Somatic therapy
to restore
your nervous system Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and online
For anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, burnout and relationship patterns that talk therapy hasn’t shifted. We work directly with your nervous system to produce powerful transformations.
Questions? Call or text us at (323) 366-3433
Trusted by clients at leading organizations
No client is identified and no endorsement or affiliation is implied.
Somatic therapy can help when you feel stuck
- Anxiety, overwhelm and hypervigilance
- Body symptoms like IBS, migraines, back pain or chronic fatigue
- Racing, repetitive thoughts
- Burnout, numbness or hopelessness
- Reactivity or avoidance in relationships
Our approach comes from personal training with pioneers in trauma treatment
Bessel van der Kolk, MD
Author of The Body Keeps the Score
Peter Levine, PhD
Creator of Somatic Experiencing
Richard Schwartz, PhD
Creator of Internal Family Systems
Laurel Parnell, PhD
Creator of Attachment-Focused EMDR
We’ve combined and simplified the teachings of Somatic Experiencing, EMDR and Internal Family Systems into a core approach that every therapist on our team applies.
How somatic therapy works
Your nervous system is always in one of three activation zones. In the blue zone, you feel yourself and can handle life’s challenges. In the red or grey zones, you’re overwhelmed and body symptoms build up. Stress narrows your blue zone and leaves you stranded outside of it. To get back to the blue, a somatic approach is needed; thinking alone won’t do it.
In sessions, your therapist guides your attention to receive your body’s unheard signals in small, manageable doses. Unprocessed stress gets to complete, and your blue zone, or window of tolerance, widens.
Sessions are a 50/50 mix of somatic work and talk therapy. Talking builds understanding; somatic work shifts underlying patterns.
Red Zone: anxious, tense, reactive
Blue Zone: calm, connected, available
Window of ToleranceGrey Zone: exhausted, numb, withdrawn
What clients say
Getting started takes three steps
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Share a little about you (2 min)
Fill out a short form. Choose to be matched by our Care Coordinator or pick a therapist yourself.
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Have a free consultation (20 min)
You’ll get an email right away to pick a time. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll map a path forward together.
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Book your first session (5 min)
Schedule a 50-minute session and complete a short intake. Choose a frequency that works for you, with no ongoing commitment.
How our approach compares
| Nervous system-informed | Time to see changes | Somatic tools between sessions | Evidence based | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Beyond approach | Yes | Often months | Yes | Yes | Shifts the nervous system |
| Talk therapy | No | Often years | No | Yes | Indirect |
| Medication alone | No | Relief, no fix | No | Yes | Masks symptoms |
| Mindfulness alone | No | Often years | No | Yes | Can stall on trauma |
Fees and insurance
Session fees
$200 and up
Per 50-minute session, depending on the clinician. Couples and teen sessions are available. Several clinicians hold a few sliding scale spots. See all fees
Insurance
PPO plans, out of network
Unlike most practices, we submit your out-of-network claims for you, so you spend less time on paperwork and are more likely to be reimbursed. We can also call your insurer to check your coverage. We are not in-network with HMO plans, Medicare or Medi-Cal. Read more here.
Founded by Steven and Angie Bradshaw
Beyond Psychology Center was founded by Steven Bradshaw, LMFT, SEP, and Angie Bradshaw, LMFT.
We handpick every therapist on our team and train each one individually in our core somatic approach.
Meet our somatic therapists
Pick out your therapist directly or our Care Coordinator can match you based on your needs and location.
