Body-Centered Therapy in Oakland & Santa Cruz
Somatic Therapy
in Oakland & Santa Cruz
Licensed somatic therapists serving the Bay Area with warm, body-based psychotherapy that helps you feel safe, grounded, and whole again.
When Your Body Holds What Words Can't Release
You've tried talk therapy. You understand your patterns intellectually. But your body still braces. Your nervous system still reacts. The tension, exhaustion, and overwhelm persist.
This is because trauma, chronic stress, and emotional pain live in the body — not just the mind.
Somatic therapy works directly with your nervous system to release what's been held, restore regulation, and help you feel at home in your body again.
Do Any of These Sound Familiar?
Signs Your Nervous System Needs Support
- –You feel exhausted but can't relax
- –Your body holds tension no matter what you try
- –You startle easily or feel on edge
- –Sleep is disrupted or unrefreshing
- –You feel disconnected from your body or emotions
- –Stress feels constant, even when “nothing is wrong”
- –You've experienced trauma and feel stuck in survival mode
- –Relationship patterns keep repeating despite your awareness
- –Grief, loss, or major transitions feel impossible to move through
These aren't personal failures. They're signals from a nervous system that needs care.
How We Work
Somatic Therapy Services in Oakland & Santa Cruz
Our somatic therapists combine licensed psychotherapy with Breema® Bodywork — a gentle, body-based practice that supports deep nervous system regulation and whole-person healing.
- –Licensed therapists (LMFT) — Trained in somatic psychology, trauma treatment, and body-centered modalities
- –Breema Bodywork integration — Gentle, clothed bodywork that calms the nervous system
- –Whole-person care — Body, mind, and emotions addressed together
- –Multiple modalities — EMDR, Gestalt, expressive arts, sandtray therapy, and more
- –Convenient locations — In-person sessions in Oakland and Santa Cruz, plus online therapy throughout California
Your Therapists
Meet Our Somatic Therapists
Hear From Dena
Dena Ehrlich, LMFT
Somatic Therapist in Santa Cruz & Oakland
Somatic Psychotherapy, Breema Bodywork & Expressive Arts. Dena Ehrlich, M.A. LMFT, is a trauma-informed somatic therapist in Santa Cruz and certified Breema practitioner offering warm, body-centered therapy for children, teens, and adults.
She helps clients navigate challenges like overwhelm, relationship issues, grief, and the effects of childhood neglect with compassion and presence. Her integrative approach includes Breema bodywork, expressive arts, sandtray therapy, and herbalism — tailored to each person's unique needs.
- –Child and teen therapy in Santa Cruz
- –Trauma and childhood neglect
- –Overwhelm and anxiety
- –Relationship challenges
- –Grief and loss
- –Expressive arts and sandtray therapy
Santa Cruz: Hummingbird Valley, 1690 Glen Canyon Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Oakland: The Breema Clinic, 6201 Florio Street, Oakland, CA 94618
Contact: (510) 213-8634
Online therapy available throughout California
Serving: Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Santa Cruz County, and Oakland/East Bay
Session Fee: $205 per 50-minute session
Oakland: The Breema Clinic, 6201 Florio Street, Oakland, CA 94618
Contact: (510) 213-8634
Online therapy available throughout California
Serving: Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Santa Cruz County, and Oakland/East Bay
Session Fee: $205 per 50-minute session
Angela Porter, LMFT
Somatic Therapist in Oakland
Somatic Psychotherapy, Breema Bodywork & EMDR. Angela Porter, M.A. MFT, is a somatic therapist in Oakland specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, familial pattern and legacy work, and couples therapy.
She trained in Gestalt, body-centered, and somatic therapy at Esalen Institute and Counseling Psychology at The Wright Institute. Angela is both an instructor and practitioner of Breema and a certified EMDR practitioner. She serves as adjunct faculty at CIIS and is a staff instructor at both the Breema Center and The Psychotherapy Institute.
- –Trauma therapy and PTSD (including EMDR)
- –Anxiety and depression treatment
- –Familial patterns and legacy work
- –Couples therapy in Oakland
- –Clinical supervision for new therapists
Location: The Breema Clinic, 6201 Florio Street, Oakland, CA 94618
Contact: (510) 859-8970
Serving: Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, Emeryville, and the greater East Bay
Session Fees: Individual $200/wk or $250 bi-weekly · Couples $300 · Family $500 · Group $100/wk
Some sliding scale slots available, please inquire.
