Body-Oriented Coaching
body-oriented coaching
Body-oriented coaching (also sometimes referred to as somatic, or embodied coaching) is a way of working that approaches the mind and body as being one and the same, i.e. paying attention to the whole of a person.
My experience of embodied ways of working spans music, theatre, sport, touch therapies and coaching in a variety of settings, from prisons to corporate workplaces.
I have a particular interest in supporting people living with post-traumatic somatic symptoms (commonly labelled as PTSD or Complex-PTSD). The aftermath of trauma can be a lonely and confusing road – it is often misunderstood, including by professionals, and can be mis-diagnosed/lie unidentified for years.
If you find your body giving you confusing messages, if you’re feeling disconnected, if you feel like you’re constantly searching for something out of reach, if life feels overwhelming and unenjoyable, I’d love to support you in shifting to a different way of experiencing life.
I adopt a holistic and individual approach to each session. My experience includes relationship-based abuse, chronic illness including ME/CFS, addictions and supporting other professional coaches in their work.
Why body-oriented?
Having experimented with many different types of therapy, counselling and non-traditional approaches, I came to understand that cognitive ‘talking’ therapies can be helpful. Yet, they also bypass a huge piece of the puzzle: the authority and wisdom of the body.
Have you ever talked through a challenge, understood the potential root of your behaviour and known what you need to change…but yet still find yourself following the same patterns of feelings and reactions?
This is where the transformational framework of body-oriented work comes into play. Connecting the cognitive with the embodied – the thinking with the experiencing – invites the processing to occur and the shifts to take place. This is particularly relevant for those living with the aftermath of trauma.
We may encounter
- Polyvagal Theory
- Organic Intelligence
- Somatic Experiencing
- Trauma Release Exercises
- Trauma-Informed Yoga
- Meditation
- Neurobiology
- Nutrition
What to expect
- No prescribed method
- Partnership led by you
- Always working from a place of safety
- Come as you are
- Authenticity and accountability
Primal connections
Animals, particularly wild animals who have not been subject to physical/behavioural modification at the hands of humans, exhibit an unadulterated connection to their physical sensations and needs. Their primal instincts are unquestioned. And since we, ourselves are animals, it follows we have these same primal instincts and mind-body connections within us. But our society, culture, workplace etc. often tries to mould these out of us, and so we begin to forget the connections.
Embodied work helps us to remember these connections, to listen to our whole selves and to re-familiarise ourselves with the wisdom that is within us.
Colouring outside of the lines
In western culture, it’s less comfortable to think of our bodies as having wisdom, as being able to speak and communicate with us and as wanting to convey messages to keep us safe. If you’re feeling distinctly uncomfortable even reading this then, don’t worry, I’m sure you’re not alone. We will always work at your pace, and within your comfort zone. I might invite you to experiment gently with an idea but you can always say no. For example, sometimes our bodies express our internal states in a physical way – blushing, digestive discomfort, numbness – and, by engaging with those sensations and remembering the intimate connections we have with our bodies, we can discover and unlock truths that allow us to step forward within ourselves.
We live in a world full of rules and expectations. We will, together, create a safe space in which my invitation to you is to come to sessions with full permission to colour outside of the lines. Or maybe you don’t want to colour at all. However you want to turn up, however you need to be, that is where we will meet.