How Do I Find a Somatic Therapist in San Francisco?
Somatic therapy, especially in San Francisco, has become popular as a way of taking care of one’s mental health. Whether it is depression, anxiety, stress, or trauma, somatic therapy can be useful in providing healing in ways traditional talk therapy cannot. So what is this new (or somewhat new) approach to therapy and why are people so eager to try it? Read on to find out more about somatic therapy in San Francisco.
Somatic therapy is a term that encompasses many types of therapy that use the body to aid psychological healing. Under the umbrella of the term somatic therapy, you can find somatic experiencing, dance therapy, hakomi therapy, and many others. The array of choices can be a bit intimidating: with so many different somatic therapies to choose from, how do you find a somatic therapist that is right for you? Luckily as a somatic therapist (specializing in dance therapy) in San Francisco, I have some tips for you. Please read on to find out more.
How To Find A Somatic Therapist in San Francisco
1) Do a little research on what kind of therapy you are interested in. There are many different types of somatic therapy available so decide what appeals to you. As a board-certified dance therapist, I think that dance therapy incorporates body language, movement, and rhythm in a way that is especially helpful but it may not appeal to everyone. There are plenty of types of somatic therapy out there—find what appeals to you!
2) Look up therapists that practice the therapy you are interested in and evaluate their credentials. Most therapists will have a website or a way for you to find out more information about them. You should look and make sure that the therapist is licensed to do psychotherapy in your state (coaches are great but there is little oversight for their training) and find out what specific training they have in the somatic therapy modality that you are interested in. If someone says they “work somatically” that is very generic and does not give any idea of the training/credentials they may hold. So be sure to do your due diligence when selecting a somatic therapist. Also, feel free to ask friends, family, or other healthcare practitioners for referrals.
3) Identify what you want to address in therapy. In particular try to answer the question why therapy and why now? Although you don’t need to know and understand every subtle nuance of why you are seeking therapy, being able to articulate why you are coming to therapy is definitely helpful to your potential therapist. The therapist will ask you questions to try and understand if you will be a good fit to work together and to better understand what your goals are.
4) Consider what you value in a therapist. You should consider what aspects of your self and your life are especially important to you and need to be understood by your therapist to ensure that you feel seen and heard. For instance, if you come from a particular faith tradition and need your therapist to understand that faith, you may ask the therapist questions about their understanding of your faith tradition. Or say you could care less about religious background but really would like a therapist with a certain experience or expertise, it would make sense to ask about the therapist’s expertise in that area. Those are all things to consider when choosing a somatic therapist.
5) Decide what your budget is for therapy and/or if you would like to use your insurance. Since finances can be a dealbreaker when considering a therapist, it is smart to consider upfront what you are willing to spend for your weekly therapy sessions. It is also important to let the therapist know upfront if you plan to use your insurance so that they can let you know if they are in network with that particular insurance.
6) Schedule a 15 minute free initial consultation. Most therapists will have the option to schedule a complementary initial consultation as a way to decide if it is a good fit. It doesn’t necessarily matter the style of somatic therapy as much as how comfortable you feel divulging information to this person. When you talk to them, do they make you feel at ease? Do they ask thoughtful questions? How would you feel meeting this person weekly?
I hope these tips on how to find a somatic therapist in San Francisco are helpful and have made the process of finding a somatic therapist less daunting.. If you have any trouble finding a somatic therapist or have questions about the process in general, feel free to contact me at lisa@lisamanca.com. I would be happy to help you find the right provider for you.