Have you ever found yourself doing the work to change your belief systems and even habits and patterns, only to find yourself repeating those same patterns when you are experiencing stress or under a lot of pressure? Somatic coaching helps us to bridge that gap: the gap of who and where we are now to the life we want to embody, the life we long for. And it helps us to do that by deeply integrating the body and it’s wisdom into the work of individual and social transformation.

To sum it up: Somatic coaching is a way for folks to identify what they want to change, find out what’s getting in the way of making that change, and then practice the skillsets needed to make the change until the change becomes inevitable. And then the change happens.

Sounds easy, right? If only it were that simple…

So how does this work?

We typically work together for 10 sessions, meeting every week or every other week. (This can vary depending on schedules and client’s previous work with somatics, therapy and/or healing modalities). In the first session we’ll determine the larger arc or goal of the 10 sessions. This will be our anchor, and we’ll use this as a guide to see how we are doing throughout our work together. Are we making progress? Are we still moving towards the larger goal? Does this larger goal of the 10 sessions need to shift or change over time? It is my job as a coach to keep checking in and make sure we are on track to getting you closer to this larger goal and offer practices that will help you build skills to achieve this larger goal.

What does a typical session look like?

We’ll typically start with a check-in. I’ll ask a question to see how you’re arriving, what’s been coming up since our last session, or for the client to share what’s important for me to know about how they’re feeling. During the beginning part of the session you’ll determine what you want to work on during that session. When clients don’t have clarity, we figure out what’s important to address together. Based on what you want to work on and why that’s important to you, I will offer a few practices that feel relevant based on what you’ve shared and based on your larger goal for the 10 sessions, as well. Often these practices are somatic practices, meaning they are physical movements or gestures which may or may not include speaking, to get you into your body and into practicing what you want to work on. A practice may also include talking through something, while continuing to check in with physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Practices might also feel like guided meditations or visualizations.

After finishing a practice, we always want to leave time to debrief and to reflect on what you’ve learned from the session and what you want to be in practice with before our next session.

Though I will try to follow a general structure of each session as a coach, each session will be unique as we are also present with what emerges in the moment.

How many sessions does it take to feel things start to shift?

Some clients can start to see and feel shifts within the first few sessions, though long-lasting, sustainable change often takes time, persistence, and continued practice. Some clients feel really great about their progress at the end of 10 sessions and will use the tools and insights they’ve learned going forward. Other clients want to continue the work and might set up another goal for the next 10 sessions, or they might work session per session and change the frequency of their sessions.

Who is this work best suited for?

Somatic Coaching can be for anyone, but determining whether this modality is a good fit for your goals and your own healing is an important process. We will also both be determining whether we make a good fit as client and coach, and this is really personal, meaning it can vary from person to person.

Generally speaking clients need to be willing to be curious about different parts of themselves and their tendencies, and also willing to be with uncomfortable (and sometimes painful) emotions, thoughts, sensations, and realities. We will work together to build more capacity for being present with this discomfort, but a general willingness and desire to explore more of yourself and your tender parts is important. We intentionally work with the body as an important part of ourselves, so you also need to be willing to explore what’s happening inside the body, with support and guidance.

I am especially excited to work with folks who might identify with these circumstances:

• You’ve done some deep trauma work and now you want something lighter. You’re ready to cultivate more light, joy, pleasure, connection, and aliveness.

• You’re a creative/artist who believes in your art but lacks confidence. You want to take up more space and take more risks to be seen, but aren’t sure how.

• You’re new to being queer (or perhaps are still unsure if you are really queer, or “queer enough”). You want a space to explore this without judgement, shame, or being pressured into checking a box.