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Natalie Baker
LCSW, EMDR-C 102166
Somatic, EMDR, IFS, Parenting, Health & Survivorship
Beverly Hills, Sawtelle, Online
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Stephanie Rotuno
LMFT 145398
Somatic, EMDR, IFS, Brainspotting, Highly Sensitive Person
Santa Monica, Online
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Justin Baker
LMFT 135106
Somatic, Hakomi, IFS, Highly Sensitive Person
San Jose, Online
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Sarah Dunn
AMFT 135484*
Somatic, IFS, ADHD & Autism, Health Conditions
Sawtelle, Studio City, Online
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Flavia MacMenamin
AMFT 146051*
Somatic, IFS, Couples (EFT), Parenting, Depth Psychology
Brentwood, Santa Monica, Online
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Matt van Onselen
AMFT 161648*
Somatic, IFS, Jungian, Mindfulness
Los Feliz, Studio City, Pasadena, Online
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Megan McAllister
AMFT 151540*
Somatic, Attachment-Focused EMDR
Santa Monica, Online
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Ulika Scout
AMFT 22300*
Somatic, EMDR, Parts-Informed Psychotherapy
San Francisco, Online
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Steven Bradshaw
LMFT, SEP 136584, Founder
Somatic, EMDR, IFS
Brentwood, Online
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Angie Bradshaw
LMFT 152900, Founder
Somatic, EMDR, IFS, CPTSD, Highly Sensitive People
Brentwood, Online
In person or online
Los AngelesBrentwood, Santa Monica, Sawtelle, Beverly Hills, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Studio City and Pasadena
Bay AreaSan Francisco and San Jose
OnlineTherapy: anywhere in CA
Coaching: anywhere worldwide
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Brentwood
Brentwood and West LA
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Santa Monica
Santa Monica and Venice
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Sawtelle
Sawtelle and Westwood
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Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills and WeHo
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Los Feliz
Los Feliz and Silver Lake
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Echo Park
Eastside and DTLA
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Studio City
Studio City and the Valley
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Pasadena
Pasadena and Glendale
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San Francisco
Downtown and the Financial District
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San Jose
San Jose and the South Bay
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Online
Therapy: anywhere in CA
Coaching: anywhere worldwide
Common questions
How do I choose a therapist?
You should consider location, training and approach as well as your gut feeling from watching their intro video. You have three options:
- Pick out your own therapist by watching a few of the video bios and then when you book a consultation, select the therapist you like best from the drop down.
- Let our Care Coordinator match you with the best fit by email.
- Do an initial video call with our Care Coordinator to discuss the best fit for you. You then get a free consultation with the therapist that you choose.
How is somatic therapy different from talk therapy?
Talking can circle a problem without shifting it. Somatic therapy slows things down and works with what your nervous system is signaling through sensation, emotion, tension and breath. Most sessions combine both: talk therapy builds understanding, and somatic work shifts the underlying pattern.
Does somatic therapy involve touch?
There are two modalities we offer: Somatic therapy is a talk-and-awareness practice with no touch that is provided by licensed and associate psychotherapists. Bodywork is a touch-based practice that is provided by certified massage therapists.
Do you take insurance?
We work out of network with PPO plans, including Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, Optum and others. You pay at the time of service, we submit the claims, and your insurer reimburses you based on your plan. We can call your insurer to check your coverage. We are not in-network with HMO plans, Medicare or Medi-Cal.
Do you offer sliding scale or reduced fees?
Some of our clinicians have sliding scale spots and can lower their fee somewhat in cases of financial need. This is noted in the fee section of each therapist bio. If you would like to discuss what’s possible in your situation, you can schedule a consultation with our Care Coordinator. Please note what you are able to afford in your inquiry. If you need a substantially reduced rate, we can provide referrals to low-fee clinics.
How many sessions will I need?
Some clients find 6 to 12 sessions enough to shift things onto a better track. Long-standing patterns can take several months or longer. We’ll give you an honest view in your free consultation.
Is online somatic therapy as effective as in person?
In person gives the most information to work with, but a surprising amount comes through the screen, and online sessions make it easier to keep a weekly rhythm. Many clients mix both. See the evidence for online therapy here.
Is your approach evidence-based?
Yes, we have a summary of the evidence for each of the approaches that we use here.
Still not sure what you need? Let’s talk.
Set up a free 20-minute consultation with our Care Coordinator or a therapist.
Book a free 20-minute consultationCall or text us at (323) 366-3433
Email us at hello@mail.beyondpsychologycenter.com
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