Many of us understand the importance of boundaries and consent, yet still find ourselves saying yes when something inside us is saying no. This is not a lack of awareness - it is often a nervous system pattern shaped by our need for safety, connection, and belonging. Through somatic awareness, we can unwind people-pleasing, reconnect with our bodies, strengthen self-trust, and create more authentic relationships.

Brainspotting is a focused, brain-body approach for people who are stuck in old patterns of behavior despite having a cognitive understanding. It helps you access and release what words alone can't reach, working gently, precisely, and entirely at the pace of the nervous system. This post explores how it works, why eye position matters, what a session feels like, and how to know if it's right for you.

Learning to Listen Through Somatic Practice: Three Gentle Ways to Begin In more than two decades of clinical work, and the last decade as a somatic psychologist, one truth has anchored everything I do: the body is not a passive container for our experiences. It is an active, intelligent system - constantly adapting, communicating, and carrying patterns of protection that often exist beyond conscious awareness. And most of us were never taught how to listen to it. If you've ev

Healing from trauma is not an intellectual exercise. It is a profound, somatic reclamation of your life, your boundaries, and your body. For a long time, the clinical world assumed this deep work could only happen within the strict confines of a traditional therapist's office, and for some, the thought of walking into a therapist's office might feel overwhelming (if you've ever felt safer in your own space than in an unfamiliar room, you're not alone). For many nervous system

Ketamine as a powerful catalyst for change when nothing else works. It's not a magic bullet, but I'm witnessing real transformation. Imagine my clients who finally felt love for themselves, others who were able to quit their addiction to substances, to decrease their anger or anxiety to manageable levels, or those that finally have the relationships with their family they've dreamed of. It's powerful medicine, neuroscience, neuroplasticity, behavioral changes and practical to

In this podcast interview, Dr. Loi shares about somatic psychology, the art of embodiment, dance and movement, and strategies to deepen connection to yourself, others and the earth to awakent the joy of being.

It’s time to rethink the unspoken rules of connection. Checking in with yourself—and with others—before sharing or receiving heavy news isn’t just polite, it’s essential for mental and emotional well-being. How often do we truly pause and....

Slowing down as a radical act of rebellion; from an unplanned (and forced) pause to reconnecting with her body's wisdom, read on to learn how this stillness became a gateway to a more cohesive and resourced authentic self, which led to renewed energy for outward action.

Learn about Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy - what it is and how it can benefit you

Fatigue & Overwhelm vs Rest & Replenish - steps to fill your own cup while not denying reality. Questions and my own process

Happy Equinox! Today marked the shift from winter into spring, where the day and night hours are approximately equal, where new energy arises. Knowing this, it was fascinating to me how my internal process so closely mirrored that of the external environment again - we have been moving into spring and yet, it’s still been cold and I’ve been strangely unmotivated lately. Even though I’ve been wanting to write and create, I've been feeling blocked. This morning once again began

Ok maybe that’s a little harsh but for real, I have stopped making a list of resolutions and here’s why: It fits right in with the...

As the seasons shift and it's getting colder (some days) here in Northern California, I’m finding my sweaters and long pants again, and feeling the comfort of the soft fabrics, cushy clothing, and especially my bed. For someone who loves the warmth and energy of Spring and Summer, it’s a little surprising, and yet I can see how this transition time outside mirrors my internal state. There’s still a lot of activities, so many interesting things to do and still I can feel my bo

By Dr. Loi There has been a gradual quickening in the air, in our blood and bones - as business and venues reopen and we go back to “normal”… I have noticed a maelstrom of emotions in myself and others. There’s a sense of anticipation, excitement and energy up front and yet underneath simmers some not so good feeling emotions such as anxiety (even fear) and overwhelm. It’s felt surreal and sweet to be seeing people smiles again, and yet…. A large part of me doesn’t want thin

by Dr. Loi I have been fascinated by how women’s roles change as they age (as I am aging), the power dynamic that shifts throughout this process and have been engaging in many conversations around this topic lately. This has been on my mind increasingly since I attended a workshop entitled, “Maiden, Mother, Queen, Crone” by Wind Hughes, MA. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the idea of how we don’t just automatically shift into “Crone” once we finish being “Mother” sinc

By Dr. Loi Anger...I've been attempting to write about this for days as almost every one of my clients and even myself have felt its' flames this past week - but somehow every time I'd sit down to do write, I'd get distracted. That makes sense, too since most of us want to be distracted from our anger or we try to bury/compartmentalize it – it can be scary or even overwhelming if we let it out! But it’s precisely the acknowledging that needs to happen or else it ends up comi

Hmmm, that sounds good you might think but what does it really mean? Letting go with grace means that you expand into what comes your way, rather than resist. Letting go with ease means that you allow yourself to remain in a state of love, or return to it no matter what is happening around you. Being in these states, you vibrate at specific energetic frequencies and you will naturally draw those people and experiences with similar vibrational levels and resonance to you. When

Ok, I know you were probably laughing and thinking, “No way” when you read the title – but it’s true – you can learn to love even the “negative” parts of yourself! Do you have that internal voice that makes snide comments about yourself or other people? That voice that judges, compares, makes fun of and finds fault easily? That voice you hear inside your head (and no it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re crazy) is more common than you might think – we all have an internalized cr

We hear that a lot – “Just breathe “ and even if someone is saying it to you to get off their back, or because you’re freaking out – it’s actually really sound advice. I offer a simple breathing strategy to my clients and it’s one of the first things (maybe the first) that I teach. I’ll describe the physical steps and then explain why it’s so vitally important in retraining your brain (and just what else to do so that you can soothe yourself). 6, 4, 7: First of all, the proce