A somatic session blends conversation with gentle body awareness. While it may look like traditional talk therapy on the outside — two people talking — the internal experience is different. You won't just be recounting what happened; you'll be guided to notice what's happening in your body as you talk.

Your therapist might gently ask things like, "Where do you feel that in your body?" or "What happens when you sit with that for a moment?" This isn't about analyzing your body — it's about using the body as a doorway to deeper processing and release.

Sessions are always collaborative, paced by you, and grounded in safety. You will never be pushed to go somewhere you're not ready to go.

No — and this is one of the most important things to understand about somatic and trauma-informed work. You do not have to retell your story in detail to heal.

In fact, repeatedly narrating traumatic events can sometimes re-traumatize rather than heal. Somatic approaches work at the level of the nervous system, which means healing can happen even when working gently around the edges of what occurred — not by diving head-first into the details.

You are always in control of how much you share and how we proceed.

Sessions typically last 45–55 minutes. We'll determine the frequency that best fits your needs and goals during your intake session.

When possible, weekly sessions are strongly recommended at the start — consistency creates the conditions for real change to take hold. Biweekly sessions are also available as you progress or as scheduling requires.

Therapy lasts as long as it needs to. We'll revisit your goals every 2–3 months to evaluate progress and make sure we're on the right path together.

The most important thing is simply to show up. You don't need to prepare a script or have your story organized. Your therapist will guide the conversation.

A few things that can help:

• Give yourself a few minutes before the session to settle — turn off notifications, find a quiet and private space
• Wear comfortable clothing, especially for in-person or somatic sessions
• Have water nearby
• After the session, try to give yourself a little buffer time — avoid scheduling anything intense immediately after

Emotional processing can continue after a session, so gentleness with yourself afterward is encouraged.

Progress in therapy can be subtle — and it often doesn't look like dramatic breakthroughs. You might notice that a situation that used to overwhelm you is now more manageable, that your relationships feel slightly different, or that you're responding to stress rather than reacting to it.

Your therapist will check in on your goals every 2–3 months to reflect on what's shifting and adjust the approach if needed. Honest, ongoing dialogue about how you're experiencing the process is always welcome.

The Healing Spot currently specializes in individual therapy. All services are one-on-one, focused on supporting each person's individual healing journey.

If you're seeking couples or family therapy, we're happy to provide a referral to a trusted provider.

Our brains and bodies hold onto experiences — especially painful or overwhelming ones. Trauma, chronic stress, and unresolved emotions don't only live in our thoughts; they become embedded in our nervous systems and show up as physical tension, reactivity, numbness, or exhaustion.

Talk therapy alone can be valuable, but combining it with body-based techniques allows us to reach and process what's stored deeper — beyond what words can access. This is where lasting change often lives.

Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented approach to healing trauma developed by Dr. Peter Levine. SE works by helping the nervous system complete stress response cycles that became "stuck" during overwhelming experiences.

Rather than re-living traumatic events through detailed storytelling, SE gently guides awareness to physical sensations — allowing the body to process and release what it was unable to at the time. The result is greater ease, resilience, and a restored sense of safety within yourself.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched, evidence-based therapy for trauma and PTSD. It works by using bilateral stimulation — such as guided eye movements, tapping, or sound — to help the brain reprocess distressing memories.

Traumatic memories are often stored in a fragmented, emotionally raw way. EMDR helps the brain integrate these memories so they lose their charge — allowing you to recall what happened without being flooded by the same intensity of emotion.

IFS is a compassionate, non-pathologizing approach that understands the mind as made up of many "parts" — each with its own perspective, feelings, and role. Some parts protect us; others carry wounds from the past.

In IFS, the goal is not to eliminate difficult parts but to build a relationship with them — to understand what they're carrying and help them unburden. At the center of this work is the Self: the calm, curious, compassionate core of who you are. IFS helps you lead from that place.

Somatic Soundwork integrates therapeutic sound — including singing bowls, percussion, and vibrational instruments — with somatic awareness to support nervous system regulation and emotional release.

Sound has a direct physiological effect on the body, influencing brainwave states, the vagus nerve, and the stress response. This work is particularly powerful for individuals who find it difficult to access healing through words alone, or who want to deepen their somatic practice.

Trauma-informed breathwork uses intentional breathing techniques to support nervous system regulation, emotional release, and expanded states of awareness. Unlike some breathwork modalities that can be overstimulating, this approach is specifically adapted for those with trauma histories — always paced carefully and with attention to safety.

The breath is one of the few autonomic functions we can consciously control, making it a powerful tool for self-regulation. Sessions are guided and grounded throughout.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy combines legal, medically supervised ketamine administration with therapeutic support before, during, and after the experience. Ketamine is a dissociative medicine that, in a therapeutic context, can create openings for insight, emotional processing, and neural plasticity that are difficult to access through talk therapy alone.

KAP at The Healing Spot is conducted in partnership with a licensed medical provider. It is not a standalone treatment — it is integrated into an ongoing therapeutic relationship for the deepest possible benefit.

$215 per 50-minute session.

Loveland Therapy Fund vouchers are also accepted, which subsidize the cost to $95 per session for up to 12 sessions. After the 12 sessions are completed, the standard rate applies.

We believe in accessible healing and are committed to working with clients to explore all available options.

Yes — Aetna is accepted for California and Georgia residents. Billing is handled through Alma, a platform that manages insurance billing on our behalf.

The following health plans are included under Aetna through Alma:

• Allegiance
• Meritain
• Nippon
• Allied Benefit Systems
• Trustmark & Trustmark Small Business Benefits
• Health Scope
• Christian Brothers Services

The following Aetna plans are not currently accepted through Alma:

• GEHA – Aetna (unless mental health benefits are managed by United Healthcare Shared Services)
• Boon Chapman · AmeriBen · Health First · Health Smart · Emi Health · WebTPA
• Piedmont/S&S Healthcare
• Aetna Medicare and Medicaid plans

You can check your Aetna eligibility here via Alma.

In some cases, yes. We may be able to provide a superbill — an itemized receipt you can submit to your insurance company to request out-of-network reimbursement.

Please contact your insurance provider directly to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits before assuming coverage.

Life happens, and we understand that. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please do so at least 24–48 hours in advance to avoid a late cancellation fee.

Specific details about the cancellation policy will be outlined in your client agreement at the start of care. If you have questions, please reach out directly.

Yes — in-person sessions are available for Georgia residents Sunday through Wednesday at:

1074 Ponce De Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306

The first appointment of the day begins at 11:00 AM. The last in-person appointment is at 1:00 or 2:00 PM, depending on that day's schedule.

Virtual sessions are available for residents of California, Florida, and South Carolina.

Virtual sessions are conducted through a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. You'll receive a secure link before your appointment — all you need is a private space, a reliable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone.

You do not need to download any special software in most cases. If there are any tech requirements specific to your platform, these will be communicated during scheduling.

Telehealth services are currently available to residents of:

• Georgia
• California
• Florida
• South Carolina

Shae is registered with the Florida Department of Health and South Carolina's telehealth registry in compliance with each state's requirements.

The first step is requesting a free consultation. From there, we'll connect, make sure it feels like a good fit, and get your first appointment scheduled.

You can request a consultation directly through the button below — or reach out via the contact page if you have questions first. There's no wrong way to begin.