I'm writing this as a second-year student in the 6-month Somatica training led by Celeste and…read moreDanielle - a training for people who want to become sex and relationship coaches and/or just want to access powerful info and transformational tools for themselves. I came to Somatica in the throes of the breakup of my loving yet sexually dead marriage. (Actually, I first found Somatica online when searching for help for my spouse and me, but for complex reasons, my spouse was not willing to go.) I wanted a place where I learn how to get my own sexual needs met after a very long and painful drought. I wanted to better understand why I had chosen to partner with a wonderful person with whom I never had great sex -- why we could never break through to the level of sexual joy I'd had with my other partners, and also why I stayed. When I attended the free Intro, I was especially impressed by Celeste and Danielle's combination of leadership and vulnerability. I thought "If I can learn to lead and teach from a more vulnerable place, that alone will make the training worthwhile for me." I got so much more than I even knew I wanted or could get! Leading and teaching from a place of vulnerability is still a growth edge for me, but I have a model now, and validation and encouragement. I also learned sooo much about different sexual scripts and turn-ons, which gave me so much insight about why my spouse and I hadn't connected well, and helped me become less judgmental/fearful, and much more open/playful around turn-ons different from my own. I learned how to be in charge of my own arousal and share it with others, rather than having to wait for them to elicit it in my preferred ways. I learned how easily I could share sexual energy with a wide variety of people, and reveled in the permission to do so. I got triggered and dealt with it. I had some incredibly healing and illuminating practice sessions with class members. I got help. I got challenged. I did some challenging of my own. I got humbled and freaked out at times, but I kept showing up and kept growing. I learned and integrated sooo much about attachment, which helped me finally stop taking the pain of my marriage so personally. Oh, and I learned some incredibly valuable lessons about repair, lessons that I've been able to use to, for instance, transform a tense and angry conversation with my landlord into an exchange of mutual vulnerability and connection! I also learned how to belatedly ask for - and receive - some deep attachment wound healing with my former spouse. I have become much less emotionally reactive in general, much more internally resilient. Of course, this is a path I've been on for a long time, but my experience in Somatica has greatly deepened my learning. All these specifics barely begin to scratch the surface of what I learned and how I changed. There's so much more! I appreciated the experience so much that I signed up to do it again the following year! I'm so appreciative of the curriculum Celeste and Danielle have created, the community they foster, the values they uphold, the wisdom and humility with which they teach. And OK, that said, of course no one is perfect, and no one is a perfect coach or teacher for everyone, and no single 6-month training can truly prepare someone with no prior training to navigate this difficult terrain skillfully. If you are considering working with Celeste, Danielle or anyone else, I suggest you carefully assess whether their personality, values and approach resonate with you, your values and what you seek. I haven't done one-on-one work with either of them, but from my experience in class, I'd say that I believe C&D work with great skill and integrity to try to help you create the sexual and love life you truly want -- yet like everyone, they do have their own biases, and those are bound to influence them (again, this would be true of anyone with whom you might work.) If you are considering working with a Somatica-trained practitioner, check out what other background and training they have; many of the students have enormous amounts of relevant experience, but not all do. If you are considering joining the class, know that this is wonderful, transformational work, and as such, will push you to your growth edges (that's the whole point! but of course, it can sometimes be uncomfortable.) I will say this, though: I'm a tough sell. I've been around the transformational block for a few decades, and for me to emerge from a six-month training and immediately re-up, says a lot :)