Contact: (510) 859-8970
Serving: Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, Emeryville, and the greater East Bay
Session Fees: Individual $200/wk or $250 bi-weekly · Couples $300 · Family $500 · Group $100/wk
Some sliding scale slots available, please inquire.
Nakhter Ahad, LMFT
Somatic Therapist in Oakland
Nakhter Ahad is a somatic therapist and bodyworker in Oakland, seeing clients in private practice and online. He also teaches and offers Breema bodywork at the Breema Clinic in Oakland.
His therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed — grounded in the belief that each of us is fundamentally whole and self-healing.
Location: The Breema Clinic, 6201 Florio Street, Oakland, CA 94618
Contact: (510) 306-1231
Session Fees: Psychotherapy $180 for 50 minutes · Breema $75 for 30 minutes
Contact: (510) 306-1231
Session Fees: Psychotherapy $180 for 50 minutes · Breema $75 for 30 minutes
Request an Appointment
Tell us a bit about yourself and let us know which therapist you’d like to see — or choose “No preference” and we’ll match you with whoever has the soonest availability.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy recognizes that our experiences — especially stress and trauma — are stored in the body, not just the mind. While traditional talk therapy works primarily through conversation and cognitive understanding, somatic approaches work directly with bodily sensations, movement, and the nervous system.
Breema® Bodywork
Gentle, clothed bodywork done on a comfortable padded surface. Through nurturing touch, stretches, and rhythmic movements based on the Nine Principles of Harmony, Breema calms the nervous system and creates a felt sense of safety and support.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — a research-backed approach for processing traumatic memories and reducing their emotional charge. Available with Angela in Oakland.
Gestalt & Body-Centered Therapy
Attention to present-moment experience, bodily sensations, and the wisdom of the body.
Expressive Arts & Sandtray Therapy
Creative, non-verbal approaches especially helpful for children, teens, and adults who process through imagery and play. Available with Dena in Santa Cruz.
Getting Started
What to Expect from Somatic Therapy Sessions
Your First Session
Your therapist will take time to understand your history, your current challenges, and what you're hoping to change. Sessions are warm, collaborative, and move at your pace. Depending on your needs, sessions may include:
- –Verbal processing and exploration
- –Attention to bodily sensations and nervous system states
- –Breema bodywork (clothed, on a padded surface)
- –EMDR or other trauma processing techniques
- –Expressive arts or sandtray work (Santa Cruz)
- –Practical tools for daily life
Ongoing Care
Healing takes time and consistency. Most clients attend weekly sessions, especially at the beginning. As your system stabilizes and you build new capacities, sessions may become less frequent.
Areas of Focus
Conditions We Treat
Naming the areas we work with is standard professional practice for our licensed therapists (LMFT).
Trauma Therapy in Oakland & Santa Cruz
- –Single-incident trauma
- –Complex and developmental trauma
- –Childhood neglect and attachment wounds
- –PTSD symptoms
- –EMDR therapy (Oakland)
Anxiety & Depression Treatment
- –Chronic anxiety and worry
- –Panic and overwhelm
- –Depression and low motivation
- –Feeling stuck or numb
Couples & Relationship Therapy (Oakland)
- –Couples therapy
- –Repeating relationship patterns
- –Family dynamics and legacy work
- –Attachment and intimacy issues
Grief Counseling & Life Transitions
- –Loss and bereavement
- –Major life changes
- –Identity transitions
- –Finding meaning and direction
Child & Teen Therapy (Santa Cruz)
- –Anxiety and behavioral challenges
- –Trauma and adverse childhood experiences
- –Family changes (divorce, moves, loss)
- –Emotional regulation
- –Expressive arts and sandtray therapy
Stress & Nervous System Dysregulation
- –Chronic stress and burnout
- –Feeling “wired but tired”
- –Difficulty relaxing
- –Physical symptoms with stress components
Why It Works
The Science Behind Somatic Healing
When we experience stress or trauma, our nervous system can get stuck in survival mode — constantly scanning for threats, unable to fully rest. This affects everything: sleep, digestion, immune function, mood, relationships.
- –Activating the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest)
- –Completing incomplete stress responses held in the body
- –Building interoceptive awareness (sensing your body from the inside)
- –Creating new neural pathways for safety and regulation
- –Restoring the body's natural rhythm of activation and rest
Body-Centered, Whole-Person Care
There's no force, no fixing. Your body can finally let go.
Our somatic therapists are trained Breema practitioners and instructors. Breema's Nine Principles of Harmony — including No Judgment, Body Comfortable, and Mutual Support — create a therapeutic atmosphere that is inherently safe and nurturing.
