Somatic
Sessions
Session Types
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Within a somatic approach to counselling, space is created for what is seeking to be seen, felt, and understood — to find its voice through a process of presence and inquiry.
Exploring the connections between our nervous system, bodily sensations, emotions, and thoughts — somatic counselling delves beneath the surface to explore the depths of experience.
This fosters heightened awareness, illuminating the pathways and insights that contribute to resolutions around the issues, patterns and dynamics seeking to be met.
This process calibrates what was (past), with what is (present), opening up energy — for what can eventually be (an intentional future).
While various techniques like mindfulness, breathing exercises, and gentle movement may be utilized, often the relational container itself is the catalyst for perceptive growth.
The individual, couple or group system is given the freedom to reveal themselves authentically, guided in a pure and present manner.
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Integrative coaching is a collaborative journey.
One-on-one, we cultivate your energetic essence in order to generate a harmonious connection with your inner strengths and trajectory for growth.
Tailored to your specific needs, this time together is co-creative, embedded with unwavering support, meaningful dialogues, and compassionate guidance to address what's longing to be acknowledged and perhaps actively developed.
Coaching provides an opportunity to cover a spectrum of personal growth areas, whether it's deepening your relationship with yourself or others, navigating transitions, fostering creative direction and business expansion, or nurturing secure attachments while pursuing your unique life goals.
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The Somatic Method consulting process is a dynamic, co-creative and deep exploration of your unique goals and trajectory.
These sessions are perfect for clients with specific inquiries, questions or conversations that are calling to be held with respect to creative and business endeavours.
They are a potent opportunity for focus, clarity and honing in on the heart of your matters, identifying where the core of the energy can be expanded upon.
What to Expect
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Discovery Call
Our journey together starts with a 20-minute discovery call (book here). This provides an opportunity for us to connect, to ensure that our partnership aligns with your needs and aspirations.
First Session
Prior to the first session you will receive an intake package.
This first session is often an opportunity to familiarize with any issues and goals that we will go into further depth about in on going sessions.
Commitment:
After the discovery call and initial first session, therapeutic counselling sessions are based upon a commitment to packages of three sessions at a time to develop a foundation (further details about packages below and in FAQ).
Purpose of a Session Package
Packages have been created for the experience of new clients and cultivating relationship with the self, the therapist and somatic field.
After the intake, you have up to 60 days to utilize package sessions (though you may choose to book in a shorter time frame). This duration allows for deep exploration, regular connection and meaningful progress.
Session Lengths
You have the option to choose between 60-minute and 90-minute somatic therapy sessions, allowing for flexibility in exploring the rhythm, time and space of your process.
Benefits / Areas of Influence:
Enhanced Self-awareness
Improved communication
Healing from Burnout
Trauma Renegotiation & Attachment Work
Depression, Anxiety & Stress
Body Image & Self-esteem
Navigating Growth & Life Transitions
Navigating Power & Conflict Resolution
Exploration of Boundaries & Capacity
Intimacy & Sexuality
Stress Reduction & Relaxation
Creativity & Problem Solving
Increased Resilience & Coping Skills
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Discovery Call:
Take this opportunity to book a 20 minute call (book here), learn how this process can meet you in your goals, share any questions and explore opportunities for the path forward.
Integrative Coaching Supports:
Life Transitions
Self and Emotional Regulation for ADHD
Career Advancement/Business Growth
Relationship, Intimacy and communication skills
Personal development and direction
Burnout Recovery
Codependency Recovery
Energetic Rejuvination
Cultivating Intuition and Inspired Action
Commitment:
Similar to counselling, coaching sessions are a package commitment - after the first full session.
This is to have consistency, continuity and the opportunity to track for growth. Packages are presently sold in batches of three.
The Process:
Coaching and mentorship starts with an intention, usually to meet a single or series of goals, that can be supported by anchoring into the resources of a somatic experience. How it unfolds:
Book a Discovery Call.