This review is for the Somatica training program only. If you are considering doing the Somatica…read moreTraining think about it long and hard, and try to find some people who have gone through it to talk to. I would not recommend it, (unless you just want to do it and don't care what you get out of it), and yes I have done it. While I mostly enjoyed the process going through the program, looking back in hindsight I can see things more clearly. The cost is very expensive and that is really the founder's main motivation...to make bank, which they clearly do. They have their TV show now, which to me just reinforces the fact that their main motivation is money, and not necessarily helping people first and foremost. The atmosphere is cult like, and they market the program as though it is pretty much guaranteed that you will come out of the training with a new career which is only true for their favorite students. You have to pass a sort of test at the end, (a mock session with one of the founders), to be "certified" as a practitioner, and not passing feels frustrating, and that the whole thing was a waste of time and a lot of money for those who do not pass. People do not come out of the the program with a degree. It is not guaranteed that you will have anything to show as an "accomplishment" after spending a lot of time and money on the program, like you would get with a college degree. To be fair I am sure that it works for some people but I also thought it only fair that I post a review for others who are considering the expensive program to know that it is not a positive and fruitful experience for everyone. Looking back on it, the experience makes me feel like I failed, (and/or did not fit the mold of what ever category you need to fall into to feel a real part of the culture within the program). It just leaves me with kind of an overall sad and beaten down feeling. The program clearly caused more hurt than good for me. This is not how someone should come out feeling after investing time and money in a program that is supposed to be supportive and all the other ways it is marketed. I do not feel as though people who really want to succeed within the program are necessarily helped and guided to do so. If you want to become a sex and relationship therapist, I would recommend going the route of going to a real accredited school and getting the appropriate degrees and licensing that are necessary. I wish I could get all that money I spent back.

Megan is truly a gem! I consider her to be the #1 dating and sex expert in the Bay Area and…read moreprobably beyond! In a few words, her sessions are deeply empowering, fun, and healing. I found her website over a year ago when I was going through difficulty in my dating life. I bought her package deal and in a few months time, I felt empowered, newly in touch with my feminine energy, and ready to have great experiences. Megan is extremely warm, empathetic, and knowledgeable. Everything she shares is always heartfelt and tailored to the individual. She has equipped me with the tools I need to succeed in my romantic life. Moreover, her sessions are always a blast because of the Somatica element. Her sessions go far beyond what a person can gain in traditional talk therapy settings. She also offers supportive coaching during Covid, which goes a long way!

I am extremely grateful for the therapy I received from Megan. I think I speak for a lot of people…read morewhen I say that having an open, honest discussion about relationships, love, and sex can be very difficult. Personally, there is a lot of intricate and sensitive emotions that come with these topics, so finding someone I trust is extremely important. I'm very glad that I found Megan because she provided a non-judgemental and soothing environment for us to work together. It didn't take long for me to open myself up and trust her. Megan is experienced and wise, and throughout the course of our sessions, she also proved herself to be someone who can adapt on the fly. While she possesses a wide range of great qualities, I believe that her strongest attribute is her empathy - she is extremely skilled in immersing in the "world" of others and emerging with unique perspectives to offer. This is a hallmark trait of a very good therapist. Megan is also someone who has the ability to sit with her own emotions - good and bad - and steer the course of her thoughts in the most optimal way possible. These are rare qualities that many of us have yet to master (or even realize we struggle with). All of this is to say, she lives the truth that she speaks. If you are someone who is considering therapy, I highly recommend reaching out to Megan. You will not be disappointed!

