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Gavin HamnettMS, LMHC
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Your body is telling you something

Somatic therapy for adults in New York who feel anxiety in the chest, jaw, and gut.

Request a free consultation
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Who This Is For

Anxiety isn't only in your head. For many people it shows up first in the body: a chest that won't loosen, a jaw clenched by midafternoon, a stomach in knots before a meeting, shallow breath you only notice when you sigh.

If you have physical symptoms that worry you, please see a doctor first to rule out other causes. If you have done that and been told it is stress, you are in the right place. Your body has been working hard to keep you on guard.

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Where People Feel It

  • Chest and breath

    Tightness, a pounding heart, or breath that stays high and shallow.

  • Jaw and shoulders

    Clenching and bracing you don't notice until the end of the day.

  • Stomach

    Knots, nausea, or no appetite when stress runs high.

  • Restlessness

    Bouncing legs, busy hands, and trouble sitting still.

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How I Work With Anxiety in the Body

Instead of trying to make those sensations go away, we get curious about them. With Hakomi and somatic work, you slow down and notice what your body is doing, right there in the session. A tight chest or a clenched jaw often has something to say.

Sometimes it is an old message, like "stay alert" or "don't let anyone see." When we can feel that message instead of only thinking about it, the body often begins to settle. Psychodynamic work helps us understand where the message came from in the first place.

More about my approach
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What Sessions Look Like

  1. A free phone call

    A complimentary 20 minute phone consultation to talk about what you are feeling and how I work.

  2. A steady rhythm

    55 minute sessions, weekly or every two weeks, in Rhinebeck, Hudson, or by telehealth in New York.

  3. Short, gentle pauses

    We stop now and then to notice your breath and body, always at your pace.

What Can Shift

What I hope for is a body that feels like home again: breath that drops low on its own, shoulders that come down, and room to feel what you feel without bracing against it.

Over time, the noticing we practice together becomes something you can do on your own, in the car, at your desk, or lying awake at night.

Rates in Brief

Sessions are $160 for 55 minutes. The first step is a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation.

Rates
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Questions People Ask

Do I need to be good at meditation?

No. We start small, with a few moments of noticing. There is nothing to get right.

What if focusing on my body makes me more anxious?

That happens for some people. We go slowly, and you can always shift your attention back to the room or to talking.

Will we still talk?

Yes. We talk, and the noticing weaves through the conversation in short moments.

Can this work by telehealth?

Yes. You are the one noticing what happens inside, so it works well on screen for adults anywhere in New York State.

Related Pages

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Start With a Free Consultation

Send me a short message and I'll set up a free 20 minute phone call.

Request a free consultation (845) 532-8336