Somatic Psychotherapy San Diego

Brandi Ducote, LMFT, LAADC-CA, SEP

Get to know me

Hello! I'm Brandi Ducote, owner of SPSD. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (license # 87040), Licensed Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LAADC) and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) in the state of California.

I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at San Diego State University and Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy at Alliant International University. I completed my practicum year as a Grief and Bereavement Counselor at San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine from 2011-2012. I then worked for 10+ years in Substance Use Disorder treatment, where I discovered the connection between addictive issues and trauma. In the pursuit of better understanding how to treat trauma, I began training with Somatic Experiencing International in 2019 and became certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) in 2021. I have since fallen in love with somatic therapy and remain active in the Somatic Experiencing community as an assistant in local trainings.

I'm passionate about the work that get to do every day and I enjoy working through a holistic and body-based lens. As someone who has benefitted from therapy personally, I understand the strength and courage it takes to seek help. I aim to create a safe space for you to explore what is most important to you, work through and resolve anything that has been holding you back from achieving your goals.

Services

Individual/Couples/Family Therapy

-Depression, grief/loss, anticipatory grief -Anxiety, panic attacks, perfectionism -Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -Substance abuse, chemical dependency -Anger -Relationship distress -Boundary setting

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Rates & Insurance

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Somatic Experiencing Students

Discounted rates available for SEI students!

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F.A.Q

I specialize in working with older adolescents and adults who struggle with issues related to complex trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, anger, depression, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, grief/loss, perfectionism, substance abuse, and relationship distress.

I enjoy working with individuals of varying backgrounds and abilities, including those who identify as highly sensitive (HSPs), and am LGBTQIA+ friendly.

As we discuss presenting problems and life events that trigger emotional pain, you will be invited to notice any physiological (body-based) responses that occur during the session.

Doing so allows access to the natural survival impulses (fight, flight, freeze) that became thwarted during the original event(s), as well as the survival-based beliefs that were formed in response to the event(s). There is then an opportunity to fully process and complete these survival responses (through the use of movement, vocalization, imagery, boundary exploration exercises, etc.), leading to a discharge/release of any stuck survival energy and a shift in beliefs about the world, self, and others. 
Sessions are typically 50 minutes. 90-minute sessions are also available. Let me know if you are interested in scheduling a 90-minute session.
Life happens! Just let me know that you need to cancel or reschedule a session prior to 24 hours of the scheduled service time, otherwise you will be responsible for the session fee.
Yes! Both in-person and telehealth appointments are available Tuesday through Friday weekly. 
I have extensive experience with both "top-down" and "bottom-up" approaches. I blend Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Attachment Theory and Polyvagal Theory into my work. 
Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented approach to trauma healing. To learn more about SE, here are some helpful resources:

https://traumahealing.org/se-101/

https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/somatic-experiencing 
I am not in network with any insurance providers and will not bill insurance directly. Payment can be made via debit/credit card, Venmo, or cash. If you would like for me to provide a Superbill to submit to your insurance provider for fee reimbursement, please mention it.

Contact

  • 11858 Bernardo Plaza Court, San Diego, CA, USA
  • Suite 210

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