"Although the idea of who we are is limited, our core essence is limitless."
-Dr. Shefali Tsabary
What is somatic psychotherapy?
Soma, of Greek origin, means body. Of Vedic tradition, soma means to extract. In western society, we are conditioned to either disallow sensation or surrender to it, neither of which supports enrichment. Somatic psychotherapy is about coming to an improved understanding of our bodies and ourselves in relationship to the body, the mind, our environment and our being. By recognizing patterned behaviours, gestures, breath, and posturing we can access better choice in forming our experiences, both of the past and the present, and begin to individuate from embodied belief systems that do not support personal growth.
Therapy with me is about renegotiating what we think ourselves to be so we might safely open to new possibilities. With permission, we will explore imposed limitations and their resulting old ideas. We will explore embodied blocks and create synaptic shifts in to naturally re-pattern the brain to dismiss the thoughts that aren't serving us today. In resourcing the nervous system, capacity increases and greater resiliency can be realized. Your story will be acknowledged and the history that is unique to you given space, as we find the alignments, actions, and practices necessary for your healing and growth.
"It's hard to experience desire when you're weighted down by concern.”
-Esther Perel, relationship philosopher,
psychotherapist, and author
Somatic Couples Therapy
We are relational beings. From conception our nervous systems learn how to function by being in relationship with one another, body to body. Unfortunately, for many of us those early relationships were strained, and created for protective patterns that challenge our ability to feel loved and secure in relationship as adults.
Couples therapy provides an opportunity for radical personal growth! While it can be terribly uncomfortable when the worst of us shows up in our relationship, the good news is that these happenings can hold the key to unlocking that which blocks us from loving and living more freely. Through our partners, and their experiences of us, we get to see parts of ourselves that need nurturing. This discovery can be most enriching, yet also very hard to understand and integrate without professional help.
My approach is rooted in interpersonal neurobiology. Together we'll look at where you are connecting, where each of you are feeling being missed, and how you and your partner(s) can best support one another to achieve and maintain healthful functioning. Somatic couples therapy is about understanding each partner's needs, wants, and desires in order to achieve a better system of relating and supporting one another.
I work with couples and relationships of all configurations. Couples therapy can happen one on one or, as available, in tailored groups with other couples. My space is poly-versed, kink aware, and LGBTQIAA+ affirming. High conflict couples are welcome.
"Trauma is not what happened, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathic witness."
-Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing
Hi, I'm Kimberly.
I believe we are capable of immeasurable change when provided the right support. My journey to becoming a clinician began with my own existential search for meaning and healthfulness amidst a high-pressure career in entertainment and experiential marketing. The arts, athletics, culture, discipline, social rebellion, chronic illness, Somatic Experiencing, and spiritual quest are all integral to my story.
In my own seeking, I came to understand that the deepest healing happens through safe, interpersonal connection. I took to somatic scholarship as a means to guide others towards radical self-discovery and affect change in my community. Helping people come into greater knowingness of themselves, so they might thrive amidst challenge, is my life’s work.
I provide therapeutic treatment for individuals, couples, and groups facing seeming impasses and resulting physical and emotional imbalances. I work with various struggles of mind, thought, behavior, and experiences of self and others. Specialized training in trauma release and processing enables me the ability to work with survivors, to uncover missed experiences and process traumatic happenings. With couples managing trauma, I direct partners towards improved resiliency and an understanding of dynamics at play in the relationship: I help couples learn how to co-regulate and find ease and fulfillment in their relationship.
My approach to therapy is mindful and dialogic and my practice open, accepting, poly-versed, kink aware, and LGBTQIA+ affirming. In helping my clients actualize change, I encourage exploration and draw upon traditional psychodynamic and eastern philosophies as well as contemporary treatment modalities such as: Somatic Experiencing, Polyvagal Theory, Fusion Acupressure, Formative Psychology, Yoga Therapy, Hakomi, AEDP, EFT, Parts Work, and PACT.
If you feel I can help you, reach out to me.
Kimberly Brandon
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Registered Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
AMFT122082 & APCC8703
Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center
Supervised by Anna Howland LMFT99026
Flow House
Supervised by Jori Adler
MY CLINIC
OFFERING TELEHEALTH SESSIONS IN CALIFORNIA
INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS
RELATIONSHIP SESSIONS
GROUP SESSIONS
individual sessions $185-225
couples/group/family sessions $200-250
extended sessions determined upon request
90 minute sessions:
individuals $75 / couples $120
TO SCHEDULE A SESSION
Call or text: 833-579-1719
*please be sure to leave a VM or SMS with your first name and a phone number or an email address where I can reach you*
Email: kimberly@somaticcentered.com
"The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely."
-Carl Jung, founder of Analytic Psychology