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The Psychotherapist Association for
Gender & Sexual Diversity
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Courtenay Houk

 

Member profile details

First name
Courtenay
Last name
Houk
Organization
Courtenay Houk Somatic Therapy
 

User photo

Member userpic
 

Background

Welcome
Welcome! I am so glad you are here.

As a somatic therapist that works with couples and individuals, I am deeply relational, affirming, challenging, somewhat directive, and have a sense of humor.

My approach to therapy begins with growing a relational foundation of trust, meeting you wherever you are, and as I get to know you, incorporating a body-based somatic-emotional exercise tailored to your experience. Over time, this exercise can support you from engaging in unconscious behaviors and patterns, to consciously exploring different possibilities that you are happier with. The simple yet effective exercise, also called voluntary-muscular-effort (VME), can be practiced outside of therapy.

Somatic therapy is a relational modality that is informed by the body's innate intelligence and plasticity (capacity to grow and change). Engaging in somatic therapy means doing the hard work of getting to know yourself, or in the case of couples and relationship work, getting to know your relationship. My job is to support, nurture, and guide this process.

My somatic and relational approach to psychotherapy, integrates Formative Psychology and Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT, Level 2) as my primary frameworks. I earned my clinical MA degree in Somatic Psychotherapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco and received my clinical training at the Center for Somatic Psychotherapy.
Currently accepting new clients?
Yes
 

Telehealth (for Referral/Org. members only)

Telehealth: primary state
California
 

Main Office

Work phone
415-360-1991
Office #1: Address
1030 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Suite 100, Room 3
Office #1: City
Kentfield
Office #1: State
CA
Office #1: Zip
94904
Office #1: Disability access?
Yes
Office #1: Disability details
Wheelchair accessible from the back parking lot and grab-bars in the public bathrooms (hallway) for support.
Office hours
Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 6:00pm
 

Demographic info (optional).

Pronouns
  • she/her/hers
  • they/them/their
Gender
  • Female
Sexual orientation
  • Queer
  • Bisexual
Ethnicity
  • White/Euro American
 

Credentials (required)

Prof. degree
  • MA
  • PhD (in prog)
Prof. degree concentration
  • Counseling/Psychology
  • Marriage/Family Therapy
  • Somatic Psychotherapy
Year degree obtained
2020
Educational institution
California Institute of Integral Studies
License type
  • LMFT
Year originally licensed
2024
License number
147820
License expiration date
July 31, 2026
 

Background and practice info

Theoretical approaches to my work
  • Client Centered / Person-Centered
  • Developmental
  • Holistic
  • Relational
  • Somatic
Clinical techniques
  • Somatics
Clinical specializations
  • ACA / Codependence
  • Adolescents
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Bisexual Issues
  • Couples / Relationships
  • Ethnic or Cultural Issues
  • Families: Alternative
  • Gender Diverse / Trans / Non Binary
  • Grief / Loss / Dying
  • Polyamory / Non-Monogamy
  • Pre-Marital Counseling
  • PTSD
  • Self Esteem
  • Sexuality
Specialized populations
Some of my specialty areas and populations include...

Anxiety
Attachment and relationship issues
Boundaries
Communication
Couples and Relationships (poly-affirming)
People-pleasers
Self-criticism
Growth and self-discovery

...see my website for more.
Types of therapy
  • Couples / Relationship / Marriage Therapy or Counseling
  • Distance Therapy (Phone or Internet-based)
  • Individual Therapy
  • Long-Term Therapy
Languages (used in therapy)
  • English
Client ages
  • Teens / Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Elders
Sliding scale
No
Low fee
No
Insurance info
I am an out-of-network provider and would be happy to provide you with a super bill (a detailed receipt for services) to submit to your insurance for reimbursement for "out-of-network" mental health services.
Available 24 hrs?
No