Somatica Institute Faculty
The Somatica Institute faculty engages and collaborates with their student community in a variety of ways.
Instructors do more than just teach their students to become world-class sex & relationship coaches – they have a vested interest in their students’ success and share a deep commitment to their education. Relationships are deeply cherished and often result in profound academic experiences, professional collaborations, and life-long friendships.
Founders
Danielle Harel, MSW, PhD
Dr. Danielle Harel is the co-creator of the Somatica® Method and the co-founder of the Somatica Institute. She has a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality (DHS), a graduate degree in Clinical Social Work (MSW), and a Bachelors (BA) degree in Psychology and Educational Counseling. As a somatic sexologist, professor, and author, Danielle has spent the last 20 years resolving her clients’…
Celeste Hirschman, M.A.
Celeste Hirschman is the co-creator of the Somatica Method and the co-founder of the Somatica Institute. She received an MA in Human Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State University and a BA in Women’s Studies from UCSC. In her teaching and coaching, Celeste routinely draws on her extensive training in attachment psychology, sociology, gender studies, and body-based modalities like Hakomi….
Instructors
Kai Wu, CSC
Kai Wu is a queer, trauma-informed love, sex and intimacy coach, somatic sex educator, guide, and mentor. This work has been her great love and form of activism for the last decade. A Certified Somatica® Practitioner, Kai trained in the Somatica Method in 2013. She is also certified in Sexological Bodywork. Her studies within the field of trauma are focused on somatic and neurobiology-oriented approaches and include Somatic…
Susan Coates, M.A., CSC
Susan is a Certified Somatica Sex and Relationship Coach and Faculty Member at the Somatica Institute. She has dedicated her last 20 years to coaching and empowering individuals and people in relationships. After graduating with a M.A. in International Relations with a Human Rights focus at the University of Denver, she worked for ten years in the non-profit sector. Mostly, she was running…
Victoria “Tori” King, MS, CSC
Victoria “Tori” King, is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Sex Therapist, Certified Somatica Sex & Relationship Coach & Workshop Facilitator, practicing in the East Bay area of Northern California. She graduated from CSU East Bay with a Master’s degree in Counseling, completed a certification program for sex therapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and has many training hours in other sex and relationship modalities…
Christina Sophie, CSC
The absolute glee that Christina experiences in being an Instructor of the Somatica Method is loud and infectious. Supporting the next generation of sex coaches as authentic, vulnerable, and powerful agents of cultural change is her passion. Christina holds degrees in both psychology and philosophy, and is a Certified Somatica Sex and Relationship Coach, as well as a Certified Sexological Bodyworker and Certified Sexologist. For 10…
Erica M. Daniel, MPH
Erica M. Daniel is a global nomad and an instructor at the Somatica Institute. She is also a certified Somatica practitioner. Erica began her professional exploration with her Masters in Public Health (MPH) at The George Washington University. She has worked in international public health in Africa and Eastern Europe. Wanting to expand her capacity to work with individual clients, Erica pursued…
Shelby Devlin, M.A.
Shelby Devlin is a sex and intimacy coach, certified in the Somatica Method. She has an M.A. in Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State University, where she created original research on the role emotions play in arousal and pleasure, as well as the impact shame has on our sexuality. Beyond academia, Shelby understands that the body has knowledge, and there are many ways…
Dimitry Yakoushkin, B.S., CSC
Dimitry Yakoushkin is a faculty instructor at the Somatica Institute, where he assists in teaching the Somatica Training. He is also a Certified Somatica Supervisor, supporting our graduates in their coaching skills. He has been been one of our first students, becoming a Certified Somatica Practitioner in early 2010. His additional trainings include sexological bodywork and the Hakomi Method – a body-based, mindful experiential therapy method that helps…
Brenna Lake, CSC
Brenna Lake is a sex and relationship coach and a Certified Somatica® Practitioner since 2015. She is deeply experienced as a group leader and has guided every Somatica Training, Somatica Advanced Student Training, Somatica Couples and Somatica Character Training since 2016. Brenna is both loving and bossy, and has supported many Somatica students and graduates to gain confidence and deeper insights into the foundational principles of the Somatica…
Raj Bandyopadhyay, PhD
In 2016, Raj had a cushy life in San Francisco. He had a PhD in Computer Science, a comfortable tech career as a data scientist, and a stable poly marriage (after working with Celeste as his coach). Then, his partner came out as transgender. Seeing his partner find his true self and identity made Raj ask the question, “What do…