Helping Professionals Interview Series: Somatic Experiencing with Melissa Koch, MA, LPC - Part Two!

Melissa Koch, MA, LPC

Melissa Koch, LPC of Embodied Healing, LLC is a St. Louis therapist utilizing somatic experiencing and EMDR with attachment based therapy.

We originally interviewed Melissa in November 2020 about her work in St. Louis with Somatic Experiencing and Eating Disorders - you can read it here.

Today we caught up with Melissa to learn about how she is currently connecting with clients in St. Louis and how you can connect with her!

What is your favorite thing about being a therapist?

My favorite part of being a therapist is witnessing those quiet but powerful moments when someone reconnects with their inner strength and when a client realizes, “Wait, I’m not broken. I make sense.”

I get to walk alongside deeply feeling, courageous people as they make sense of their story, rewire patterns, and learn to fully inhabit their lives. There’s something sacred about that kind of work. It’s never just a job to me.

What interested you about providing Somatic Experiencing?

I sort of stumbled in Somatic Experiencing (SE). It was suggested by a past employer and after I began my own SE, and the SE training, I fell in love. I have found that this work goes deeper than other forms of talk therapy.

I often see clients come in saying they have tried everything else. It creates long lasting change that clients are searching for. I find this particularly helpful in working with gifted or 2e clients because of the miss attunement they have had in their lives. 

What can people expect from Somatic Experiencing?

Somatic Experiencing is a different form of therapy than talk therapy. It helps someone heal from trauma or chronic stress. It’s a gentle body based approach that can provide deep and long lasting healing. SE helps to regulate the nervous systems and leaves many feeling regulated and grounded after doing this work. 

Could you talk a little about your approach and how it plays into your work with people recovering from anxiety?

Anxiety often goes hand in hand with eating disorders.  When viewing anxiety through a Somatic Experiencing lens, it is another form of internal dysregulation.  SE is great way to reduce anxiety as well as other common diagnoses that come along with eating disorders such as depression and PTSD. 

Do you provide on-line therapy?

I do provide virtual therapy.

What ages do you work with?

18+

Are there times that you would refer a client out?

I would refer a client out if there is not a connection as that’s the best predictor of outcome. Also, if it is out of my scope. 

What do you wish people knew about going to see a therapist?  

I wish people knew that therapy isn’t just for when things are falling apart. It can be a place to deepen self-awareness, improve relationships, and reconnect with your authentic self. Also, it’s completely ok to not know exactly what to say or where to start.

A good therapist will meet you where you are with curiosity, compassion, and zero judgement. You don’t have to carry everything alone and you deserve support that actually fits who you are. 

How can people learn more and contact you?

You can learn more about me and the therapies I use on my website. 

You can also email me or call/text at 314-328-9228.

Curious to learn more about getting treatment for anxiety? Contact Compassionate Counseling St. Louis to set up a free 15-minute phone consult. We’ll talk about what’s going on and best next steps - and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll connect you with other wonderful St. Louis-based therapists, like Melissa!

Curious to learn more about anxiety and anxiety-driven anger? Reach out to us at hello@compassionatecounselingstl.com. As child anxiety experts, we love working with kids, teens, college students and parents to help manage their anxiety, stress, and anger. Compassionate Counseling St. Louis is located in Clayton, MO and works with families by offering both in-person counseling and online therapy throughout Creve Couer, Ballwin, Town and Country, Brentwood, and Ladue. We also provide online therapy Missouri -wide to teens and college students. You can set up your first free consult on this website, on our consultation page.