About The Work

Somatic occupational therapy can help you to find relief from sensory processing difficulties, pain, stress, and other painful or chronic conditions so you can live your most radiant life. Interventions are uniquely designed to best meet your needs and goals.

Common conditions we treat:

• low back and neck pain
• chronic headaches
• feeling disconnected from ones body
• numbness or pain in the legs or feet
• difficulty with self-regulation 
• the effects of trauma
• sensory processing difficulties
• TMJ or jaw pain
• general body aches and pains
• chronic stress or anxiety
• and many other conditions

Interventions may include:

• body mind approaches
• myofascial release
• craniosacral therapy
• somatic yoga
• sensory integration strategies & education
• clinical somatic movement practices

Descriptions of the above intervention frameworks are detailed below.

TENSEGRITY MEDICINE™ (TM)

TM is an approach and methodology developed by Kelly Clancy, OTR/L, CHT, LMT. The work includes assessing three dimensional balance of the body, biotensegral testing, and targeted manual therapy (myofascial release and other light-touch fascial techniques) to address the unique challenges of each individual and restore optimal health and well-being. It is a person centered approach to therapy using the concept of biotensegrity as its foundational principle. Read more about Tensegrity Medicine here.

JOHN F BARNES MYOFASCIAL RELEASE (JFB MFR)

This approach is a highly effective hands on body therapy that applies gentle sustained pressure to areas of restriction in the connective tissue (fascia). JFB MFR uses multiple kinds of techniques to release and soften these restrictions, rehydrate the fascia, and release the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. Read more about myofascial release here.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY (CST)

CST is a gentle hands-on therapy that focuses on the craniosacral system, which is made up of the bones of the skull, spine, and pelvis, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, and the cerebrospinal fluid. Read more about craniosacral therapy here.

BODY-MIND APPROACHES

This approach incorporates mindfulness practices, somatic movement re-education, sensory integration, and other body oriented self-regulation techniques to help clients heal emotional, mental, and physical symptoms. Clients learn to develop greater self-awareness, emotional regulation skills, skillful movement patterns, and improved capacity for presence and resilience. Read more about body mind approaches here.

SOMATIC YOGA

Yoga is a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that originated in ancient India. These practices are designed to support self-regulation, enhance a sense of wholeness and connection to the divine, and improve physical well-being, longevity, and vitality. Read more about therapeutic and trauma-informed yoga here.

SENSORY INTEGRATION

Sensory integration means how we experience, interpret and react to (or ignore) information coming from our senses. Sensory integration is important in all the things that we need to do on a daily basis, such as getting dressed, eating, driving a car, socializing, learning, playing, working and more. Read more about sensory integration here.

Somatic occupational therapy sessions are offered in-office, on zoom, or in your san luis obispo county home.

Evaluations and interventions are always dependent on the clients needs and goals. Regardless of your condition, diagnosis, or pain points your somatic occupational therapy sessions will draw from a variety of somatic and mind-body based interventions.

Sessions will include client-centered dialogue, and creating a space for inner connection and accessing self-agency. This approach recognizes that the mind, body, nervous system, and sensory system are not separate and what the physical form is experiencing and expressing is directly influenced and informed by ones inner world. 

Within a somatic occupational therapy session we will assess and explore your physical tension patterns, sensory processing needs, beliefs, values, emotions, habits, and perceptions through a non-pathologizing lens. All parts of you are welcome. The somatic healing process can include both hands-on intervention, sensory integration and mind-body education, as well as creating space for attunement, self-empowerment, self-determination, and co-regulation.

Every session is individually crafted to support your unique needs, holding space for movement toward healing and wellness without pushing or forcing.

As a trauma informed and somatic-based occupational therapist, my focus is on safety and embodiment. Sessions are centered on curiosity and exploration to assist in identifying patterns within your body, beliefs, movements, and life routines.

I weave together approaches that will enhance client awareness of the messages and wisdom coming from the body, nervous system, sensory system, and soul system. In our sessions we will not bypass any part of you that needs attention and care.

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