About me, Anya

What inspires me to do this work?

Dealing with sex and relationship issues can often feel incredibly painful and isolating. Throughout my life, I heard and believed, “Everyone will eventually leave you.” I struggled deeply with emotional dysregulation, feeling unlovable, and self-disconnection. My breaking point came after a sexual assault—I could no longer bear the weight of the pain and knew there had to be more to life than merely surviving. After a five-year healing journey, I live a deeply satisfying life filled with love, pleasure, and connection. 

Now, I see many people settling for less than their desires or simply trying to survives. As sex and relationship coaching transformed my life, I believe it can do the same for others.

Who am I?

I grew up bi-culturally in Sweden and California, and I have lived in Spain. From experiencing several cultures, I developed a fascination for learning about and connecting with others. When not coaching, I love to bike, ski, run, travel, backpack, dance salsa, practice yoga, and paint.

What is my background in the field?

I am a trained relationship, sex, and intimacy coach through Somatica® Institute. I graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a BA in Psychology. I am also a certified yoga teacher. For several years, I taught sex education and conducted human sexuality research. I also worked at a sex toy store and have taken Non-Violent Communication courses.

What makes coaching different than therapy?

Traditional therapeutic approaches often prove helpful, especially for those with heavy, unresolved trauma or higher levels of dysfunction. However, regarding sex and intimacy, talk therapy has limitations.

I use the Somatica® Method, a powerful framework for addressing sex, intimacy, and relationship problems. Instead of just talking about the problem, we can actively practice intimacy, attachment, and presence in session to help you build skills to incorporate into your everyday life. This can allow for more rapid self-actualization, growth, and healing.

FAQs

    • Meetings with clients only happen during session times – I will not meet with my clients outside of sessions.

    • Clients and the practitioner remain fully clothed during sessions.

    • Having explicit verbal consent consistently throughout the session, especially when touch is involved.

  • Overcome shame related to sexual desires and fantasies.

    Address causes of low libido, such as emotional distance, resentment, trauma, stress, and poor self-image.

    Learn to relax and enjoy sexual pleasure.

    Resolve sexual dysfunctions.

    Understand sexual dimensions and identify core desires.

    Enhance communication and consent skills.

    Set and respect personal boundaries.

    Develop foreplay and seduction skills, including erotic talk and touch.

    Handle differing sexual desires in relationships.

    Heal from sexual trauma.

    Discuss safe sex practices and reduce stigma around STDs.

    Embrace sexual or gender identity.

    Improve dating skills, including online dating.

    Address sex and porn addiction concerns.

    Navigate ethical non-monogamy and relationship structures.

    Explore kink, BDSM, and fetishes.

    See the Somatica Website for more.

  • The Somatica Method® is grounded in both emotional and sensual connections. It merges conversational coaching with practical exercises, enabling the coach and client to broaden their understanding and capabilities in intimacy. This strategy is essential for altering existing patterns, discovering one's authentic identity, and achieving a more satisfying sexual life and deeper connections.

    Traditional dialogue-focused therapy alone is insufficient for breaking free from the sexual or relationship habits ingrained over a lifetime. Lasting transformation requires recognizing and modifying routine behaviors. By engaging in an experiential and embodied approach, the Somatica Method® often proves more impactful than mere cognitive strategies.

  • Hands-on and experimental means we can actively practice the skills in session to bring them into the world. For example, we may practice intimacy and relationships in session, like with eye gazing exercises or exchanging erotic energy. Another example is if we are working on understanding our boundaries, we could practice feeling the sensations of a boundary being crossed in real-time, which helps us map ourselves in real life.

    Embodied means bringing one into their own body to notice the sensations and emotions we may be feeling to help increase our ability to connect and foster intimacy. Thus, the Somatica Method often utilizes meditation and mindfulness techniques.