GAIA SOMASCA HOLISTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
Holistic psychotherapy for trauma, healing, and transformation
Online throughout California
In-person in Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz
Specializing in support for:
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Adults
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Women
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LGBTQ+ Individuals
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Immigrants & Multicultural Identities
Issues addressed:
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Trauma and Complex PTSD
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Narcissistic Abuse
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Anxiety
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Relationship Challenges
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Identity and Belonging
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My approach:
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Trauma-Informed Care
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Somatic Approaches
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Brainspotting
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)
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Ecotherapy
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Jungian and Dreamwork
Welcome to your supportive space to transform and heal your whole self
Perhaps you're feeling lonely or anxious, your shoulders heavy with an invisible weight you've been carrying for a long time. You may notice a sense of unrest or overwhelm, making it hard to focus and make decisions. At times, you may feel as though a sinkhole opens beneath your feet, pulling you into a dark space where moving forward feels impossible. You might not clearly remember what happened to you, yet somewhere deep inside, you feel ‘not enough.’ Perhaps boundaries are hard to recognize and to hold, and relationships become overwhelming. The simple act of moving through daily life takes more energy than you have to give.
These feelings are not a sign of weakness—they are your body's way of telling you that something needs attention. Our bodies adapt to survive pain, neglect, abuse, violence, systemic oppression, and discrimination. For many, this includes the daily strain of navigating a world not built for unique nervous systems. These strategies once protected your life, but they come at a cost. Beneath the anxiety, the numbness, the patterns of people-pleasing or caretaking, lies trauma — overwhelming experiences that shattered your innate sense of goodness and safety in the world.
The soothing truth is that healing is possible, and I've witnessed it again and again. With time the ground begins to feel solid beneath your feet again, your shoulders feel lighter, and you begin to recognize yourself — as resilient, capable, and whole.
Together, we can restore your sense of confidence and your capacity to move through life with vitality and ease. We can tend to the wounds that have kept you stuck and nurture the inner strength that has carried you this far, even when you didn't realize it was there.
I'm here to support your healing journey. You can feel yourself again: alive, radiant, and whole.
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Hello and Welcome!
I am Gaia, (she/her), a depth-oriented, holistic, and somatic trauma therapist. My own journey through personal crisis and healing led me to this work, and that experience continues to inform the compassionate, non-judgmental space I create for every person I have the privilege to support—whether virtually or in person.
I offer a warm, welcoming space where you can feel truly heard and understood. I believe that inside each of us lives an innate wisdom that, like a guiding light, leads us toward healing when tended to with care and attention. My role is to help you tend to it, supporting you as you restore your body's capacity to mend wounds, cultivate a steady sense of aliveness, and find meaning in your life.
Having lived across different cultures and continents, I bring a deep sensitivity to the unique experiences of immigrants, bicultural individuals, and those navigating multiple identities. I understand firsthand the complex dynamics of belonging, adaptation, and the search for home within oneself. This multicultural perspective, combined with my commitment to social justice, shapes every therapeutic relationship I enter.
Let's nurture your innate healing capacity together. A new way of being and thriving in your life and relationships awaits.
A Holistic Path to Healing
I imagine the therapy space as a welcoming cove—a place where we can explore what's calling for healing as it emerges on the shores of your consciousness. Like walking carefully on tide pool rocks, we slow down together, respectfully approaching the tender and often hidden parts of yourself that surface when you feel safe enough to let them be seen.
My approach is holistic, integrating an understanding of the wisdom of your body and nervous system while honoring the full complexity of your experiences, culture, and beliefs. I recognize that true healing happens not just in the mind, but in the body, spirit, and in our relationships—with others, with ourselves, and with the natural world around us.
I've trained in a variety of complementary modalities, which means our work together can be tailored to what best supports your unique healing journey. Some sessions might focus on relating to different parts of yourself, or becoming familiar with sensations in your body and gently noticing those inner shifts. Others might explore the symbolic language of dreams or the wisdom found in connecting with nature. Together, we attune to what feels most supportive to you.
This collaborative approach means you're never alone in the process. You might hear me gently asking, "Are you okay noticing this?" so we can decide together which path feels right in the moment. Your healing journey is uniquely yours, and I'm here to walk alongside you, offering support, insight, and a compassionate presence at a pace that honors your needs.
Therapeutic Modalities I OffeR
Drawing from years of specialized training, I integrate multiple evidence-based and depth-oriented approaches to support your healing:
Attachment-based therapy helps us understand how early relationships shaped your patterns of connection and protection, creating pathways toward more secure, fulfilling relationships.
Brainspotting is a powerful approach that uses the biological link between your eye position and the deep parts of your brain to process traumatic experiences that have kept your system stuck — reaching places inaccessible through talk therapy alone. This approach also supports growth and the expansion of beneficial inner states.
Focusing and somatic approaches invite us to slow down and cultivate your capacity to notice the sensations and the ‘language’ of your body. We support your body’s innate ability to shift out of survival states and resolve where your nervous system was ‘stuck,’ restoring a state of attentive and attuned presence to yourself and others.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work offer a compassionate approach to understanding and befriending the different parts within you—the protectors, the hidden, the wise—fostering inner harmony and self-leadership.
Jungian depth psychology and dreamwork is an approach that allows us to explore your dreams and imagery to access your deeper wisdom of your unconscious and support your individuation journey.
Ecotherapy supports tending to your relationship with nature, nurturing your embodied self, and recognizing your deep interconnection and belonging with the natural world.
Equine-assisted therapy (available at DreamPower Horsemanship in Gilroy) brings the wisdom and presence of horses into the therapeutic relationship, offering powerful opportunities for insight, connection, and embodied healing.
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Who I Work With and What I Treat
I work with adults and young adults who feel called to engage in meaningful and transformative work. My practice particularly welcomes those recovering from trauma, women who have experienced narcissistic abuse and systemic oppression, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and those navigating bicultural or multicultural identities. I also provide a neuro-affirming space for those whose ‘unique systems’ have been misunderstood and marginalized. If you've experienced invalidation, rejection, or have been made to feel inferior because of who you are, I want you to know: you belong here.
I offer individual psychotherapy for adults and young adults, as well as couples therapy for both polyamorous and monogamous relationships.
Trauma-Related Issues:
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Childhood trauma and complex developmental trauma (C-PTSD)
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PTSD and traumatic experiences
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Recovery from narcissistic abuse
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Sexual trauma
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Relationship issues and relational trauma
Identity and Belonging:
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Women's issues
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Immigrant, expatriate, and multicultural identities
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LGBTQ+ identities
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Adults with unique nervous systems (neurodivergent)
If you are experiencing:
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Anxiety, social anxiety, and chronic stress
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Depression, hopelessness and low motivation
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Low self-esteem and perfectionism
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Shame
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Life transitions (divorce, loss of job, break-up, etc.)
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Grief and loss
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People-pleasing and caretaking patterns
Taking the First Step
Reaching out for support takes courage—and I honor you for being here.
We begin with a free 15-20 minute consultation to connect and explore what's bringing you to therapy. This conversation is about more than logistics; it's about feeling whether our connection might support your healing journey.
Once we begin working together, you can expect a collaborative, client-centered approach tailored to what you need in each session. Throughout our work, I hold space with warmth, compassion, and a deep belief in your capacity to heal.
You don't have to face this alone anymore.
