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.
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.
I believe therapy works best when people feel emotionally safe, genuinely seen, and free to show up as their full selves without judgment. My approach is relational, somatic, and trauma-informed, with a focus on helping people reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and move toward greater self-understanding and self-compassion.
I view many symptoms—including anxiety, overwhelm, perfectionism, and disconnection—not as signs that something is “wrong” with a person, but as understandable adaptations shaped by life experiences, relationships, and survival strategies.
I value inclusivity, authenticity, curiosity, and respect for the complexity of each person’s lived experience. I affirm the dignity, humanity, and rights of people across identities, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, belief systems, and relationship structures, and strive to create a space where clients feel supported, respected, and empowered in their healing process.
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.