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.
Request a free consultation
A place to begin
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
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
A slower, more attuned way of listening.
We start with what’s here.
We notice what is happening in your body, emotions, and relationships 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.
Artwork by Eli
My approach
Therapy shaped by what is happening now.
Our work is collaborative, experiential, and responsive to you—not a fixed sequence of techniques. 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.
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 own experience of what becomes possible when we are met just as we are.
I came to relational somatic work through my own healing experiences. I remain committed to ongoing 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. These relationships bring me presence and belonging, and they shape the way I listen.
Experience and perspective
Training matters. So does what shapes the work.
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
Fees
Clear information before we begin.
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.
Get in touch
Let’s start with a conversation.
Reach out to request a free 20-minute consultation.
Request a consultation
Body-based, relational therapy for deep feelers, highly sensitive people, and those who feel like they're "too much," "not enough," or somehow need to be different in order to belong.
Therapy with Eli
I have received training in:
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
Contemporary and traditional practices of working with non-ordinary states of consciousness
Creative arts practices
Mindfulness and meditation
The living world as a teacher
I specialize in working with:
Queer, trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people
Trauma
Attachment and relational healing
Grief
Shame
Anxiety and depression
Integrating psychedelic and spiritual experiences
How will we work
We'll follow what's happening in your body, emotions, and our relationship as it unfolds. Sessions may include mindfulness, experiential exercises, and- when clinically appropriate, clearly discussed, and mutually agreed upon- relational touch.
What we'll explore
Together, we'll become curious about emotions, sensations, protective parts, and ways of relating that have helped you survive. Understanding these experiences often creates new possibilities for choice, connection, and healing.
What becomes possible
Our work may support you in feeling more at home in your body, understanding long-standing patterns, navigating the impact of trauma, strengthening relationships, and cultivating authenticity, belonging, and self-trust and compassion.
About Me
I came into this work after having my own healing experiences in therapy, especially with more relational somatic approaches. I am committed to doing my ongoing healing work and pursuing training that will benefit me and the people I hold and support.
My work is informed by almost 20 years of experience in community mental health and harm reduction. These experiences continue to show me what becomes possible when we are met just as we are.
Outside the therapy room, you'll often find me playing music, spending time with animals, or wandering through neighborhoods as well as the natural world. As a lifelong lover of both music and animals, they bring me presence and a sense of belonging. They have shaped who I am as a person and, in turn, the way I listen to and understand others. While our process together is always guided by your needs, there are times when my relationship with music and animals naturally informs my work.
My Approach
Request a free consultation.
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