My husband and I have been together for more than forty years, and for the last thirty, we have…read morebeen dealing with conflict over sexual intimacy. We tried personal counseling, we tried marriage counseling, and our difficulties only persisted. This year, my husband and I decided once again to seek help. This time, we wanted to find a therapist who could listen to both sides of the sexual conflict that had become a cancer on our marriage, and somehow guide us to a place that would change our sexual relationship to the loving satisfaction we both sought. We found Dr. Anya-a sex and intimacy coach. Our previous attempts at personal and marriage counseling--private sessions with a therapist and couples communication classes through Kaiser--never addressed our fundamental difficulty which seemed to arise from a sex-life that was contentious. This led to a reluctance on the part of my husband to trust therapy to address our conflict. However, at his wits' end, my reluctant husband finally agreed to try seeing Dr. Anya. We warily scheduled a free consultation to discuss our issues and see whether she could help. After describing her methods, Anya reported that with Homeplay--exercises devised to help set new behavior patterns and sensitize partners to their mutual goals--couples were usually able to achieve improvement within six or more sessions. We decided to go for it as we had nothing to lose having tried everything we could think of on our own. Yes, professional guidance is expensive, but in our experience, it was completely worth it. With Anya's guidance, we learned how to open up to each other and address our issues for the first time. We learned how to navigate the differences in our case that are often fundamental to male and female arousal, and that made it easier to understand why we could never seem to get on the same page. Our goal was to break the deadlock we had found ourselves in and to increase our intimacy and have more joy from sex. With Anya's guidance, we feel we have succeeded in re-establishing the connection we had lost. We have rediscovered the ability to address and satisfy our mutual desires. It has not been a particularly simple or easy process to break the destructive cycle that we had found ourselves in after all those years, but Anya has given us tools to use going forward. Finally, it's reassuring knowing that we can always contact Anya for help and further guidance if we find ourselves falling back into old, destructive behaviors.

Anya is amazing! She listens and provides so much support and thoughtful expertise. We worked with…read moreher for a year and she was able to help us deepen our relationship and become better partners for each other. She creates a space where it is easy to talk about things that aren't necessarily easy to talk about. Thank you Anya!

Shelby is absolutely incredible, and we feel lucky we found her! My partner and I went to Shelby to…read morelearn more about increasing intimacy and connection that will last. We had no idea what to expect going into our first session and were nervous about what it would be like. I am SO glad we overcame our nerves and scheduled a session, because Shelby has had such a positive impact on our relationship and each of us individually. She brings immense knowledge and value to each session, so we have continued to meet with her far longer than we initially expected! She put us at ease immediately, and is incredibly skilled, thoughtful, and observant. Working with Shelby, we have seen our romantic connection, communication, and chemistry blossom even further. Plus, we just had so much fun in every single session. If you are considering sex and intimacy coaching, but are on the fence, all I can say is GO SEE SHELBY! You will not regret it.

I will say I was incredibly nervous about trying therapy. It is a deeply personal thing that we…read moredon't typically talk about with others and caries with a lot of emotional baggage guilt shame etc.. Quite a few times before the first session I contemplated canceling, but I am so glad I made that call. I will say Shelby made all of those fears and concerns melt away . Shelby is a person who's skills make them a perfect match for their occupation. She has a foundation of empathy, insight and kindness that instantly puts you at ease. I have no sense of judgement only encouragement and acceptance when talking about deeply personal things. Shelby is also incredibly insightful, digging through very complicated histories individually and as a couple she was get a clear understanding of dynamics and behavior patterns that were invisible to us but became obvious when she shed light on them. And finally she brought us change and hope for years we have been in a rut both missing the mark with each other but Shelby has helped us work on ourselves to solidify the foundation of intimacy trust and partnership that is required for a fulfilling relationship. TLDR Shelby is a fundementally kind, patient, open minded and understanding person who will help you and your partner get your MOJO back!

I would recommend Zeke to anyone who prefers to get a massage in the comfort of their own home…read more Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the good ol' day spa, but I love the idea of a healing massage at home, so I searched and thankfully, Zeke was the first to pop up. He was so easy to communicate with, professional, responsive and super mellow. I like that he has a mix of techniques to choose from and he intuitively knows what your body needs. For me there was a lot of stretching and clearing of some stuck energy. It's $200 for 70 minutes, which is pretty on par with a spa...and he travels a large radius for clients, so you're in luck. Ya gotta book a little in advance though. I will work with Zeke again, as the more he knows your body, the better he can troubleshoot any issues (kind of like relaxing physical therapy :) Thanks Zeke!!

Zeke is amazing. His energy and work is fantastic. Never a disappointment in a sessions. He's my go…read moreto monthly and I always look forward to them. I highly recommend his work to anyone who's looking for massage, healing and overall wellness.

