Somatic Healing

A Body-Centered Path to Deeper Personal Growth

In-person Pasadena Sessions

Connect in a supportive, reflective setting designed for deeper exploration and embodied awareness.

Virtual Sessions Available

Explore depth-oriented work from the comfort and privacy of your own space.

What is Somatic Healing?

Somatic healing is a body-centered approach to personal growth that invites you to notice the connection between your thoughts, emotions and physical experience. Rather than relying on words alone, it creates space to become more aware of sensations, patterns and inner responses that may hold deeper meaning.

For those looking for something different from traditional therapy, somatic healing can offer another way to explore the self through embodied awareness, mindfulness and reflection. This work is focused on personal growth and self-understanding rather than diagnosis or treatment of mental health conditions.

Meet Andrea-Marie Stark, PhD

Depth-Oriented Personal Growth • Embodied Awareness • Spiritual Exploration

Andrea-Marie Stark, PhD brings a depth-oriented, integrative perspective to personal growth, drawing from her background in depth psychology, Hakomi education, mindfulness, dream and symbolic work, intuition and spiritual exploration. Her approach creates space to pay attention not only to thoughts, but also to the body, imagination and deeper layers of personal experience.

Her work is especially suited to people who are curious about what may exist beyond familiar explanations or traditional approaches. Rather than focusing on diagnosis or symptom treatment, Andrea-Marie invites exploration of meaning, identity, patterns, transitions and the deeper questions that can emerge throughout life.

Andrea-Marie's approach is informed by:

See What People Are Saying About Us

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 29 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Tristan Cimini 
 November 2, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris leads sessions with thoughtfulness and curiosity. He has helped my partner and I learn so much about each other and given us many practical tools and exercises to try outside of session. I highly recommend his practice!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Michelle Miranda 
 October 29, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Working with Chris has truly changed our lives for the better. After nearly 20 years of marriage, we found ourselves facing one of the most difficult periods we’d ever experienced, and Chris guided us through it with compassion, patience, and incredible insight. His approach helped us not only reconnect as a couple but also grow individually. Because of Chris, we feel stronger, more self-aware, and better equipped with the tools to communicate and work through challenges on our own. He created a space where we could be honest, heard, and understood, and that made all the difference. We are deeply grateful for his support and can honestly say that knowing him has made us better people and partners. I wholeheartedly recommend Chris to anyone seeking genuine help and guidance. It took us years to find someone who truly understood us and could get to the root of our challenges, and Chris did exactly that. We truly love and appreciate him and know we wouldn’t be where we are today without his support.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   GL 
 October 29, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris is a caring, exceptionally kind, and intelligent person—really, the only therapist who has measurably improved the quality of my life. He not only helped me to stabilize after crisis but has taken up the enormous task of working through my trauma history and anxiety with me. I've been in therapy on and off for 30 years, and I've never trusted someone more to guide this challenging, necessary work. Chris balances extensive knowledge with gentleness and humor in a way that just works. He has helped me step back from my entrenched thoughts and behaviors enough to start to make sense of myself, ask for what I need in my life, and, perhaps most importantly, start to feel safe again. I feel very lucky to have found him.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Marie L 
 October 29, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My partner and I saw Bethany for couples therapy. Bethany is just wonderful—a truly warm and lovely person. She was able to work very gently with my partner, who had not previously been in therapy, and he went from feeling anxious about the experience to being able to integrate the knowledge and practices he learned into his life, improving his confidence and allowing him to recognize his own resilience. I attribute this to Bethany's amiable and supportive approach. We are both grateful to her!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   D C 
 October 29, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dr. Tickner is warm, knowledgeable, insightful, and has a way to lighten the mood at the best possible times.  He is a pleasure to work with, and probably the best I’ve met in his profession.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Charles Irvin 
 August 22, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris T is the best therapist ever! He runs the practice with his wife, Andrea, who is also amazing. I would recommend working with anyone on their team.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   John Sloan 
 June 10, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the good fortune of training with Chris early in my career. He is compassionate, thoughtful, and brings deep knowledge and experience to the work. I am so grateful for the time I spent at California Integrative Therapy. He hires exceptional therapists and I do not hesitate to refer clients to this practice. The therapists there bring a breadth of experience and a variety of approaches to the work--whether you're looking for couples therapy, treatment for depression or anxiety, or healing from trauma, I highly recommend you give them a call.

