Hi! I’m Helena Teply-Figman. I am a trauma-skilled massage therapist and bodyworker in Berkeley, CA.
Living life through the body and serving as a guide for others on this path is my passion. Few things light me up more than witnessing someone discover more helpful or enjoyable ways of moving or feeling in their body, gaining confidence in their own experience, and growing their capacity to navigate life’s twists and turns with greater resilience, skills, knowledge, and self-compassion.
My special interests are working with early attachment rupture and repair, complex trauma, co-regulation, HSPs (highly sensitive people), and the physical manifestations of persistent stress and unresolved trauma. The work we do can compliment or even enhance with the work you might be doing with a therapist or Somatic Experiencing practitioner who cannot provide hands-on touch.
I have served clients for over a decade and have provided over 2,500 in-person sessions. I have completed the Touch Skills for Trauma training, as well as two of the three modules for Somatic Resilience and Regulation. Currently, I am enrolled in the three-year Somatic Experiencing professional training program (anticipated completion in 2025) and have completed the first two modules. Additionally, I have spent several years studying Ortho-Bionomy, and was a professional contemporary dancer and arts administrator in New York City for many years prior.
My approach has been described as gentle, attuned, skilled, playful, and unique. I mainly work with adults, but will consider working with children and teens with parental/caregiver involvement. I aim to make my space safe and available to all gender expressions, sexual orientations and body types. Online sessions/consultations are an option as appropriate.
To schedule your first visit, please fill out the form below, or email me and let me know a little about yourself and why you’re seeking my support at this time. I’m happy to make time for a short, free phone/video call to determine a good fit.
I look forward to connecting!
