Somatic Therapy in Oakland
With Erik Kahn, LMFT · California License #146734
You might understand why you feel anxious or stuck and still find yourself reacting the same way. Maybe your shoulders tighten before you say what you need, or you go quiet during a difficult conversation. Somatic therapy makes room for those experiences, along with the words.
What does somatic therapy mean?
Somatic simply means related to the body. In our sessions, we’ll talk about what’s happening in your life and notice how you experience it physically. That might mean paying attention to tension, breathing, restlessness, or a sense of shutting down.
You don’t need to know what any of it means before you come in. We can slow down and figure it out together.
What working with me looks like
I want therapy to feel like a real conversation. I’ll ask questions, share what I notice, and help you pay attention to your own experience. We might pause while you’re telling a story and notice what changes in your body. Sometimes we’ll explore a small movement or a different way of sitting. Other times, we’ll mostly talk.
There’s no requirement to do an exercise, close your eyes, or feel something on command. You can tell me when something doesn’t fit. We’ll work at a pace that feels manageable.
What we can explore
This approach may be a fit if you want to understand anxiety, disconnection, familiar relationship patterns, or difficulty knowing what you need. The goal is to help you notice your experience more clearly and have more choice in how you respond.
Do I have to be good at noticing my body?
No. Feeling unsure, distracted, or disconnected is a place to start. You also don’t need experience with meditation or yoga.
Meet in Oakland or online
My office is at 123 Bay Place, Suite 7, Oakland, CA 94610, near Lake Merritt. I also offer online therapy throughout California.
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to talk about what you’re looking for and see how it feels to talk with me.