My partner and I went to see Keeley because we had stopped being intimate as often as we both…read morewanted and it was causing issues neither of us wanted. She gently guided us into speaking about the deeper issues we needed to address, while still making it fun. I could not believe how knowledgeable and effective she was, and how quickly she understood what we needed to help our relationship. She seemed to know exactly where we needed to go and what was next. Others on here have said that she is really smart, that is beyond correct! But she is also really caring while being direct and getting to the point. We would not recommend anyone else but her for issues around sex and intimacy. I highly recommend her for couples counseling.

Keeley amazing, smart and caring woman. She is changing my life for the better and I could not be…read morehappier. Every week we tackle new territory, it is challenging and rewarding. I feel like I am learning about how the dating world really works - versus how I have always thought it might work. She is able to see where you are and help you grow into a better version of yourself. I could not have imagined a better fit thank Keeley for this type of material. She really knows her stuff!

I found Alison after looking for a relationship / dating coach after being out of the game for 12+…read moreyears and having some pretty bad experiences. Alison has a direct communication style which Im a big fan of, and made a lot of really good points that still stick with me today. I find most therapy sessions to be hit or miss but I felt all of my 1:1s with Alison I left with something to mull over and a new perspective on something I was thinking through. Shes well versed in Bay Area dating dynamics and id highly recommend for other busy professionals looking for feedback

Alison helped me to crack several issues I was facing, in a constructive and collaborative way…read more She's amazing! Highly recommend!

Diana has been an incredible therapist and guide for me. With knowledge and patience, Diana has…read morehelped me navigate several life changes and given me the opportunity to better understand my body, my needs, and my specific challenges. I am grateful and thankful to Diana for the mirror she holds up for me and her delicate yet direct delivery. If you're willing to do the work, Diana will help you.

Diana has been great for me. I originally started with her to deal with my history of sexual…read moreabuse/trauma. We have progressed to other parts of my life as well. She is very insightful and patient and I feel I have made progress in my emotional health.

Daniela is truly amazing. She has changed my life in her teachings. I have achieved an inner calm I…read morehaven't had for a long time. This allows me to be fully engaged in my sexual relationship with my wife. It's never been better. Her teachings about life are impactful. Her expertise covers all aspects of sexual health for every individual, no matter what the identity. It's a good thing when discussing private sexual matters. You will love her.

The work my partner and I did with Daniela was profound. We were in a pivotal point in our…read morerelationship, one where we were really questioning if we should even be together. Constant arguing, constant triggering, constant annoyances. We couldn't seem to find a balance for months, and both of us were fed up with it all and ready to throw in the towel. Daniela helped us find clarity: Did we really want to breakup? She helped us find solid ground. She helped us see each other's inner child needing to be loved by ourselves. She helped us see and hear each other in new ways. In only a few sessions, she gave us hope. I definitely recommend working with Daniela. Whether you're having relationship "problems" or you just want to have better communication and sex, Daniela ought to be your go-to relationship coach.

Gosh, how do I YELP an awesome therapist!?…read more Larry is an incredibly compassionate person that also happens to be a therapist. Perhaps that's the "secret sauce." Talking to Larry is always non-threatening and you're sure to feel safe talking about those not-so-pleasant things that brings you to a therapist's office in the first place. Larry listens to you as a real person and the dialogue is never sterile or cold. Larry's therapy style is traditional, yet genuinely warm and caring. I can personally say that my life has dramatically changed since I started working with him. Larry always encouraged me to teach...something I never thought of doing. Guess what? I began teaching in my field of interest and I am pursuing Master level credentials. Goals are now becoming realities. I can't say enough good things about Larry. My only regret - someone beat me at being the first to YELP him here :)

I'm pretty sure the two reviewers before me have covered all the bases you need to know…read more Larry helped me through an extremely trying part of my life, and did so with a grace, compassion, and understanding that I think very few human beings could muster. And, not coincidentally, I think he really enjoys his work. If you need help with something, this should be your guy.