Somatic Therapy Los Angeles

For the overwhelmed perfectionist who is sick of living every day on autopilot.

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.

Feeling Burnt Out? Somatic Therapy in Los Angeles Can Help

What Burnout Looks Like

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

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—a licensed somatic therapist in California (LMFT, LPCC) with a background in psychology, counseling, and a slight obsession with how the nervous system quietly shapes everything from our relationships to our sense of self. 

I work with people who are self-aware, but still find themselves stuck in survival mode. I specialize in anxiety therapy, IFS, and healing insecure attachment patterns that keep showing up in our bodies and relationships.

My approach isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s grounded in how stress gets stored in the body, and how real healing starts when your system feels seen—not managed, not performed, but actually safe.

My work has been featured in outlets like Mindbodygreen, Time, and Verywell Mind, where I talk about what actually helps when you feel anxious all the time—even when your life looks totally functional.

If you’re tired of trying to think your way out of anxiety, overthinking, or disconnection, somatic therapy can help you feel grounded, connected, and actually present again.

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

What a Typical Session Looks Like

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 insecure attachment patterns, I’d love to support you. Let’s talk about how somatic therapy can help you heal at the root level.

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

Talk therapy helps you understand what’s happening. Somatic therapy helps your body stop reacting like it’s still happening. 

If you’ve ever walked out of a therapy session thinking, “I know why I do this, but I still feel awful,”—you’re not alone. A lot of my clients come in knowing their triggers, their attachment style, and their entire trauma timeline… yet their nervous system still spirals when they get triggered. Their jaw clenches. Their chest tightens. They go quiet, over-apologize, or disconnect altogether. 

That’s where somatic therapy feels different. Instead of just talking about your story, we pay attention to how that story still lives in your body. Where it tightens, where it freezes, where it’s still on high alert. 

I combine insight-oriented talk therapy with body-based somatic work—so we’re not choosing between understanding or healing. We’re doing both. We build awareness AND help your nervous system feel safe enough to get out of autopilot. 

What Is Somatic Trauma Therapy?

Somatic trauma therapy is body-based therapy that helps you process the parts of trauma your mind already understands—but your body is still reacting to.
 
In my work with clients, I see this a lot: they’ve named the pattern, done the journaling, maybe even had “aha” moments in talk therapy. But their nervous system still stays in high alert—constantly scanning, bracing overanalyzing, shutting down, or disconnecting.
 
Somatic trauma therapy works by gently noticing those responses as they happen, and helping your body unlearn the habit of staying stuck in survival mode. Instead of reliving the past, we create new patterns of safety so your nervous system stays regulated.
 
Still not sure if somatic trauma therapy is what you need? Let’s talk. We’ll figure out what your nervous system is asking for—and what real healing could actually look like.

What Real Clients Say About Somatic Therapy

“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.

Somatic Therapy Los Angeles: FAQ

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.

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

If you’ve been googling “somatic therapy near me” but everything feels surface-level, overly clinical, or just kind of… disconnected—you’re not imagining it. A lot of my clients come to me after trying the things that were supposed to help: apps for their phone, talk therapy, even mindfulness routines that made a dent, but didn’t change how their body actually felt.

In my Los Angeles practice, we do things differently. We focus on what your nervous system actually needs to feel safe again—not just what sounds good on paper. That means noticing how stress, survival mode, and emotional patterns still live in your body right now, EVEN if your life on the outside looks “fine.” 

In my sessions, somatic therapy exercises aren’t rigid protocols or step-by-step techniques. They’re more like invitations to slow down, tune in, and notice what your body is already doing.

That might mean tracking the tension in your shoulders when you talk about a boundary—or placing a hand on your chest to see if it shifts your breath. Sometimes we pause mid-story to see what’s happening in your jaw, posture, or gut.

Yes, these exercises are simple, but powerful. They help you build a relationship with your nervous system in real time—not by analyzing, but by feeling your way through it with support. No pushing, no performing. Just small shifts that help your body learn it doesn’t have to stay on guard.

Somatic Therapy Near You – Support for Stress, Anxiety & Trauma

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

Learn More About Body-Based Therapy in Los Angeles

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 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.