OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Therapy for people who feel deeply.
Relational, body-based therapy for people who want more room to be themselves in their bodies, relationships, and lives.
You don’t need to become less sensitive, less complex, or less yourself in order to belong.
You’re welcome here
You may already know exactly what you want to explore, or you may have a longing that’s difficult to identify. We can start from either place.
People I often work with
Queer, trans, nonbinary, and other gender-expansive people
Deep feelers and highly sensitive people
Frontline workers and others in high-trauma helping professions
People integrating psychedelic or spiritual experiences
Anyone seeking a more authentic sense of belonging
Folx who feel they are "too much” or “not enough”
What we can explore together
Trauma and attachment
Grief and shame
Anxiety and depression
Relationships, boundaries, and self-trust
What our work can feel like
We start with what’s here.
We notice what is happening in the body, emotions, and the relational field between us in the present moment without rushing to change it.
We get curious together.
We make space for the protective responses and patterns that helped you survive, meeting them with care rather than judgment.
New choices can emerge.
As there is more room to feel and understand what is happening, new possibilities for connection, self-trust, and belonging can take shape.
ABOUT ME
I’m Eli
they/them
My work is grounded in nearly 20 years of experience in community mental health and harm reduction, as well as my lived experience as a transgender person.
I come to this practice through my own healing work. One of the most profound healing moments for me was being held by my Relational Somatic Healing teacher and feeling what is possible when we are met just as we are.
I remain committed to ongoing social justice and personal work and to training that deepens how I can hold and support the people I work with.
I grew up in the East Bay Area and have lived here my entire life. I really enjoy the intersection of the city and nature provided here and feel so lucky to live here.
Outside the therapy room, you’ll often find me playing music, spending time with animals, or wandering through neighborhoods and the natural world.
My Approach
Our work is collaborative and experiential. We may slow down and notice body sensations, emotions, protective impulses, and what happens in the relationship between us.
Relational Somatic Healing treats both the body and the therapeutic relationship as sources of information and support. With time and care, old patterns can become easier to understand and new choices can become possible.
We work at your pace, with attention to boundaries, consent, and what feels genuinely useful. When clinically appropriate, clearly discussed, and mutually agreed upon, sessions may include relational touch.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
KAP may also be available as part of our work when it is an appropriate fit. We can talk together about your questions and whether this approach belongs in your care.
Experience and Perspective
Formal training
Relational Somatic Healing (RSH)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
My work is also informed by
Community mental health
Harm reduction
Kink, BDSM, power exchange, and consent
Queer, trans, feminist, and collective liberation frameworks
Work with non-ordinary states of consciousness
Creative arts practices
Mindfulness and meditation
The living world as a teacher
Session fee
My full fee for a 55-minute session is $225.
I do offer a limited number of sliding scale slots in my practice. If you are interested in beginning therapy with me and are concerned about cost, please let me know during our consultation so we can discuss this.
Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the No Surprises Act, effective January 1, 2022, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical services, including psychotherapy. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency services.
My Rates
GET IN TOUCH
Please feel free to complete the form below, or reach out by email, text, or phone. I’ll contact you personally to find a time for a free 20-minute consultation.
Email: elibenway@proton.me
Phone: 510-519-7616
Office Location:
431 30th Street 210-D
Oakland, CA 94109
Operating on unceded Lisjan Ohlone land;click to learn about the Shuumi Land Tax