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Gavin HamnettMS, LMHC
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Two good roads, different starting points

A fair comparison for adults in New York deciding between body based therapy and CBT.

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Who This Is For

If you are looking for help with anxiety, you have probably come across CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, and somatic therapy. They come at the same problem from different directions, and both have helped a lot of people.

I practice somatic work, not CBT, so I want to be fair here. The better fit depends on what you have already tried, how your anxiety shows up, and what kind of work appeals to you.

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How They Differ

  • Starting point

    CBT starts with thoughts and behaviors. Somatic therapy starts with sensations in the body.

  • Structure

    CBT is often structured, with skills to practice between sessions. Somatic work follows what comes up in the moment.

  • What changes

    CBT works on shifting unhelpful thinking. Somatic work helps the body learn that it can settle.

  • Who each suits

    CBT suits people who like clear tools and a plan. Somatic work suits people who understand their anxiety and still feel it.

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How I Work With the Body

In my sessions we talk, and we also slow down and notice what your body does when anxiety rises: the tight chest, the held breath, the restless legs. Using Hakomi and somatic work, we get curious about those sensations instead of arguing with them.

Some people come to me after CBT. They learned useful skills and can catch their anxious thoughts. What they want now is for the feeling underneath to change too. Psychodynamic work helps us understand why the alarm learned to ring so easily.

More about my approach
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What Sessions Look Like

  1. A free phone call

    Tell me what you have tried, and we can talk about whether my approach fits.

  2. Regular sessions

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

  3. Noticing in the room

    Part of each session goes to what your body is doing, at a pace you set.

What Can Shift

There is no single right way to work with anxiety. If CBT sounds like the better fit for you, that is a good choice, and I am glad to talk it through with you.

If you already have the tools and still feel the alarm in your body, somatic work may be the next step worth trying.

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

Can I do both?

Yes. Some people find the two sit well together, with CBT skills alongside body based work.

Is somatic therapy only for trauma?

No. I use it with anxiety, stress, depression, and recovery, anywhere the body is carrying something.

Do you offer CBT?

No. My work is Hakomi, somatic, and psychodynamic. If you want CBT specifically, we can still talk on the phone about what you are looking for.

What if I don't feel much in my body?

That is common at first. We start with small things, like noticing your breath or where you feel tense, and build from there.

Related Pages

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Somatic Therapy

Somatic therapy in Rhinebeck, Hudson, and by telehealth in New York for stress you feel physically.

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Where Anxiety Lives in the Body

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

Read more
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Psychodynamic Therapy vs. CBT

A plain comparison of psychodynamic therapy and CBT, to help you decide which suits you right now.

Read more
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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