Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC
Holistic Anxiety, Trauma, and Attachment Therapist in Los Angeles
Feeling Overwhelmed by Trauma? Discover How Somatic Therapy Can Help
Welcome back to my deep dive into the transformative power of somatic therapy for Complex PTSD. If you missed my initial exploration in “How Somatic Therapy Helps Heal Complex PTSD in LA: Part 1,” don’t worry! You can catch up here to fully grasp how somatic practices can revolutionize trauma healing. Today, I’ll be expanding on five additional ways that integrative bodywork not only enhances emotional regulation, but also develops deeper connections with oneself and others. Join me as we continue our journey toward profound healing and empowerment in Los Angeles
Somatic Therapy in LA for Complex PTSD
Are you struggling with Complex PTSD in Los Angeles and feeling stuck in a loop of past traumas? You’re not alone, and there’s a path forward. As a somatic therapist in Los Angeles, I’ve seen how transformative this integrative approach can be for anyone struggling with the deep impacts of complex and/or childhood trauma.
Living with Complex PTSD (aka C-PTSD) isn’t just about dealing with occasional stress. It’s a daily struggle that may seem silent on the outside, but you can feel it in your bones. You can feel it deep in your core. Traditional therapy methods can feel like they only scratch the surface. That’s where body-oriented therapy comes in. Somatic counseling focuses on the connection between your body and mind to heal the wounds that words alone can’t reach. Whether you’re new to the idea or looking to deepen your healing journey, understanding the benefits of integrative somatic and holistic therapy could be your next step towards a fuller, more present life in LA.
Take Charge Of Complex PTSD with Somatic Therapy in LA
1. Somatic Therapy Transform The Traditional Healing Narrative
You won’t find yourself sitting passively while someone tries to “fix” you. Not at ALL. You’ll be actively engaging, taking control of your own healing journey. This approach makes the healing process clear and manageable by breaking it down into actionable steps that empower you. You learn to navigate your own psyche and body, identifying effective strategies and ineffective ones. This empowerment shifts the role from seeing your body as an enemy and instead as an ally, turning feelings of powerlessness into a sense of agency and autonomy.
This method reinforces that you are not at the mercy of your trauma or your past. You have the power to influence your feelings and responses to the world around you. By focusing on body awareness and the physical sensations that come with your emotions, sensorimotor therapy enables you to recognize your body’s signals. These signals are clues that help you anticipate emotional “storms” before they overwhelm you – and what to do with them. Taking charge in this way boosts your sense of self-worth and confidence. Seeing tangible progress as you apply techniques learned in therapy to real-life situations validates your efforts.
Struggling with Emotional Regulation? Learn Techniques to Gain Control
2. It enhances emotional resilience
In my practice, embodied healing really ramps up your emotional strength, letting you handle life’s pressures head-on. You’re building up your inner strength to meet challenges directly, with real confidence. As you learn how your body reacts to stress and trauma, you put together a toolkit that’s about thriving, not just surviving. This resilience empowers you, helping you get through tough times with the knowledge that you’ll come out stronger.
I work with my clients using grounding exercises, breath work, and mindfulness. These aren’t just quick fixes—they change the way your brain handles stress, making you less quick to react and more thoughtful. This big shift puts you in charge of your emotions, changing how you deal with hard shit that life sometimes throws at you.
And this resilience changes everything.
Where you once might have felt shaken by uncertainty or problems, you now handle them without “falling apart.” This change is huge for your relationships, your work, and how you feel about your life. Emotional resilience means you don’t just bounce back. You leap ahead, turning tough moments into opportunities to learn more about yourself and grow stronger.
By taking on the lessons of somatic therapy, you’re doing more than moving past old trauma. You’re preparing for the future. You learn when to push and when to take a step back, when to speak up and when to listen. This isn’t just a small change! It’s a major shift in how you tackle life’s challenges.
Do Relationships Trigger Your Anxiety? Find Stability Through Somatic Practices
3. It Helps Improve Your Relationships
When you’re always in fight-or-flight mode, your relationships suffer. You might pull away, snap at people, or become defensive when openness is needed. My role is to help you step out of constant alertness, allowing you to drop your guard and truly connect with people. Moving from the constant state of survival mode to being fully present can enrich your relationships immensely.
In therapy, I teach you to recognize and manage your body’s stress and defensive reactions. With these skills, you’ll have the ability to communicate with loved ones in a way that’s not tense and wary. Imagine being able to listen actively, respond thoughtfully, and express your needs clearly without being hindered by past traumas. This type of communication builds stronger, more understanding, and empathetic relationships. It’s not about erasing your past. It’s about your being present in your interactions.
As you improve in managing your emotions, your ability to take in closeness and trust increases.
These are the foundations of healthy relationships, and my approach provides you with the tools to mend or enhance them. You become more able to handle conflicts calmly, sharing your emotions responsibly, and offering support appropriately. This balanced approach to relationships not only benefits you – but also positively affects everyone around you.
