Somatic Therapy

Here’s a longish yet hopefully engaging blurb about what the heck somatic therapy is and how it helps folks live a more alive and courageous life: 

What is Somatic Therapy?

Somatic therapy supports the resolution of past experiences playing out in the present, through the nervous system pathways in a contained way, allowing us to integrate and experience growth.

Past experiences that were overwhelming - too fast, too much, or without choice - activated our body’s survival mechanisms, to protect us and help us survive. In the wild, our wise animal body knows how to resolve and shake things off when it feels safe. But disconnection from our instincts, an interrupted connection to our body’s resolution process, leaves us stuck with these experiences. The longer these experiences stay stuck, the more adaptive behaviours start to form - things like compulsive eating or exercise or shopping. And we may notice the same patterns playing out in our relationships, for example pushing people away, in our career or recurrent health challenges, as our animal body and unconscious mind looks for similar experiences in the present as a way to complete and resolve the past.

How do we work with this?

We don’t actually have to go into the story, or revisit memories; the body is telling the story if we listen. The body is infinitely wise and knows exactly what it needs, and we have direct access to that through the nervous system. So we create safety and nourishment in our bodies first. We slow things down, get really curious about our sensations and how our body wants to move, and allow it to tell its story and complete its process in a slow, contained way. An attuned other person giving full presence to our process allows our body to regulate, and with skill, stay within our window of tolerance. Once we have a state shift, where our body ‘shakes off’ or resolves the experience, conscious wisdom and understanding rapidly follows, and we can more easily put the past behind us. (For complex trauma, it takes time - months or years - to resolve, and is dependent on co-existing conditions. Ongoing work is needed for this).

What does that actually look like?

I work with the whole human, including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual experiences in relation to the physical, social and cultural environment. Depending on what a client brings, in sessions with me, processes may include embodied power practices, grief ritual, attachment healing, inner critic and parts work, visualisation, different types of movement and gesture including dance, through to finding deep rest. It’s very gentle, and the focus is on containment, not catharsis, which can sometimes override the more subtle parts of our experience. We always start with a base of safety, grounding and nourishment, and go from there. And in person, I love having the option of using touch to help ground and regulate, with consent.

It’s also a ritual - I work with intention, I’m holding space for the soul and the mystery to move us, and although I use a framework, I meet the person in front of me exactly where they are. I also love using these practices for embodied visioning, so if there’s something you want to create for your life but stuff is getting in the way, this process will support you to find ease, flow and magnetism in your creations

Is it for me?

I support folks who are highly sensitive with a strong inner critic to connect deeply with their intuition and body wisdom. If you experience:

  • Overwhelm

  • Critical inner voice

  • Lost or unable to know what’s right for you and rely on external voices for validation/direction

  • Poor boundaries

  • Struggle to communicate needs and wants

  • Can’t seem to start or maintain self-care habits

  • Unable to process grief that feels too big

  • Difficulties in relationships

  • A deep yearning to live a soul-led life

  • Sensory sensitivity and big feelings

I’d love to support you.

I aim to create spaces that are: 

  • Neurodiversity Affirming (ND affirming)

  • Anti-racist

  • LGBTIQA+ friendly

  • Poly and non-monogamy friendly

  • Sex worker friendly

  • Kink friendly

  • Fat friendly

I've recently supported clients with chronic illness, including rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, diabetes, and neurodiverse clients with ADHD. Please get in touch if you want to make sure this is for you

Sessions are 60min and held online unless advertised otherwise

One-off sessions $180 - Book Now

Packages
6 sessions $1020 - Buy Now
12 sessions $2000 - Buy Now

Payment plans available