Online Somatic Therapy in Oakland, CA
Body-centered therapy for LGBTQ+ adults, with affirming couples therapy for queer and trans partners.
Sometimes you understand why you feel stressed, but that understanding does not help your shoulders relax or your mind settle. Sometimes the same tension follows you into conversations with people you love.
I am Laura Grossman, a queer therapist and licensed marriage and family therapist who lives in Oakland. My practice is based in Berkeley, and I offer online somatic therapy and couples therapy to adults throughout California.
Together, we pay attention to your thoughts, your physical experience, and the relationships that matter to you. You do not need special vocabulary or a clear plan. We can begin with what you notice.
Somatic Therapy in Oakland for Queer and Trans Adults
Somatic therapy explores how stress and emotions show up in your body. Alongside talking about your experiences, we might notice your breathing, a tight jaw, a restless feeling, or the moment you begin to go quiet.
For queer and trans adults, staying alert to other people's reactions can become familiar. You may feel comfortable with friends but guarded around family. You may have found community in Oakland and still feel exhausted by deciding how much of yourself to share.
There is room for that complexity here. We can explore what helps you feel more grounded, recognize your needs, and respond with greater choice.
What somatic therapy can help you explore
Anxiety, ongoing stress, and difficulty settling
Feeling numb or disconnected from your body
Overwhelm, burnout, and emotional exhaustion
Responses to trauma, discrimination, or rejection
Boundaries and recognizing what you need
Physical tension that appears during conflict
You do not have to feel comfortable focusing on your body right away. We start gently, and you decide what feels manageable.
What sessions look like
My approach draws on my training in Somatic Experiencing. We work with your consent and at your pace.
During a session, we might pause when a difficult subject comes up and notice what changes. Perhaps your chest tightens or you want to pull away. We can stay curious about that response without forcing you to push through it.
We may also practice grounding, notice what helps you settle, or explore how physical responses connect with patterns in your life. Talking remains part of the work. Some sessions focus more on feelings and relationships; others include more attention to sensation.
LGBTQ+ Couples Therapy in Oakland
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Relationships can hold love and frustration at the same time. Maybe one of you wants to keep talking while the other needs distance. Maybe conversations about trust, intimacy, or responsibilities end before either person feels heard.
I offer online couples therapy for Oakland partners, including queer, trans, polyamorous, and ethically non-monogamous relationships.
Together, we can work on:
Recurring arguments and communication difficulties
Rebuilding trust after hurt or betrayal
Intimacy, emotional connection, and different needs
Gender transition or changes in identity
Boundaries and relationship agreements
Parenthood, grief, and other major transitions
My training includes the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy for queer couples. In sessions, we slow down difficult conversations, explore the feelings beneath protective reactions, and practice expressing needs more clearly.
Your relationship does not need to follow a traditional structure. We work toward agreements and ways of connecting that respect the people involved.
You can also explore relationship patterns individually if your partner is not ready to attend.
Laura Grossman, LMFT #134820
Meet Laura Grossman, LMFT
I bring more than ten years of experience in the industry, and an approach grounded in compassion, curiosity, and collaboration. My training includes somatic work, group therapy, and couples therapy.
As a queer-identifying therapist living in Oakland, I value care that welcomes your identity and makes space for your everyday concerns. Therapy can hold joy, uncertainty, grief, and the parts you are still figuring out.
How Online Therapy Works
All sessions take place through a secure video platform. You can attend from a private space without adding a commute across Oakland or the East Bay.
Individual sessions are 50 minutes, and couples sessions are 70 minutes. We meet weekly at a consistent time.
You will need reliable internet and a place where you can speak without being overheard. Everyone participating must be physically located in California during sessions.
We begin with a free 20-minute phone consultation to discuss your needs, answer questions, and explore whether we are a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. We can notice sensations, explore responses to stress, and practice grounding through video sessions. You do not need previous experience with somatic work.
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No. Partners can live elsewhere, but both must be physically located in California during each appointment.
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Yes. I support partners across a spectrum of relationship structures. We can explore communication, jealousy, boundaries, trust, and agreements that reflect your relationship.
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I do not accept insurance. I provide monthly statements you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Check your benefits with your insurer.
Begin Therapy in Oakland
Whether you want support for yourself or your relationship, you can start with a conversation.