic therapists while offering very different experiences. One approach is not necessarily better than another. The question is whether a therapist’s way of working feels right for you.
Look at both licensure and somatic training
When considering a therapist, it is helpful to understand the difference between a licensed mental health professional and someone offering body-based services under a nonclinical title.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists have completed graduate education, supervised clinical experience, examinations, and continuing professional requirements. They are also accountable to a state licensing board.
Somatic training is additional and varies considerably. Some clinicians complete extensive programs in a particular somatic method. Others develop an integrative body-centered practice through years of study in psychotherapy, mindfulness, movement, trauma, and nervous-system regulation.
Titles such as somatic practitioner, breathwork coach, or trauma-informed coach do not necessarily indicate a mental health license. This does not mean that these practitioners cannot offer meaningful support. It simply means that their training, scope of practice, and professional accountability may be different.
If you are seeking help for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, or another mental health concern, I recommend looking carefully at both the person’s clinical license and their experience with the concern bringing you to therapy.
You can verify the status of a California therapist’s license through the California Department of Consumer Affairs license-search website. A reputable therapist should also be comfortable answering questions about their education, experience, and somatic training.
Consider what will make therapy sustainable
Finding the right connection matters and so do the practical details that make it possible to continue showing up.
Location
If you are seeking in-person somatic therapy in Santa Monica, consider how the office fits into your daily life. Is it reasonably accessible from your home or work? Is parking available? Can you imagine making the trip regularly without it becoming another source of stress?
My office is in Santa Monica and is convenient for many people coming from Santa Monica, Brentwood, West Los Angeles, Mar Vista, Venice, and Pacific Palisades. Free covered parking is available.
Telehealth
Somatic therapy can also work beautifully through telehealth. Although we are not physically in the same room, we can still notice sensation, track changes in the breath, practice grounding, and become curious about what your body is communicating.
Some people find that being in their own home helps them feel more comfortable and connected to themselves. Others prefer the sense of separation and support that comes with visiting an office. Neither is inherently better—it is a matter of what helps you feel most present and at ease.
I offer telehealth sessions to clients located throughout California.
Insurance and fees
I am an out-of-network provider, which means I do not bill insurance companies directly. I can provide a superbill—an itemized receipt you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
If you have a PPO plan, you can call the member-services number on your insurance card and ask:
- Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health services?
- What percentage of the allowed amount is reimbursed?
- Do I need to meet a deductible first?
- Is there a limit on the number of sessions covered?
Fees and reimbursement can be confusing, so it is completely appropriate to ask questions before beginning. I also reserve a limited number of reduced-fee therapy for students and lower income individuals.
Questions to ask during a consultation
A consultation is not an audition, and you do not need to arrive knowing exactly what to say. It is simply an opportunity to get a felt sense of the therapist and learn more about how they work.
Here are some questions you might ask:
“What does a typical session with you look like?”
Is the therapist primarily passive or active? In my experience, exceptional care involves the art of embodying both: knowing when to listen deeply and allow space for something to emerge, and when to offer reflection, guidance, or a gentle invitation to explore more deeply.
I have worked with many clients who felt frustrated because a previous therapist listened but rarely engaged, leaving them feeling supported yet unable to make meaningful progress. When appropriate, I encourage clients to share that feedback directly with their therapist. Therapy is a relationship, and an effective therapist should be open to hearing what you need and adjusting the work when possible.
During a consultation, ask whether the therapist primarily listens and reflects or takes a more active role. Do they offer observations, questions, practices, or guidance? Will they invite you to notice your breath, sensations, posture, or impulses? Is their approach structured, intuitive, or a blend of both?
There is no single correct style. What matters is whether you feel genuinely heard while also receiving enough thoughtful engagement to support movement, insight, and change.
“How much movement is involved?”
Many people assume that somatic therapy means doing yoga or other physical exercises during a session. It does not have to.
In my practice, most somatic work is subtle and internal. You may be seated while noticing a sensation, following your breath, feeling your feet on the floor, or observing how your body responds to a thought or memory. Gentle movement may be included when it feels supportive, but you will not be pressured to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.
“Will I have to describe my trauma in detail?”
Not necessarily. Somatic therapy does not require you to retell every detail of a painful experience in order to heal.
We can begin with what is present now: perhaps tension, numbness, restlessness, a sense of disconnection, or an impulse that could not be expressed at the time. We move slowly, with respect for your body’s natural protective responses and your right to choose how deeply we explore.
“What experience do you have with what I’m going through?”
Somatic therapy may support people experiencing anxiety, trauma, PTSD, grief, burnout, attachment wounds, relationship difficulties, addiction, depression, and significant life transitions. Still, these experiences are not interchangeable.
Ask whether the therapist has meaningful clinical experience with your particular concerns. You might also ask how their approach changes depending on what a client is navigating.
“What happens if I become overwhelmed?”
This is an especially important question if you have experienced trauma or dissociation.
A somatic therapist should understand the importance of pacing. The goal is not to push through distress or overwhelm your nervous system. It is to help you build enough safety and awareness to remain connected to yourself as difficult feelings arise.
“What happens if therapy doesn’t seem to be helping?”
Therapy is collaborative. A thoughtful therapist should be willing to talk openly about what is and is not working, adjust the approach, receive your feedback, and offer a referral when someone else may be better suited to your needs.
You are not failing therapy if a particular therapist or method is not right for you.
Pay attention to what you notice in yourself
Credentials, experience, logistics, and therapeutic orientation are all important. But there is another part of choosing a therapist that cannot be determined from a profile.
Do you feel listened to? Does your breathing become a little easier, or do you find yourself bracing? Is there room for your questions? Do you sense warmth and steadiness? Can you imagine bringing the uncertain, complicated, or less polished parts of yourself into the relationship?
You do not have to feel completely relaxed. Meeting a new therapist can naturally bring up nervousness, particularly if trust has been difficult or you have felt misunderstood in the past. You are simply listening for a small sense of possibility: Perhaps I could feel safe enough here to begin.
In my work, I believe that you are the expert on your own experience. My role is not to impose an answer or tell your body what it should feel. It is to offer a soft place to land—one where we can slow down, tune in, and meet whatever is present with compassion and curiosity.
Healing rarely happens all at once. It unfolds gradually: one breath, one sensation, one moment at a time.
If we speak and you sense that I am not the right therapist for you, that is completely okay. Santa Monica is home to many thoughtful clinicians, and finding the person with whom you feel genuinely supported matters more than choosing any one particular practice.
Stefani Reitter, LMFT #50714, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and somatic practitioner in Santa Monica, California. She offers in-person counseling in Santa Monica and telehealth sessions throughout California.