7 of the Best Somatic Therapists in Cleveland, OH
Takeaway: Somatic therapy empowers you to tap into your body’s inherent wisdom and heal from the root. As a therapist in Cleveland, I offer somatic psychotherapy with other trauma-informed methods to help you process difficult experiences and move forward with intention. Here, I’ll share more about my practice and introduce you to other local therapists so you can find the right fit.
Have you tried talk therapy and not experienced the results you’re looking for? Do you have physical symptoms you can’t explain or vague feelings of “stuckness” that you can’t seem to shake? Maybe you’re new to therapy and you’re looking for a blend of traditional psychotherapy and body-based methods.
If this sounds like you, somatic therapy can help.
Hi, I’m Brianna Halasa, a somatic psychotherapist based in Cleveland, Ohio, and I’m a firm believer in the power of the mind-body connection. My training as a yoga teacher and a birth doula, in addition to my therapy education, has shown me how imperative it is to lean into what our bodies know to be true and tap into our natural abilities to heal.
In my therapy practice, I use Somatic Experiencing (SE) in addition to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy to offer a holistic approach to treatment. My clients are often college students, young women, and moms who have experienced trauma, are impacted by diet culture, and are finding their identity. Here’s a bit more about me:
1. Brianna Halasa
Offers somatic therapy ✓
Clientele: Teens, adults
Location: Cleveland, OH 44113
Virtual therapy?: Yes
Sound like we might be a fit? I’d be honored to support you on your journey. And if you’re still not sure, I offer free consultations so we can talk directly before you commit to the process.
In case my practice isn’t a match for your needs, I’ve compiled this list of other somatic psychotherapists in Cleveland. My goal is to connect you with the support you’re looking for, whether it’s with me or a different provider.
Other recommended somatic therapists in Cleveland
2. Kelsey Hug
Recommended for somatic therapy for OCD
Offers somatic therapy ✓
Clientele: Teens, adults, elders
Location: Cleveland, OH 44111
Virtual therapy?: Yes, online only
3. Victoria Byler
Recommended for somatic therapy integrated with expressive arts therapy
Offers somatic therapy ✓
Clientele: Adults, elders
Location: Cleveland, OH 44144
Virtual therapy?: Yes
4. Aidan Johnson
Recommended for somatic therapy integrated with brainspotting
Offers somatic therapy ✓
Clientele: Adults
Location: Cleveland, OH 44114
Virtual therapy?: Yes, online only
5. Alex Paul
Recommended for somatic therapy integrated with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP)
Offers somatic therapy ✓
Clientele: Adults
Location: Cleveland, OH 44113
Virtual therapy?: Yes
6. Sara D Stein
Recommended for somatic therapy integrated with pain reprocessing therapy (PRT)
Offers somatic therapy ✓
Clientele: Teens, adults
Location: Cleveland, OH 44124
Virtual therapy?: Yes
7. Regan Meier
Recommended for somatic therapy integrated with hypnotherapy
Offers somatic therapy ✓
Clientele: Adults
Location: Cleveland, OH 44124
Virtual therapy?: Yes, online only
Common reasons why people seek somatic therapy
You feel disconnected from your body or numb, like you're going through the motions without really being present
Past traumatic experiences still feel alive in your body—tightness in your chest, knots in your stomach, or tension you can't seem to shake
You notice your body reacting (racing heart, shallow breathing, muscle tension) before your mind even registers you're stressed or triggered
Traditional talk therapy helped you understand your experiences intellectually, but you still feel stuck or overwhelmed
You struggle with chronic pain, digestive issues, or other physical symptoms that don't have a clear medical cause
You find yourself stuck in patterns of freeze, fawn, or shutdown when faced with conflict or stress
You have a complicated relationship with your body due to diet culture, body image struggles, or disordered eating
You're navigating big life transitions and notice your body holding onto stress and uncertainty
You experience anxiety or panic that shows up physically in ways that feel difficult to control
You want to develop a deeper sense of safety and trust within yourself and your body
How somatic psychotherapy can help
Release trauma stored in the body
When traumatic experiences happen, our bodies often hold onto that pain long after our minds have processed what occurred. Somatic therapy helps you gently access and release these physiological patterns that keep you stuck in survival mode. Through body-oriented techniques, we work to discharge stored tension and complete responses that were interrupted during overwhelming experiences, allowing your nervous system to finally settle.
Strengthen your mind-body connection
Many of us have learned to disconnect from our bodies as a protective mechanism, but this can leave us feeling fragmented and out of touch with ourselves. Somatic therapy helps you rebuild attunement to your body's signals and wisdom. By developing this awareness, you'll better understand what you're feeling, what you need, and how to respond to stress in ways that honor both your physical and emotional experiences.
Regulate your nervous system
When your nervous system is dysregulated, you might find yourself swinging between feeling overwhelmed and shutting down, making it hard to function in daily life. Somatic experiencing provides concrete tools to help you recognize when you're moving into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn states—and more importantly, how to guide yourself back to regulation. These skills become resources you can access anytime you need them.
Build safety and resilience from within
True healing happens when you feel safe enough in your own body to be present with difficult emotions and experiences. Somatic therapy creates that foundation of inner safety by working at a pace that respects your nervous system's capacity. As you develop this sense of groundedness and self-trust, you'll find yourself more able to navigate life's challenges, set boundaries, and show up authentically in your relationships.
FAQs about somatic therapy
-
Somatic therapists help you tune into the physical sensations, movements, and patterns in your body to process difficult experiences and emotions. Rather than only talking about what happened, we explore how trauma and stress show up in your body right now. This might include noticing tension, tracking breath, gentle movement, or using tools like bilateral stimulation to help your nervous system process and release what it's been holding. There’s no physical touch from somatic psychotherapists, just prompts to help you tune into what your body is telling you.
-
No, EMDR and somatic psychotherapy are different techniques.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of therapy that uses bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories. While EMDR focuses primarily on resolving past events through eye movements or tapping, somatic therapy is a broader approach that includes various body-oriented techniques.
I often integrate EMDR with other somatic modalities like Somatic Experiencing to create a comprehensive healing experience tailored to your needs.
-
Yes, somatic therapy is usually covered by insurance. I am out-of-network with insurance companies, which means I don't bill insurance directly. However, many clients are able to get partial reimbursement by submitting a superbill to their insurance for out-of-network benefits. I'm happy to provide you with the necessary documentation to submit for reimbursement. This approach allows us to work together without the limitations and diagnostic requirements imposed by the insurance system.
-
Our work together will be tailored to your specific needs and what feels right for your body. Sessions might include a mix of conversation, body awareness exercises, tracking sensations, gentle movement, breathwork, or processing techniques like EMDR. We'll always move at a pace that feels manageable for you—there's no pressure to dive into anything before you're ready. Healing isn't linear, and we'll honor wherever you are in your journey.
-
If you're looking for a space where you can show up as your whole self without being pathologized or fixed, we might be a great match. Some things that make my practice unique:
Trained in EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and Intuitive Eating with a holistic, body-centered approach
Evening and in-person availability
Strong multicultural lens as a second-generation Arab American who understands navigating multiple identities
Anti-oppression framework that acknowledges how capitalism, white supremacy, and systemic forces impact mental health
Passionate about working with marginalized identities, children of immigrants, activists, and creative professionals
If you're curious about whether we'd work well together, I offer a free clarity call where we can chat about your needs and see if it feels like a good fit.
-
The first step is to book a free clarity call where we can discuss what brings you to therapy, answer any questions you have, and explore whether my approach aligns with what you're looking for. If we both feel it's a good fit, we'll schedule your first session and begin our work together.
