Find a Somatic Therapist at Layla
Bridge the connection between your mind and body and support your nervous system through Somatic Therapy
Layla can help you find a licensed therapist who specializes in somatic approaches — supporting the connection between your body, emotions, and nervous system. Therapy offered on weekends, weekdays, and evenings. In-person or virtual, depending on your location.
Content on this page has been clinically reviewed by Tara Farahani, Registered Social Worker, Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) & Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)
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What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapies often approach mental health and experiences of distress from a "bottom-up" approach, supporting you to identify signs of distress in the body, understand what they may be indicating and work to process them with the support of your therapist.
While more traditional therapies such as talk-based or thought-based approaches can support us with analysis and understanding of our emotions – somatic therapy recognizes that our bodies can provide us with insight and wisdom about our emotional experiences as well.
How can somatic therapy help?
Somatic therapy is a gentle approach, paced to suit your individual needs. This form of therapy can support how you:
- Process experiences that feel hard to put into words
- Supporting you to recognize distress responses in your nervous system and how experiences of fight/flight/freeze show up in your body
- Raise awareness of how emotions are experienced in the body
- Reconnect with sensations that may feel numb, distant, or disconnected
- Build a felt sense of safety and stability in your body that you can carry into daily life
What can somatic therapy help with?
Trauma and nervous system dysregulation
Support your body in feeling less "on alert" and more settled.
Anxiety and chronic stress
Recognize physical stress signals earlier and respond with more ease.
Hypervigilance and self-monitoring
Build a sense of safety that doesn't depend on staying on guard.
Dissociation or feeling disconnected from your body
Gently reconnect with physical sensation and presence.
Complicated grief
Move through grief that feels stuck, heavy, or hard to process, at your own pace.
Relationship and attachment patterns
Understand how your body responds in moments of connection or conflict.
Why choose Somatic Therapy through Layla
Personal match
Based on your goals, concerns, and preferences
Flexible formats
In-person, virtual, or hybrid sessions
How Layla guides you towards your therapist match
Tell us what you’re looking for
Complete our intake form to help us understand what your goals, preferences and needs are.
Complete our matching call
Over the phone, a Care Coordinator will ask a few questions to guide their selection of therapists who they think best align with you.
Start your first session
After you choose your therapist, you’ll book your first online or in-person therapy session.
Take the first step
Then you'll connect with a Care Coordinator who will support you through the matching process.
Valerie Tsang
Valerie is a Registered Psychotherapist who has worked for more than a decade in community mental health. She holds a Masters of Arts in Psychology from Médaille College and a Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Toronto. Valerie has extensive clinical experience working with individuals and groups on addressing diverse mental health concerns including complex trauma, suicidal ideation, concurrent disorders, and the impact of socioeconomic status on mental health. She is passionate about exploring the role of digital health technologies on reducing health disparities in the mental health sector. Outside of work, Valerie enjoys baking, working on her green thumb, and visiting local coffee shops.
Dr. Siqi Huang
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to invest in your well-being. I'm a clinical and health psychologist based in Ontario. I have experience in assessing mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD), as well as health-related mental health concerns (e.g., distress related to somatic symptoms, pain, or becoming ill). My goal is to create a collaborative assessment experience where we gain a better understanding of your current functioning, and to discuss individualized recommendations to help you address barriers to well-being.
Dr. Sahar Bhaloo
Psychologist, Co-founder and Clinical Supervisor at Flourish Psychology and Coaching, works in Global Mental Health and Complex Trauma.
Dr. Danielle Rice
Clinical and Health Psychologist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Assistant Professor at McMaster University.
Diane Corrales
With a bachelor of science degree and a product management certification, Diane combines her scientific and technical knowledge with her passion for championing a client-centered and human-focused approach in the healthcare and wellness realm. She supports the operations and delivery of Layla's service, fostering a supportive and effective community for mental health professionals and clients alike.
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Saretta Herman
Saretta brings over a decade of experience working in various mental health settings. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work where she is currently an Adjunct Lecturer. She started her post-graduate career working at the Clinic on Dupont where she practiced for over 5 years while also working in Children’s Mental Health in community, residential, and youth justice programs. She currently works in private practice and previously was a part of the Health and Wellness team at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about issues of social justice and systemic issues that contribute to mental health challenges. She is interested in supporting people on an individual level and also holds a strong interest in organisational and systemic changes that can help improve people’s lives more generally.In her free time, Saretta enjoys playing hockey, cooking, gardening in the summer, and spending time with her family.