Boutique virtual therapy for high-functioning adults, helpers, and healthcare professionals.
High-Functioning but exhausted
You are the one people count on. You hold a lot, you rarely drop the ball, and from the outside your life may look put-together. But inside, there may be a steady current of anxiety, pressure, and self-doubt- along with a strong pull to take care of everyone else first.
My work focuses on somatic, trauma-informed therapy for adults who are tired of managing anxiety and people-pleasing on their own, and are ready for deeper, nervous-system-level change.
When high-functioning starts to hurt
High functioning can mean quietly overwhelmed.
Many of my clients are thoughtful, capable adults who have learned to cope by being competent, kind, and endlessly available.
On the surface, this works. Underneath, it can feel like:
Your mind is always “on”, replaying conversations or planning for worst-case scenarios
Saying “no” feels almost physically uncomfortable
You feel guilty resting, or you only rest when your body forces you to
You’re hyper-attuned to others’ moods, but less connected to your own needs
You worry that if you stop trying so hard, everything will fall apart
Over time, this can lead to chronic anxiety, burnout, and a sense of losing yourself– even if nothing looks “wrong” from the outside.
Anxiety, people-pleasing, and the nervous system
Anxiety and people-pleasing are often survival strategies
Anxiety and people-pleasing are not character flaws. Often, they are intelligent survival responses your nervous system learned in response to earlier experiences- in your family, relationships, school, medical settings, or work.
You may recognize patterns like:
Feeling on Edge
if someone is disappointed or upset with you
Smoothing over conflict quickly
even when you’re the one who was hurt
Taking on the responsibility
for how others feel
Feeling a Rush of Anxiety
if you set a boundary or express a need
From a somatic and trauma-informed perspective, these are signs that your nervous system has been trained to keep you safe by staying hyper-vigilant, accommodating, or invisible.
In this work, we’re not trying to “get rid” of anxiety or people-pleasing by force. We’re helping your system discover new ways to feel safe, so those old strategies don’t have to run the show.
Why somatic trauma therapy for anxiety and people-pleasing
Traditional talk therapy can help you understand why you feel anxious or over-responsible- and that insight can be valuable. But for many high functioning adults, understanding isn’t enough to change the automatic reactions in the body.
Somatic therapy works directly with:
Bodily sensations
Nervous system states
Implicit memories and patterns that live beneath conscious thought
Together, we gently track what happens in your body when you:
Imagine saying “no”
Notice someone’s disappointment
Feel like you’ve made a mistake
Consider resting instead of pushing through
We then support your system to experience more safety, choice, and regulation, so anxiety and people-pleasing no longer feel like the only options available.
How this work can change your day to day life
While everyone’s process is different, clients often describe shifts like:
feeling less hijacked by anxiety in everyday situations
being able to say “no” or “not right now” with less guilt and panic
noticing your own needs and limits sooner- before burnout hits
moving from automatic caretaking to more mutual, honest relationships
experiencing rest, pleasure, and downtime without as much internal pressure
relating to yourself with more warmth, rather than constant self-criticism
engaging with the world in new and different ways
noticing more creativity
Rather than just telling yourself you’re allowed to have needs, your nervous system begins to believe it, and your choices start to reflect that.
Who this somatic work is especially for
I specialize in working with adults who are both high-capacity and quietyly exhausted- often people who others turn to for support. This can include:
Healthcare professionals
Mental health and helping professionals
Leaders, managers, and high-responsibility professionals
Adults with complex or developmental trauma
LGBTQ+ adults navigating chronic stress and pressure
Many of my clients have been in therapy before and are now seeking work that goes beyond insight into deeper, embodied change.
My Somatic trauma-informed approach
How we’ll work together
I draw from several somatic and trauma-focused approaches to support this work with anxiety and people-pleasing, including:
Brainspotting– accessing and processing stored emotional material through the body and visual fields
Compassionate Inquiry– a gentle, present-moment exploration of what arises in your body, emotions, and beliefs
IFS-informed parts work– getting to know anxious and people-pleasing “parts” of you with more curiosity and compassion
Somatic Experiencing– trauma informed tracking of sensations, boundaries, and impulses in a way that respects your pacing.
Our work is collaborative and carefully paced. We m ove at the spped of your nervous system, not at the speed of an agenda.
If you would like a fuller description of my overall approach to somatic trauma therapy, you can read more here.
Practical details
Format
Virtual therapy sessions via secure video
For
Adults residing in California
Approach
Somatic, trauma-informed, relational
Practice Model
Private-pay, boutique practice with limited caseload
Not a crisis service
I’m not able to provide emergency or on-demand support
Is this work right for you?
This work may be a good fit if you:
Recognize yourself in patterns of anxiety, over-functioning, and people-pleasing
Are curious about a body-based, trauma-informed approach
Prefer thoughtful, in-depth work over quick fixes or surface-level coping skills
Want a space that honors your competence and makes room for your exhaustion
The best way to know is to begin with a brief inquiry and, if it seems aligned, a consulatation call where we can explore your needs and questions together.
contact
Location, licensing, and coaching
I provide therapy for adults residing in California, with all sessions held virtually. This allows high-responsibility professionals and helpers to access consistent care without commuting.
I am only able to offer therapy within California. If you live elsewhere and resonate with this work, I offer a limited number of nervous-system-informed coaching spots. You can select the coaching option on the inquiry form to explore whether that might be a fit.