Many clients in Oakland and Santa Cruz find that integrating Breema bodywork into their therapy accelerates healing and helps them access states of calm and connection they haven't felt in years.
Where We See Clients
Areas We Serve
Oakland & the East Bay
Angela Porter provides in-person somatic therapy at The Breema Clinic in Oakland. She serves clients from:
- –Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda
- –Piedmont, Emeryville, El Cerrito
- –Richmond, Walnut Creek, Concord
- –Fremont, and throughout the East Bay
Santa Cruz County
Dena Ehrlich provides in-person somatic therapy in Santa Cruz. She serves clients from:
- –Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos
- –Scotts Valley, Soquel, Watsonville
- –And throughout Santa Cruz County
Online Throughout California
Dena offers online somatic therapy sessions for California residents who prefer virtual care or live outside our service areas.
Get In Touch
Somatic Therapy Office Locations
OAKLAND
Oakland
The Breema Clinic
6201 Florio Street
Oakland, CA 94618
Convenient to Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, and Emeryville
6201 Florio Street
Oakland, CA 94618
Convenient to Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, and Emeryville
SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz
1690 Glen Canyon Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(510) 213-8634
Dena also sees clients in Oakland at The Breema Clinic
Convenient to Capitola, Aptos, Scotts Valley, and Soquel
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(510) 213-8634
Dena also sees clients in Oakland at The Breema Clinic
Convenient to Capitola, Aptos, Scotts Valley, and Soquel
ONLINE
Virtual Sessions
Available throughout California.
Secure video sessions from the comfort of your home.
Secure video sessions from the comfort of your home.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Somatic Therapy
What's the difference between somatic therapy and regular talk therapy?
Talk therapy works primarily through conversation and cognitive understanding. Somatic therapy works directly with the body and nervous system to release patterns that words alone can't reach. Many people find the two complement each other, or that somatic therapy helps when talk therapy has plateaued.
Do I need to have experienced trauma to benefit from somatic therapy?
Not at all. Somatic therapy supports anyone dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, or a desire to feel more connected to themselves. You don't need a specific diagnosis or trauma history.
Will I have to do bodywork? What if I'm not comfortable with touch?
Bodywork is never required. Your therapist will work with you to find approaches that feel safe and right for you. Some clients do verbal processing only; others incorporate Breema; many find a blend that works. You're always in control.
What should I wear to a somatic therapy session?
Comfortable, loose clothing — long pants and socks are ideal if you'd like to include Breema bodywork. All bodywork is done fully clothed.
How is Breema different from massage?
Breema isn't focused on manipulating muscles or tissues. It works with the whole person — body, mind, and feelings — using gentle movements and stretches based on the Nine Principles of Harmony. The goal is nervous system regulation and body-mind connection, not just physical relaxation.
Do you offer child therapy in Santa Cruz?
Yes. Dena Ehrlich specializes in working with children, teens, and adults in Santa Cruz, using developmentally appropriate approaches including expressive arts and sandtray therapy.
Do you offer couples therapy in Oakland?
Yes. Angela Porter offers couples therapy at the Oakland office.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies significantly by person and goals. Some clients come for a specific issue and feel complete after several months; others appreciate ongoing support over years. Your therapist will help you determine what's right for you.
Is somatic therapy covered by insurance?
Both Angela and Dena are licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). Many insurance plans cover MFT services. Please check with your provider about your specific coverage, or ask about out-of-network reimbursement.
What's the difference between seeing a somatic therapist and Dr. Johnson?
Dr. Alexandra Johnson, MD, offers integrative medicine consultations and Breema bodywork focused on physical health concerns (gut health, hormones, chronic fatigue, etc.). Angela and Dena offer licensed psychotherapy for mental and emotional health. Many clients benefit from both. We're all part of the same integrative care team at Greeting Health.
Do you offer online somatic therapy?
Yes. Dena Ehrlich offers online therapy sessions for California residents. While some somatic techniques work best in person, many body-based approaches translate well to video sessions.
Get Started
Ready to Begin Somatic Therapy?
Your body knows how to heal. Sometimes it just needs the right support.
Questions? Call (510) 455-8008 or email admin@alexandrajohnsonmd.com
Angela Porter, LMFT, Dena Ehrlich, LMFT, and Nakhter Ahad, LMFT are independent, licensed psychotherapists in private practice — each a separate business from Alexandra Johnson, MD and from each other, sharing office space and a foundation in Breema® practice. General information only; not a substitute for professional mental health care. In crisis, call or text 988.
