MA in Clinical Psychology, Somatic Psychotherapy

Somatic Approach: Connecting the body, mind, and emotions in psychotherapy.

Antioch University Santa Barbara’s MA in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy prepares you to become a licensed MFT with specialization in the leading-edge holistic approach of somatics. Somatic psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach embracing the interconnection between the body, emotions, cognition, and sense of self. It is applied in the treatment of psychological and physical responses to trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders, as well as in responding to a vast range of life issues including depression, anxiety, and attachment disorders. Somatic approaches draw from scientific evidence that feeling, sensation, expression, movement, and emotions are embodied through the course of development, in patterns impacting how we function including how we relate to ourselves and others.

Through an exploration of what is embodied, including body sensation, posture, and expression, somatic psychotherapists help clients explore and shift patterns to alleviate symptoms of trauma and stress to enhance well-being. As the demand for training and specialization in somatic therapy has increased, graduates of AUSB’s Somatic Psychotherapy programs acquire applied tools for integrating traditional and contemporary psychological perspectives with cutting-edge somatic approaches.

This degree is offered by AU Santa Barbara and is open to students across the AU system who are able to complete the Concentration with a 9th quarter-one day a week, ten-week residency in Santa Barbara.

Expert Faculty

AUSB’s Somatic Psychotherapy programs are taught by faculty who are well-respected experts in the field of somatic therapy and other holistic therapeutic approaches. Students will learn from active professionals who are thought leaders, teachers, and practitioners with decades of experience.

• Shira Musicant, LMFT, has been practicing as a somatic therapist for more than 30 years. In addition to training in dance/movement therapy (BC-DMT) and somatic experiencing (SEP), she has studied Hakomi with Dr. Ron Kurtz and is a Level II practitioner of sensorimotor psychotherapy. Her approach as a therapist is informed by more than 35 years of studying and teaching authentic movement and process-oriented EMDR.
• Nicole Heinrich, MA, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 25 years’ experience working with individuals, couples, and groups, with private practices in San Francisco and Santa Cruz. She holds a master’s degree in Somatic Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and has extensive experience integrating somatic, mindful, trauma-informed, and relational approaches.
• Victoria Stevens, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, researcher, and educator, with specialized certifications in hypnosis and the treatment of victims and perpetrators of violent crimes. She studied interpersonal affective neurobiology with Allan Schore for more than a decade and is a founding faculty member of the California Institute of the Arts Teaching Artist Training Program.
• Timothy Tillman, MA, CHT, holds a BS in physical therapy and an MA in clinical and somatic psychology and is a certified Hakomi Therapist and Trainer. He taught at the Hakomi Institute and the Hakomi Educational Network and was a somatic educator for the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Co-Founder of Inspiratia, a somatic-based non-profit organization, and Founder of FireTenders Men’s Movement, he currently leads therapy intensives and workshops on the west coast.
• Elizabeth Wolfson, PhD, has been a psychotherapist in private practice for over three decades working with individuals, couples, families, and groups from a holistic perspective integrating mind, body, and spirit. She is Interim Chair and Core Faculty, as well as Director of Somatic Specializations, in the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program at Antioch University Santa Barbara.

Master’s Program Overview

“For real change to take place, the body needs to learn that the danger has passed and to live in the reality of the present.” – Bessel Van der Kolk

Antioch University Santa Barbara’s MA in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy dives deep into this unique psychological approach to the self through an integrated body-mind lens while teaching practical skills that can be applied within various theoretical modalities and populations.

Our educational model is highly experiential, delivered through a combination of lectures, group exercises, interactive role-play, audio-visual, and readings, bringing together historical and current theoretical models with state-of-the-art professional experiential training.

The concentration is offered through 6 courses over a 10 week period (including one weekend and one online course), for a total of 15 units. Students currently in the AUSB MA in Clinical Psychology program, who have completed 8 quarters, can enroll in a 9^th quarter to fulfill requirements for the concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for the MA in Clinical Psychology, concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy

• Students in the MACP concentrations in Latinx Mental Health and Healthy Aging are also eligible for the concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy by extending the program one extra quarter. These students will receive an MA in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy and Healthy Aging, or Somatic Psychotherapy and Latinx Mental Health.
• All graduates of the MA in Clinical Psychology program meet the educational requirements for California licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

Courses

The MACP concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy can be completed over 10 weeks with the following course requirements (total 12 units):

• Introduction to Theories and Techniques of Somatic Psychotherapy (3 units)
• Somatic Approaches to Trauma and PTSD (3 Units)
• Movement, Mindfulness, and the Expressive Arts in Somatic Psychotherapy (hybrid: two Saturdays plus online modules, 3 units)
• Practicum – Somatic Psychotherapy Consultation (3 Units)

The courses will be offered in a laboratory-style, experiential learning environment, combining theoretical learning with bodywork including movement and demonstration of somatic practice.

Admissions

Application Deadlines

AUSB practices rolling admission. Completed applications are reviewed on an on-going basis and admission decisions are provided promptly. The Priority Deadline guarantees priority consideration for specific financial aid programs and scholarships, as well as the earliest decision notification. International applicants are encouraged to apply by the Priority Deadline.

Application Requirements

How to Apply

For the MACP concentration in Somatic Psychotherapy, please see admissions information for the MA in Clinical Psychology.