What is emotional release?

Emotional release is a process of letting feelings move through you: grieving, crying, expressing anger, or experiencing a wave of energy that moves and releases through your body. It can feel like something you’ve been carrying finally letting go. I combine this work with hands-on bodywork, breath, and speaking feelings out loud.

What does the process look like?

We begin with something that’s present for you—a situation in your life, an emotion, or an area of physical tension. As we work with touch and breath, I help you find words for what you’re feeling and say them out loud. Then we listen to how your body responds.

When the words resonate, you might notice your breath opening, tears coming, a sigh of relief, or heat, anger, or energy beginning to move. We stay with what emerges, giving you space to feel it, express it, and release it. Sometimes that means grieving something you haven’t fully grieved. Sometimes it’s a quieter letting go.

How do I choose what to work with?

You can bring whatever is alive for you: stress at work, a relationship challenge, grief, or a trigger that keeps showing up. It might be something from a dream, a feeling you can’t explain, or tension you notice in your body. Something can also emerge during the session itself. You don’t need to have it figured out beforehand.

Can we include this in any kind of bodywork?

Yes. Emotional release can be part of any session with me—abdominal massage, Rolfing, or custom bodywork focused on particular areas of tension. We work with the physical and emotional aspects together, following what comes forward through touch, breath, and conversation.

Why say the feelings out loud?

Saying a feeling out loud helps us move past what we think we feel and listen to how the body responds. You might not think you feel anger, sadness, or hopelessness—but when you say “I feel sad,” tears come, your breath deepens, or something inside softens.

That response is what we’re listening for: a felt resonance with the words. It can bring you into contact with feelings you hadn’t recognized and open a doorway for them to move and release.

What if feelings, a trigger, or strong reaction come up in response to working with Levi?

Sometimes our work brings up a response to my touch, something I say, or the experience of receiving attention. These are my favorite moments to work with as they are powerful portals to change. You might notice:

• Hesitation to tell me you want something different.

• Irritation at something I say or ask.

• Fear or uneasiness around being touched by me.

• An urge to pull away or shut down.

• Discomfort with being seen in a vulnerable moment.

• Frustration that you don’t know what you’re feeling.

These moments can be powerful opportunities to explore a response while it’s happening. Together, we can find words for your experience, listen to your body, and give the emotional charge room to move and release.

Your response might also be telling you that you need a change or a boundary, and we honor that. You can always ask me to change what I’m doing or stop. Exploring the feeling is your choice.

Do I have to cry or have an emotional release?

No. You don’t need to produce a particular response. Some sessions bring tears or a strong release; others bring subtle softening or deep relaxation. We invite you to engage with what you’re feeling, without forcing anything to happen. Many people have small releases during a session and have bigger releases in the following days.

Do I need to know what’s going on or have words for it?

No. You just need to be willing to explore the emotional layer. We can start with a sensation, a vague feeling, or “I don’t know.” Finding the words is part of the process.

How does this help beyond the session?

As you become more familiar with your feelings and work through them, they can lose some of their charge and become less easily activated. When they do arise, you have more familiarity with what’s happening and how to move through it. That can help you return to center, find clarity, and choose how you want to show up.

Are you a therapist?

No. However, I have three years of professional training as a relationship coach at The Relationship School under Jayson Gaddis. My background includes Authentic Relating, Relatefulness, and practicing the Bio-Emotive Framework for half a decade. I bring these approaches into hands-on bodywork with touch, breath, and emotional release. This work can complement psychotherapy.