Somatic Therapy – Laura Pearl LCSW

Somatic Therapy in New York City

Healing isn’t just a mindset, it’s a full-body experience.

You Can’t Think Your Way Out of a dysregulated nervous System

You’ve read the books. You understand the patterns. But no matter how much insight you gain, your body still goes into survival mode when triggered.
That’s because trauma and stress aren’t stored in your thoughts, they’re stored in your body.
Somatic therapy helps you reconnect with the signals your body is sending, so you can respond with care rather than automatic defense. It’s not about “fixing” you, it’s about creating space to feel safe, present, and regulated in your own skin.

What Is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to healing trauma, chronic stress, and emotional overwhelm. Unlike traditional talk therapy that focuses primarily on cognition, somatic therapy helps you:

Notice physical sensations (tightness, breath patterns, tension)
Understand how your body responds to triggers
Build tools for grounding and regulation
Gently process stored trauma that’s “stuck” in the nervous system
Become comfortable taking in physical pleasure whether through taste, touch or sexuality
Develop a grateful, respectful, compassionate relationship with your body

It’s not about forcing cathartic releases or diving into pain. It’s about building capacity, the ability to stay present with yourself, even when things feel unpleasant, and even when they feel pleasant.

Why Somatic Therapy?

If you’ve ever thought:

“I know why I react this way, but I still can’t stop.”
“I’m numb, disconnected, or dissociated most of the time.”
“I feel emotions like a flood or not at all.”
“Talk therapy helped me understand my trauma, but my body still feels unsafe.”
“I know that my physical symptoms are triggered by anxiety or emotional pain.”

…then somatic therapy might be the missing piece.

Laura’s Somatic Therapy Approach

Somatic work with me isn’t a set of exercises. It’s a relational process where we co-create a space for you to experience safety in your body, often for the first time.

She integrates Somatic Therapy with:

Body Awareness & Tracking

You’ll learn to notice subtle sensations, breath patterns, and physical responses without judgment. We move slowly, with care, so your system feels safe to notice rather than shut down.

Nervous System Regulation

We’ll explore grounding tools that help your nervous system shift from survival mode (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) to a state of safety and connection.

Titrated Trauma Processing

If we’re working with traumatic memories, we’ll do so gently, pacing the work so your body isn’t overwhelmed. Somatic therapy focuses on regulation first, processing second.

Relational Safety

Attachment wounds and trauma often make co-regulation difficult. In therapy, the relationship itself becomes a space to practice steady, attuned connection.

For many of Laura’s clients, EMDR becomes a turning point—not because it’s fast, but because it’s integrative. The goal isn’t just symptom relief. It’s wholeness.

Who This Work Is For

I offer somatic therapy for adults who:

Feel chronically on edge, hypervigilant, or numb
Experience dissociation or emotional shutdowns
Struggle with physical symptoms that are not (fully) explained by medical conditions
Have “done talk therapy” but still feel stuck in body-based patterns
Struggle with anxiety, complex trauma (CPTSD), or attachment wounds
Identify as neurodivergent (ADHD, autism) and want to build bodily awareness
Are navigating identity-based trauma as LGBTQ+ or first-/second-generation Americans
Want to move beyond insight into felt experiences of safety and connection

Why Work with Laura Pearl for Somatic Therapy?

As a licensed trauma therapist (LCSW) with advanced somatic training, my work is deeply rooted in body-based healing, but it’s not formulaic. I don’t believe in forcing catharsis or rushing integration.
My PhD in cultural anthropology informs my understanding of how lived experiences (culture, identity, family dynamics) shape the body’s relationship to safety.
As a queer, neurodivergent therapist, I understand the subtle ways bodies adapt to survive in spaces that don’t fully see them.
Clients often describe therapy with me as “permission-giving”, a space where their body’s pace is honored, not overruled.

In-Person Somatic Therapy in NYC & Virtual Across New York

I offer weekly, long-term somatic therapy for adults across New York State. In-person sessions take place in my private office in the Upper East Side, near Carnegie Hill and Yorkville. Virtual therapy is also available for clients throughout New York.

Begin Your Somatic Therapy Journey

Your body has always been working for you—even when it feels like it’s working against you.
Somatic therapy offers a way to reconnect with your body’s wisdom and create new patterns of safety.
If you’re ready to begin, reach out today for a free 15-minute consultation. No pressure. Just a conversation to see if it feels like a good fit.

FAQ: Somatic Therapy with Laura Pearl

I’m not comfortable with touch—does somatic therapy involve physical contact?

No. Somatic therapy with me is entirely non-touch. We work with body awareness through guided tracking, breathwork, and noticing internal cues—always at your pace.

Can somatic therapy help if I dissociate or go numb?

Yes. In fact, dissociation is often a key reason people seek somatic therapy. We’ll work gently to build your capacity for connection without overwhelming your system.

Do I need prior experience with body-based practices (like yoga or meditation)?

Not at all. Somatic therapy meets you where you are. No prior experience required.