Ultimately, somatic therapy makes you a better friend, partner, or family member by improving your communication and listening skills. You learn that openness and vulnerability are strengths that provide genuine connections. As cheesy at it sounds, this is actually extremely liberating! Opening new levels of understanding and intimacy in your relationships. With somatic therapy, you’re not just healing yourself. You’re transforming how you relate to the world around you.
How Your Body Can Guide Your Healing Journey
4. It Helps Reclaim Your Body
In my work, somatic therapy is absolutely necessary for helping individuals take back control of their bodies after experiencing trauma. Navigating Complex PTSD often leaves you feeling detached from your physical self, almost as if you were observing from the outside. However, this integrative work offers a powerful shift: your body isn’t just a passive meat puppet. It’s your home. This approach encourages a deep reconnection, urging you to listen to and respect your body’s needs and signals. This helps transform your relationship with your body from conflict or neglect to one of respect and collaboration.
This reclaiming process is about more than just recognizing your body as yours. It involves understanding and valuing its resilience and strength. Through somatics, I teach practices that heighten bodily awareness and mindfulness. Techniques like focused breathing, gentle movement, and mindful observation allow you to experience your body in the current moment (and free from past trauma influences). Staying present is what we all need for breaking the cycle of dissociation and avoidance.
Moreover, reclaiming your body means seeing it as a source of pleasure, not just a place of pain.
Somatic therapy with me helps you explore what feels good, helping you rediscover joy in movement, touch, and connection. This shift in focus from always just surviving to actually living your life is probably the biggest thing you gain from this work. As you become more attuned to your physical self, you start navigating the world with more confidence and independence. Your body becomes a reliable partner in your healing journey, NOT an obstacle.
The impact of reclaiming your body is literally fucking EVERYTHING. It goes beyond healing from trauma. It reshapes your identity and your place in the world. This therapy lays the groundwork for a life led with purpose, where your body is cherished as an INTEGRAL part of WHO you are. It’s a bold step not just toward recovery, but toward empowerment and self-actualization. When you use body-based approaches to heal from Complex PTSD, you’re not just reclaiming your body. You’re reclaiming your life.
From Disconnection to Reconnection: How Your Body Can Guide Your Healing Journey
5. Mindfulness Transforms Your Healing
I teach somatic therapy with a strong focus on mindfulness, showing you how to stay grounded in the present. When you’re healing from Complex PTSD, it’s common to feel pulled back into old traumas or pushed into worries about the future. That’s why I use grounding techniques to help you manage this chaos and focus on the now. This process isn’t just about quieting your mind. It’s about engaging deeply with the present, appreciating its importance, and recognizing the temporary nature of each moment. We can’t turn off our thoughts, but we can observe them and let them float around without giving them all of our focus and energy.
Through mindfulness, you learn to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. It gives you a moment to pause before reacting to triggers, helping you choose your responses more intentionally. Techniques I teach, such as “parts” work, attachment styles, and mindful movement, help you to handle life’s challenges. These methods encourage you to face each moment with curiosity and openness.
The Importance of Being Present:
My focus on being fully present is designed to break down the struggle that trauma creates between us and our experiences. It drives you to connect deeply with life, repairing the connections to yourself and others that trauma often damages. With mindfulness, you’re actively participating in life, and making choices that align with your values and aspirations. This shift from automatic to intentional living significantly improves the quality of your life, making each day more significant. While this approach doesn’t eliminate life’s challenges, it helps you to meet them with resilience, grace, and a profound appreciation for being vibrantly alive.
Remember, being present doesn’t mean sitting zen on a mountaintop with no anxiety or worries. Being present means sitting with all “parts” of yourself.
| To learn more about “parts” work, check out my page on Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy in LA here.
Connect with an Trauma Therapist in Los Angeles
Meet Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC
Navigating Complex PTSD in Los Angeles is tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. I’m Cheryl Groskopf, and as a somatic therapist based in LA I’ve seen how powerful this approach can be in providing real, tangible ways to manage and heal from trauma. Somatic therapy isn’t a quick fix—it’s a proven method that helps you reconnect with your body and discover new strengths in your recovery process.
In Los Angeles, finding the right support and a therapist you feel comfortable with is necessary for your healing. If you’re struggling with the impacts of Complex PTSD and need a compassionate, effective approach, somatic therapy offers actual solutions. By focusing on body awareness and mindfulness, you can begin to see significant improvements in how you live and relate to others around you.
somatic therapy in LA for complex ptsd: Healing with Intention
Ready to Begin Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles to Treat Your CPTSD?
Are you ready to start a new chapter in your healing process? As a somatic therapist in Los Angeles, I’m here to guide you through each step with empathy and expertise. If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of yourself and find effective ways to cope and thrive, let’s connect. Reach out to schedule your first session and take the first step towards transformation and resilience