A Deeper Approach to Somatic Healing

Embodied Awareness & Mindfulness — Notice sensations, responses and patterns with greater awareness.
Dream & Symbolic Exploration — Explore dreams, imagery and symbols as pathways to self-understanding.
Meaning, Identity & Life Transitions — Reflect on who you are, what is changing and what feels meaningful.
Intuition & Spiritual Exploration — Explore intuition, spirituality and your inner life.
Reiki & Energy Practice — Incorporate energy-based practices when they align with your intentions.

Somatic healing can open the door to more than body awareness alone. Andrea-Marie’s approach draws from depth psychology, mindfulness and embodied awareness while creating space to explore the deeper personal, symbolic and spiritual dimensions of your experience.

Depending on what draws you to this work, sessions may include attention to dreams and symbolism, intuition, creativity, life transitions, spiritual questions or energy-based practices such as Reiki. The process is individualized, allowing the work to unfold around what feels most meaningful and relevant to you.

frequently asked questions about somatic healing

What is somatic healing?

Somatic healing is a body-centered approach to personal growth that brings greater attention to physical sensations, internal responses and the connection between mind and body. The work may incorporate embodied awareness, mindfulness and reflection as pathways to deeper self-understanding.

How is somatic healing different from psychotherapy?

Somatic healing as offered here is focused on personal growth, self-understanding and exploration rather than the diagnosis or treatment of mental health conditions. It can provide space to explore embodiment, meaning, identity, intuition and other dimensions of experience outside a traditional clinical framework.

What can I explore through somatic healing?

The work is individualized and may include embodied awareness, mindfulness, life transitions, identity, meaning, dreams, symbolism, intuition, creativity and spiritual exploration. Reiki and energy-based practices may also be incorporated when they align with your interests and intentions.

What can I expect during a session?

Sessions are reflective and collaborative, with space to notice what is happening in your thoughts, emotions and physical experience. Depending on your interests, the process may draw from mindfulness, embodied awareness, depth-oriented reflection, dream and symbolic exploration or other elements of Andrea-Marie’s approach.

Do I need previous experience with somatic work or mindfulness?

No. You do not need prior experience with somatic practices, meditation, Reiki or depth-oriented work. Curiosity and a willingness to explore your experience are enough to begin.

Can somatic healing be done virtually?

Yes. Virtual sessions allow you to engage in this work from the privacy and comfort of your own space. In-person sessions are also available in Pasadena.

Is somatic healing a replacement for mental health treatment?

No. Andrea-Marie’s work is distinct from psychotherapy, diagnosis, crisis care and treatment of mental health conditions. If you are seeking mental health assessment or treatment, California Integrative Therapy can help connect you with an appropriately licensed clinician.

How do I know if Andrea-Marie’s approach is right for me?

A free consultation is a good place to start. You can discuss what you are looking for, learn more about Andrea-Marie’s approach and determine whether the work feels aligned with your interests and goals.

How long are sessions, and how often will we meet?

The length and frequency of sessions can vary depending on your interests, goals and the kind of exploration you are seeking. During your consultation, you can discuss what format and rhythm may be the best fit for you.

Do I have to incorporate spiritual practices or Reiki into my sessions?

Not at all. Andrea-Marie’s work is individualized, and practices such as Reiki, spiritual exploration, dream work or intuitive reflection are incorporated only when they resonate with you. Your sessions can focus on embodied awareness, mindfulness and depth-oriented personal growth without including spiritual or energy-based practices.