Sarah Dunn, ASW
Somatic Therapist
Encino, Beverly Hills & West LA, California & Online
Highly Sensitive Person
Complex Trauma
Neurodivegence (incl. ADHD & Autism)
Somatic Experiencing, IFS, Narrative
Previously writer and yoga teacher
My specialities
I specialize in somatic & mindfulness-based therapies to help clients reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, & heal the effects of trauma and chronic stress.
I work with individuals on a range of issues including:
Anxiety
CPTSD/ Complex Trauma
Neurodiversity
Burnout
Grief
Codependency
Depression
LGBTQ+
Highly Sensitive People
Therapy with me
My goal is to create a safe space where meaningful change is possible. My style is warm, attuned, grounded and relational. I believe that healing happens when clients are empowered to reconnect with their inner wisdom. Together, we work to reduce shame, build self-trust, and gently untangle the patterns shaped by trauma. I draw on somatic experiencing, parts-based and expressive approaches to support healing and stabilizing your nervous system. Clients often share that our work has helped create safety in their bodies, connection in their relationships, and trust in themselves.
“Years of talk therapy made me aware of my problems and triggers, but nothing was changing in those bodily moments. I already knew the why, somatic therapy finally gave me the how”
My background
I am trained in Somatic Experiencing, which focuses on how the nervous system responds to complex trauma and stress. I am especially drawn to work that honors the connection between emotional life, the body, and early relational experiences. I hold a credential in Human–Animal–Environment Interactions from the University of Denver and have worked with animals in psychotherapeutic settings.
Alongside my clinical training, I come from a long professional background in writing and creative work. That foundation influences how I listen for meaning, support expression beyond words, and help clients tell their stories with greater clarity and compassion. I have been a registered yoga teacher for over a decade and have spent many years abroad. In my free time, I love to hike, paint, connect with nature, or dive into a new craft.
Training
BA, New York University
MSW, University of Denver - Concentration in Trauma
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner - Advanced Year
Human, Animal and Environment Interactions, University of Denver
Registered Yoga Teacher, Marianna Wells Yoga Academy
Registered Associate Social Worker #135484
Supervised by: Paulina Padilla, LCSW #61768
Treatment approach
I teach practices that support your nervous system to move toward regulation, or homeostatic balance. These practices teach you how to be with challenging sensations, allowing energy to shift and release, rather than accumulate in your body. Over time, your window of tolerance expands so that your nervous system naturally spends more time in parasympathetic, or “rest and digest,” rather than being stuck in the sympathetic or “fight or flight” as you move through the world .
In the process, I help you to unburden the original traumas that live on as hypersensitivity to threat. To do this, we need to meet and befriend the protective parts that over or under react to present situations. With more understanding and acceptance, these parts calm down and start to work together as a team, helping you to become more responsive and vital.
I help you build a personalized tool-kit to manage your symptoms going forward. When you stop fearing your symptoms they lose power over you and they begin to fade. Clients often report forgetting about symptoms as their life comes back into the foreground.
Services and fees
I offer in-person and online sessions for:
Individuals $150 (50-minute session)
Couples $200 (50-minute session)
Teens $200 (50-minute session)