About Rachel Quigley Therapy
My Background
I grew up in the mountains of Wyoming, where I developed a deep appreciation for nature and the ways our environment shapes how we feel and move through the world.
I also trained in ballet and modern dance, which introduced me early on to the importance of movement and the wisdom held in the body—something that continues to inform my work today.
I was drawn to San Luis Obispo to attend California Polytechnic State University, where I studied Psychology and Dance and performed with the Orchesis Dance Company. This blend of interests eventually led me to the San Francisco Bay Area, where I earned my MA in Somatic Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Since then, I’ve worked in a range of settings—including a grief clinic, schools, and community-based organizations—supporting individuals and families through a wide variety of experiences.
I later served the San Luis Obispo and Central Coast communities through Family Care Network as a Social Worker, Therapist, and Supervisor in the Wraparound program. Today, I continue this work in my private practice.
About Me
You might be someone who is used to holding a lot—thinking things through, showing up for others, and doing your best to keep things together.
And at the same time, something inside doesn’t feel settled. You might feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that don’t seem to shift, no matter how much you understand them.
This is the kind of space I hold in my work: one where you don’t have to have it all figured out, and where we can begin to gently make sense of what you’re experiencing—together.
How I Work
My approach is casual and grounded in somatic therapy, which means we pay attention not just to your thoughts, but to your body and nervous system as well.
Many of the patterns we struggle with—like anxiety, overwhelm, or the lingering impact of past experiences—aren’t just mental. They live in the body.
In our work together, we’ll slow things down and begin to notice what’s happening beneath the surface, at a pace that feels supportive and manageable. Over time, this can help you feel more grounded, less reactive, and more connected to yourself. I adjust the amount of somatic work I infuse into session based on your interest, if somatic focus isnt of interest, we can work through trauma, anxiety and life transitions with a more talk-therapy focused individual therapy model.
A Bit More About Me
Outside of my work as a therapist, I enjoy practicing yoga (see more about the collaboration between therapy and yoga here), hiking, and spending time along the Central Coast—being in nature continues to be an important way I stay grounded and connected.
Who I Work With
I work with adults navigating:
Anxiety and chronic stress
Trauma and difficult past experiences
Life transitions and periods of change
A sense of disconnection from self or body
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and high-functioning on the outside—but internally feel overwhelmed, tense, or stuck.