Somatic Therapy in Petaluma, Sonoma County
Somatic Work for Nervous System Dysregulation.
Somatic Therapy in Petaluma · Sonoma & Marin County
Adults only
Body-based approaches for nervous-system dysregulation, working with sensation and felt experience rather than talk alone. Offered to adults only.
Common Challenges
Somatic therapies for conditions of excess activation and instability in the nervous system.
How We Work Together
Intentional hands-on work and body awareness to engage the body's natural ability to process and release trauma and tension.
What You Can Expect
Body-based approaches for nervous-system dysregulation, working with sensation and felt experience rather than talk alone. Offered to adults only.
About This Specialization
Wellness Through the Body
Body-based approaches for nervous-system dysregulation — working with sensation, felt experience, and gentle touch rather than talk alone. Offered to adults only in Petaluma and the North Bay.
Within the last 20 years, somatically-oriented and hands-on modalities for mental health and wellness have gained traction as research continues to highlight their therapeutic benefits. Modalities such as Transforming Touch® and Focusing-Oriented Therapy are increasingly integrated into mental health treatment to help regulate the nervous system and promote emotional healing and resilience.
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These approaches are particularly effective in reducing trauma- and stress-related symptoms by engaging the body's natural ability to process and release tension. The rise of trauma-informed somatic work — which recognizes the deep connection between body awareness, appropriate physical touch, and emotional well-being — has led to more holistic approaches in psychotherapy.
As a psychologist in Petaluma, I incorporate somatically-oriented modalities to help clients reconnect with their bodies, process unresolved trauma and emotional pain, and manage chronic pain, sleep disturbances, and emotional dysregulation. Somatic therapy is offered to adults only.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy recognizes that emotional pain and trauma are often held in the body — not just the mind. Rather than relying on talk alone, somatic approaches engage bodily sensation, nervous system regulation, and, when appropriate, consensual touch to help clients process what has been difficult to access through words.
Therapists trained in somatic techniques incorporate body awareness, gentle touch, movement, and breathwork to help clients reconnect with their bodies and process unresolved trauma and emotional pain. These tools are widely used for individuals with anxiety, PTSD, and conditions involving nervous system dysregulation.
Somatic Therapies - Common Challenges | Petaluma, CA
Somatic therapies for conditions of excess activation and instability in the nervous system.
Ready when you are
Start with a free 15-minute consultation
A no-pressure conversation to see if we're a good fit and answer any questions you may have.
Also helpful
Modalities Offered · Petaluma, CA
Somatic modalities tailored to you
Each approach has its own page with details on how it supports nervous system regulation, trauma recovery, and embodied healing.
What Are the Benefits of Hands-On Somatic Therapy?
These benefits work together to foster emotional healing and resilience in individuals dealing with trauma, stress, or emotional challenges.
Increased Body Awareness
Become more attuned to physical sensations and emotional states, and the important messages they carry.
Release of Stored Trauma
Release physical tension and trauma held in the body that may not be accessible through talk therapy alone.
Stress Reduction
Address the body's response to stress, promoting relaxation, calm, and healing.
Improved Emotional Regulation
Process and regulate difficult emotions by linking physical sensations with emotional experiences.
Enhanced Mindfulness
Focus on the present moment and bodily sensations, leading to better emotional and mental clarity.
Increased Self-Compassion
Develop a compassionate relationship with yourself, improving self-esteem and emotional resilience.
Reduced Chronic Pain
Address the connection between emotional trauma and chronic physical pain.
Trauma Recovery
Process and integrate past traumas, particularly those difficult to access through traditional talk therapies.
Improved Nervous System Regulation
Learn to regulate your nervous system, balancing fight, flight, or freeze responses.
Empowerment and Agency
Gain a greater sense of partnership with your body and its physical and emotional states.
Is Somatic Therapy Right for You?
If your body feels stuck in fight-or-flight, talking alone hasn't helped, or you feel disconnected from your body, somatic therapy offers a pathway toward safety, connection, and regulation. Somatic therapy is offered to adults only.
A Welcoming Space
The Office
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Somatic Therapy Corner
A welcoming space for healing.
My office provides a warm, comfortable, confidential environment designed to help you feel safe and supported. I've created a calm space where you can focus entirely on your journey toward wellness and growth.
Visit Us
Sil Machado, Ph.D.
7 Fourth Street, Suite 45, Petaluma, CA 94952
Supportive care in Petaluma.
Sil Machado, Ph.D. offers a calm, welcoming space for in-person care in Petaluma, serving Sonoma & Marin County.
Rates & Insurance
Initial intake: $250 · Ongoing session: $200. In-network with Medicare (no Medicare Advantage or Kaiser Medicare), Aetna, Medi-Cal Carelon Behavioral Health, and Kaiser Carelon Behavioral Health. Superbills available for out-of-network reimbursement.
