About Margaret Sigel, LMFT, SEP
I'm a somatic therapist in Santa Monica. My practice is private, by appointment, and built for people whose lives don't leave much room for falling apart.
Most of my clients come from entertainment, law, finance, or medicine. Industries where performance is assumed and struggle stays invisible. They don't need a therapist who's impressed by their success. They need one who understands what it costs.
How I Work
Sessions are collaborative. We slow down enough to notice what's happening beneath the surface, make sense of patterns that have been running on autopilot, and build skills you'll use between sessions. The urgency to fix it and keep moving is often part of what's costing you. This work requires a different pace.
My approach is grounded in Somatic Experiencing and attachment-focused therapy. We titrate the work so it feels safe and sustainable. You're always in control of the pace.
Why this work matters to me
Before becoming a therapist, I spent nearly two decades in the entertainment industry. Development, production, the works. It was creative and fast-paced, and I saw firsthand how constant pressure erodes people from the inside out. Talented, driven people who looked like they had it all together, quietly falling apart.
That experience shaped everything about who I work with now. I understand the cost of high performance because I lived in that world. And I know that insight alone doesn't fix what the body is carrying.
Read more about my approach in ShoutOut LA.
Training and Influences
My work draws on Somatic Experiencing®, developed by Dr. Peter Levine. I've completed the full three-year certificate program and continue to study with Dr. Levine. My ongoing study integrates contemporary neuroscience, trauma research, and attachment theory.
I am a California LMFT and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner.
Credentials
Licensure
California LMFT #150926
Certificate
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP)
Approved by SEI to assist in Beginning-level practitioner training
Training highlights
Ariel Giarretto, LMFT, SEP, CSSE
Glyndie Nickerson, PhD, SEP
Joshua Sylvae, PhD, SEP; Mashid Hager, LMFT, SEP
Abi Blakeslee, PhD, SEP
Additional modality
EMDR — Basic Training EMDR Institute (trained but not currently practicing)
Education
M.A., Clinical Psychology (MFT) — Pepperdine University
B.A., English — UCLA
Professional membership
CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)
Who I work with
Most of my clients are navigating leadership, creative careers, or the weight of family responsibilities. Some come at a turning point: new parenthood, kids leaving for college, perimenopause, or loss. Others arrive when something that used to work simply doesn't anymore. Common concerns include anxiety, depression, and relationships.
Most have done therapy before. They understand their patterns. They're ready for something to actually shift.
What to Expect
We start by clarifying what you want more of and what gets in the way. Weekly sessions build momentum. We pair conversation with simple regulation practices, check progress regularly, and adjust as we go.
This is not open-ended processing. We work toward something.
Fit and Access
I am a private-pay practice. As a courtesy, I can provide a superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement. If a different fee or specialty would serve you better, I’m glad to offer referrals. Learn more about fees.
In person: 720 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 204, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Online: secure video for California residents
Ready to Begin?
If something here resonates, I'd be glad to hear from you.