Somatic Therapy Los Angeles

For the overwhelmed perfectionist who looks fine on the outside—but feels anxious, tense, and stuck underneath it all. 

With Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC

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Somatic Therapy Los Angeles: Common Signs You Might Need It

Does This Sound Like You?

You feel stuck between wanting to make everyone happy, but you’re completely drained from trying to do…well…everything.

Maybe a part of you feels guilty as hell if you say no, and another part of you is resentful for working so hard?

You find yourself rewriting emails 10 times to make sure they’re “perfect” before sending. 

Maybe you even make plans with friends & secretly hope that they cancel so you can stay home?

You’re always on, always reliable, and it’s freaking exhausting.

This is where somatic therapy in Los Angeles helps. It gives you the space to hit pause, reset your nervous system, and actually take care of yourself…

Without feeling Guilt About It.

What Burnout Looks Like in the Body

Feeling Burnt Out? Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles Can Help

You’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Let’s get both shoes on the ground.

You apologize for everything because you feel responsible for everyone’s feelings. Learn how to stop over-apologizing.

You aim to be perfect in everything, but beat yourself up when you fall shortLearn to embrace “good enough.”

You never want to be a burden, so you always say that You’re “fine.” It’s time to share & heal.

But in reality, you’re always on edge, scanning for the next problem. Learn to relax and feel safe

Grew Up as the “Good Kid”? Somatic Therapy Los Angeles Can Help

Maybe You Were the "Good Kid" Growing Up?

Did you grow up as the “golden child” who never caused trouble?

Maybe you kept your needs hidden to avoid rocking the boat? Or had a sibling who demanded just a little (or a lot) more attention than you?

You might even have a loving family and solid relationships, but all that effort to never be a burden is catching up to you now –  affecting your adult life in unexpected (and maybe even weird) ways.

Over the years, I’ve learned that our bodies hold so much wisdom. Our brains can trick us, but our bodies never lie.

Somatic Therapist Los Angeles

Meet Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC

Hi, I’m Cheryl!  I know how it feels to be weighed down by anxiety and stress, where it seems like no one truly understands what you’re going through.  

My approach to somatic therapy in Los Angeles is helping you recognize what your body is trying to communicate to you.

Our bodies are constantly sending us signals about how we feel, even when our minds are too busy to notice. 

Have you ever felt a tightness in your chest when you’re anxious or a knot in your stomach when you’re worried? These physical sensations are your body’s way of communicating with you. 

Starting Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles? Here’s What to Expect

How Sessions Work

We will start by noticing how your body feels. Are there areas of tension or discomfort? What sensations come up when you think about certain situations?

Then, we’ll connect these physical sensations with your thoughts and emotions. 

You’ll learn practical tools to help you stay grounded and connected with yourself. Even outside of our sessions. 

I get it. Life is messy.
therapy should be a space where you feel understood and supported.

If you’re ready to finally feel relief from trauma, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm, I’d love to support you. Let’s talk about how somatic therapy can help you heal at the root level.

Why People In LA Choose Body-Based Work

Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles vs. Talk Therapy: What’s the Difference?

A lot of my clients come to me frustrated because they’ve tried traditional talk therapy before, and while it helped in some ways, they still feel stuck. Maybe you’ve experienced this too—you understand your triggers, you know why you react the way you do, but somehow, that awareness doesn’t actually change how you feel in the moment.

That’s where somatic therapy is different. It goes beyond just talking about your experiences and instead works directly with how trauma and emotions are stored in your body. If you’ve ever felt like you get it logically but your body still reacts the same way, somatic therapy helps you actually shift those patterns—without forcing or fighting yourself.

Is Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles the Right Fit for You?

Key Signs Somatic Therapy Can Help

You don’t have to keep feeling this way. If talk therapy hasn’t fully worked for you, or if your body still feels stuck in old patterns, somatic therapy can help. Let’s chat—book a free consultation, and we’ll figure out together what your nervous system needs to finally feel safe, calm, and in control again.

Success Stories & Testimonials

“Before therapy, I had no clue how the nervous system worked. I just thought I was anxious and bad at handling stress. Turns out, my body was just stuck in survival mode. Now, I actually know how to regulate myself instead of feeling overwhelmed all the time”
★★★★★
 
“Cheryl’s techniques are so intuitive and effective. She helped me understand my body’s signals and how to stop holding onto anxiety all the time. Seriously, if you’re in Los Angeles and need somatic therapy, Cheryl is the best!”
★★★★★
 
“I had no idea how much stress I was holding onto until I started working with her. Her sessions have helped me become more aware of my body and how to release the tension. Cheryl is really knowledgeable and has made a huge difference in my life. If you’re dealing with stress and anxiety, or curious about somatic therapy, give her a try.”
★★★★★

Heal Your Nervous System With Somatic Therapy Los Angeles

You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode. Somatic therapy helps your nervous system come down from chronic stress so you can actually feel calm again—not just act like it. If you’re in Los Angeles and ready for something different, let’s work together.

Places You May Have Seen Me:

Somatic Therapy Los Angeles: What You Might Still Be Wondering

Somatic therapy is like tuning into your body’s radio station to figure out what it’s trying to tell you. Instead of just talking about stress, you actually feel where it lives in your body and work through it with movement and mindfulness. It’s like giving your mind a break by letting your body do the talking and the healing.

