Questions & Answers

Somatic work is a body-based and nervous-system-informed approach to emotional wellbeing, stress support, embodiment, self-awareness, and personal growth.

Rather than focusing only on thoughts or behaviors, somatic work also explores how stress, overwhelm, grief, emotional patterns, and life experiences are carried within the body and nervous system.

This work often helps individuals better understand:

• stress physiology
• emotional overwhelm
• nervous system responses
• embodiment and body awareness
• regulation and grounding

Sessions are supportive, reflective, educational, and practical in nature.

Clients often seek support for:

• burnout and chronic stress
• ADHD-related overwhelm
• grief and emotional pain
• fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood transitions
• highly sensitive nervous systems
• chronic illness and health challenges
• relationship stress and life transitions
• emotional exhaustion and nervous system dysregulation

Some clients arrive with a very specific goal or challenge, while others simply know they no longer want to continue functioning in survival mode alone.

No.

This work is coaching and educational support in nature and is not psychotherapy, medical treatment, crisis care, or mental health treatment.

If you are seeking licensed psychotherapy, psychiatric care, diagnosis, or crisis services, I encourage connecting with appropriately licensed providers in your area.

Yes. Virtual sessions are available for clients both within and outside California, including international clients where appropriate.

Because this work is coaching and educational support rather than psychotherapy, many individuals are able to participate virtually regardless of location.

If you are located outside the United States, you are welcome to inquire about availability and fit.

Sessions are collaborative, grounded, and individualized.

Some sessions are more reflective and conversational, while others may include grounding practices, nervous system education, embodiment exercises, emotional processing support, or practical tools for daily life.

There is no expectation to perform, explain yourself perfectly, or arrive with everything figured out. The work is designed to move at a pace that feels supportive, steady, and emotionally safe.

Many clients describe sessions as feeling calming, clarifying, emotionally relieving, grounding, or deeply human.

Emotional experiences are a natural part of being human, especially during periods of stress, grief, overwhelm, transition, or healing.

There is no expectation to remain perfectly composed during sessions. Clients are welcome to arrive exactly as they are.

Part of this work involves creating space where emotions, nervous system responses, vulnerability, uncertainty, and overwhelm can be approached with compassion rather than shame or pressure.

Individual Sessions
50 minutes

Couples & Family Sessions
75 minutes

Session length is designed to allow space for meaningful reflection, nervous system support, emotional processing, and integration without feeling rushed or overwhelming.

Sessions are available both in person for local clients and virtually through secure online appointments.

I work from a small private practice setting in Bakersfield, California. Location details for in-person sessions are shared directly with scheduled clients in order to maintain a grounded and confidential practice environment.

Virtual sessions are available for clients outside the local practice region and are designed to feel personal, connected, and supportive.

For local clients, sessions may sometimes alternate between in-person and virtual depending on scheduling, illness, travel, caregiving demands, or other life circumstances.

Flexibility is encouraged whenever possible in order to support sustainability and accessibility.

Virtual sessions are conducted through Zoom using secure online meeting links sent prior to appointments.

Clients are encouraged to join sessions from a quiet, comfortable, and private space whenever possible so the experience can feel more grounded and supportive.

Payments are processed electronically at the time of session unless other arrangements have been discussed in advance.

Invoices, receipts, payment information, and scheduling details are managed through the client portal to help the process feel organized, secure, and simple.

Individual Sessions
$180 / 50-minute session

Couples & Family Sessions
$220 / 75-minute session

Reduced package pricing is available for clients seeking more consistent ongoing support.

A limited number of sliding scale openings are also reserved for individuals, couples, or families experiencing financial hardship.

Packages are designed to support greater consistency, integration, nervous system support, and meaningful change over time.

Many clients find that ongoing work allows space for deeper awareness, steadiness, embodiment, and emotional support in ways that are difficult to access through isolated sessions alone.

Current package options include:

• Single Session Support
• 6-Session Grounding Package
• 12-Session Deep Support Package

Packages may be scheduled weekly, biweekly, or according to individual needs and availability.

Appointments canceled at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for refund or rescheduling.

Appointments canceled with less than 48 hours notice are generally nonrefundable except in emergencies or special circumstances.

This policy helps protect reserved session times and supports the sustainability of the practice.

Unused prepaid package sessions may be refunded according to the discounted session rate associated with the package rather than the full individual session rate.

Package pricing reflects reduced rates for clients committing to ongoing support over time.

Refund requests are handled thoughtfully and individually whenever possible.

Clients are able to securely access and download:

• intake paperwork
• coaching agreements and contracts
• privacy policies
• invoices and receipts
• scheduling information
• additional practice documents

through the client portal.

The portal is designed to help the process feel organized, simple, and accessible.

Clients may contact Dr. Rice through phone or email for scheduling, logistical questions, records requests, or administrative communication.

Email communication is intentionally limited primarily to scheduling, forms, records, and practice-related logistics rather than ongoing emotional processing or coaching support between sessions.

This helps maintain healthy boundaries, emotional clarity, and sustainable care.

Some package options may include limited check-in support or brief email communication related to integration, scheduling, or practice logistics.

More in-depth emotional processing and support are reserved for scheduled sessions whenever possible.

Protecting client privacy and creating a safe, respectful environment is deeply important to this practice.

Client information, records, agreements, and communications are handled thoughtfully and securely through the client portal and practice systems.

While coaching is not governed by psychotherapy confidentiality laws in the same way licensed therapy is, maintaining privacy, discretion, and ethical care remains a core value of the practice.

A limited number of sliding scale openings are reserved for individuals, couples, or families experiencing financial hardship or significant life circumstances.

Availability varies and is not always guaranteed, though individuals are always welcome to inquire.

This practice does not currently bill insurance.

Sessions are offered as private-pay coaching and supportive services.

This practice is not centered around any specific religious tradition or spiritual belief system.

Clients from diverse backgrounds, identities, beliefs, and life experiences are welcome.

At times, conversations around meaning, identity, spirituality, values, or personal growth may naturally emerge depending on each individual's experiences and interests, but the work itself remains grounded, client-centered, and supportive rather than prescriptive.

Not at all.

Many clients are completely new to somatic or nervous-system-informed work when they begin. Sessions are designed to feel approachable, collaborative, and supportive regardless of prior experience.

There is no "right way" to begin this work.

This depends on each individual's goals, needs, finances, nervous system capacity, and season of life.

Some clients prefer weekly support, while others meet biweekly or periodically during especially stressful or transitional seasons.

Together, we determine a rhythm that feels supportive and sustainable.

That is completely understandable.

Beginning support often requires vulnerability, especially for individuals who are used to carrying difficult things alone or functioning in survival mode for long periods of time.

You are not expected to arrive perfectly prepared or emotionally polished. Much of this work begins simply through creating space to slow down, feel supported, and reconnect with yourself more compassionately.

That is completely okay.

Many people reach out before fully understanding exactly what they need. Often, the first step is simply recognizing that something feels unsustainable, overwhelming, emotionally heavy, or disconnected.

Consultation calls are designed to provide a gentle starting place where we can explore what support may feel most aligned for your current season of life.

New clients do not need to book a consultation first. If you are ready to begin somatic work with Dr. Rice, you may schedule your first appointment directly from the client portal.