  • Reduces Anxiety and Stress: Somatic therapy helps release tension stored in the body, promoting relaxation and reducing symptoms of anxiety and stress.
  • Improves Emotional Regulation: By connecting with bodily sensations, clients learn to manage their emotions more effectively, leading to better emotional regulation.
  • Enhances Self-Awareness: This therapy increases body awareness, helping clients understand their physical and emotional states more deeply.
  • Strengthens Mind-Body Connection: Clients develop a stronger connection between their mind and body, leading to improved mental health and emotional resilience.
  • Promotes Better Relationships: By healing past traumas and improving emotional regulation, clients often experience healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
  • Facilitates Personal Growth: Somatic therapy supports personal growth and self-discovery, helping clients achieve a deeper understanding of themselves.
  • Holistic Healing: Somatic therapy is a holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and emotions.

A somatic therapist will focus on body awareness and the fight-or-flight response. They help calm your nervous system and release tension with increased self-awareness, physical attunement, and movement. It’s about helping your body relax and feel safe, so your mind can follow suit and you can feel more grounded and in control.

The mind-body connection is the powerful link between our thoughts, emotions, and physical well-being. Our mental and emotional states can significantly affect our physical health, and vice versa. It’s about recognizing that emotional stress can lead to physical symptoms, and maintaining physical health can enhance mental and emotional well-being. This connection is important for achieving overall wellness and personal empowerment.

A somatic practitioner and a therapist share a common goal of promoting well-being, but they differ in their approaches. Somatic practitioners focus on the mind-body connection, using body-based techniques like movement and breathwork to help clients release tension and trauma stored in the body. Their goal is to promote self-awareness and resilience. On the other hand, therapists, often referred to as mental health professionals, primarily use talk therapy to address a wide range of psychological challenges, including anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. They aim to enhance mental and emotional health. The choice between the two depends on individual needs and preferences.

Absolutely!. In a city like Los Angelesdealing with stress, anxiety, and trauma through somatic therapy can make a huge difference. It’s about tuning into your body’s signals and calming your nervous system. Instead of just talking about your stress, you work through it physically, which can be incredibly grounding. Plus, it complements other therapies like anxiety therapy, trauma therapy, and holistic therapy that focus on your overall well-being. So yes, it’s definitely worth it!

Definitely! I work with clients all over Los Angeles—from Silver Lake and Echo Park to West LA and the Valley, and many of my clients feel the constant pressure to be “on.”

Body-based therapy and nervous system regulation is a well-established approach that’s been shown to help with anxiety, trauma, and attachment struggles. Somatic therapy focuses on the mind-body connection, using techniques like mindfulness and body awareness to help release stored tension and stress. This can be especially helpful in a place as huge as LA. It’s backed by research and practiced by trained professionals, so you can trust that it’s a legit! If you’re searching for somatic therapy, Los Angeles is a great place to be.  

Somatic therapy is known for helping with trauma, anxiety, and improving emotional regulation. You can calm your nervous system and gain better control over your emotions – making it SUPER effective for overall well-being

The Body Keeps the Score, Besser van der Kolk

If you haven’t heard of this one yet, it’s a must-read. It breaks down how trauma isn’t just in your head—it lives in your body. A deep dive into how the nervous system holds onto stress and what actually helps. Get it here

This chart below shows the key differences on how somatic therapy approaches different struggles. 

What You Struggle With

Traditional Talk Therapy Focuses On…

Somatic Therapy Focuses On…

“I keep talking about my past, but I still feel stuck.”

Recognizing the thoughts and reframing them

Uncovering the root cause so you understand why your body is reacting the way it does. 

“I logically know I’m safe, but my body still reacts like I’m not.”

Identifying cognitive distortions & triggers

Teaching your body how to feel safe again through nervous system regulation

“I shut down or get overwhelmed when emotions come up.”

Exploring emotional patterns and coping strategies

Practicing body-based tools like grounding, orienting, and micro-movements to keep your nervous system from shutting down

“I feel anxious all the time, even when nothing is wrong.”

Talking through anxious thoughts and developing coping skills

Rewiring your body’s stress response by working directly with breath, movement, and felt sensations

“I understand my trauma, but I can’t seem to move past it.”

Processing trauma through talking and cognitive processing

Using somatic tracking and guided body awareness to help your system complete the stress cycle and release old patterns

Serving Los Angeles & Nearby Areas: West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Santa Monica & california

Somatic Therapy Los Angeles – Support for Stress, Anxiety & Trauma

Your Next Steps in Healing: Blogs on Somatic Therapy & Nervous System Health

Still Have Questions? These Blogs Break Down Somatic Therapy Even Further

A smiling man in a white shirt standing in front of a wall, representing confidence and healing through somatic therapy in Los Angeles.

10 Science-Backed Facts About Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles

Ever wondered why somatic therapy works so effectively? In this blog post, I dive into 10 research-backed insights that reveal how this body-centered approach can help you overcome trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress. Discover how understanding the science behind somatic therapy can empower your healing journey and provide tangible tools for lasting change.

A woman cuddling with her dog, representing emotional healing and nervous system regulation through somatic therapy in Los Angeles.

5 Ways that Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles Helps With Stress & Burnout

In L.A., “hustle culture” isn’t just a mindset—it’s a way of life. People wear exhaustion like a badge of honor, chasing the next gig, the next goal, the next “I made it” moment. And if you dare to slow down? You might feel lazy, unproductive, or even guilty Somatic therapy offers a way to break this cycle by helping you reconnect with your body’s natural rhythms, allowing you to find balance through rest. 

A woman in a therapy session with her head down, representing the deep emotional work of somatic therapy for trauma healing in Los Angeles.

Breaking Free from People-Pleasing: How Somatic Therapy Can Help

Always putting others first? Struggling to set boundaries? People-pleasing often stems from deeply rooted patterns in your nervous system, leading to stress and resentment. In this blog, I explore how somatic therapy addresses the root causes of people-pleasing behaviors, helping you reconnect with your own needs and establish healthier relationships.