Book a first session. Explore and anchor into the somatic field, outline your overall goals and objectives.
With the decision to continue - schedule the initial 3-6 private sessions. These sessions will build upon one another and unfold in a way that is unique to your circumstances and aims.
Extend for as long as it is of benefit to you.
The Somatic Method coaching process is a collaborative journey where your willingness, readiness, and active participation are the elements that invite transformation and growth.
Engaging in the intimate and creative exchange of the coaching relationship will harness the power of pure attention and direct energy, focus and resources towards your goals.
Benefits/Uses for Coaching:
Inner Relationship Building / Self Regulation
Building Attuned Communication Skills
Navigating Life Transitions
Cultivating Confidence / Exploring Transparent Communication
Expanding Intuition
Committed Intention Routine
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A consult is a two way dialog and I arrive as an extension of your own resources.
My qualifications and scope extend to my experience in small business ownership, product development, events + retreats, sales, marketing and design. I have cultivated several 6-figure livelihoods by design, each of which supported me with an expansive and explorative lifestyle. Each of which had opportunities and limitations for growth and demanded different levels of commitment on a variety of levels.
Success comes in many forms. We will discover what this means for you, and what your aims are to meet goals specific to areas of your life in business, creativity and your material pursuits.
75 minute sessions are for business / creative consultations.
This is an Opportunity to:
Explore your curiosities unapologetically and passionately.
Thoroughly engage the difficult conversations and explorations that there may not be space for elsewhere in your life.
Openly ask about creative and business interests. Freely inquire about the creative process in relation to your aspirations.
Learn how to utilize The Somatic Method, body and nervous system insight to your greatest advantages!
Visualize Possibilities:
We will explore the array of possibilities available to you and your business or aspiration through a focused consult and somatic journey.
Together, we'll dive deep into your goals and related circumstances, tapping into the source of your energy, inspiration, and greater vision.
We will tune into the heart of the matter, amplifying the elements that will guide our path forward in an integrated and authentic way.
Map a Foundational Process:
I arrive in these sessions open to sharing my insights, intuition and practical knowledge as we navigate challenges and expand upon opportunities aligned specifically with you.
After our exploration, we will integrate the session with acknowledgment of the foundational steps ahead, ensuring a clear path forward.
Frequently Asked
Questions
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While there can be crossover in what unfolds to facilitate the experience, there are differences between the relationships including nature and depth of the material addressed, as well as the term of commitment.
Counselling: Counselling typically delves into personal and emotional issues, offering therapeutic support and guidance to navigate challenges and improve well-being.
Coaching: Coaching focuses on goal-setting, skill-building, and accountability to help individuals achieve specific outcomes in areas such as career, relationships, or personal development.
Consulting: Consulting, offers strategic insights and practical solutions tailored to your situation, drawing upon my extensive experience to address challenges and unlock new opportunities. It is typically brief in nature, in that the exchange of strategic actions and opportunities are a part of what distinguishes this session work.
Regarding the dynamic of a session:
Counselling: the focus is on relating towards emotions and learning to navigate the mind/body experience in a past-present quality.
Coaching: in contrast, is more present-future oriented, providing actionable insights and processes for growth objectives.
Consulting: involves more mutual input playing a significant role in sessions, shaping the direction of our discussions and the solutions that emerge based on your unique circumstances relating with my experience and resourcing.
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Psychiatrists and psychologists are trained to diagnose mental health disorders and offer therapy.
Psychiatrists, as medical doctors, can prescribe medication. Psychologists provide therapy using talk-based approaches and treatment protocols.
In contrast, counsellors and psychotherapists do not diagnose but offer guidance and therapeutic support, focusing on personal growth and addressing emotional challenges.
Counsellors provides guidance and support to individuals dealing with various life challenges, focusing on personal growth and development.
"Somatic" counsellors, while not diagnosing, offer therapy that integrates mind and body, addressing emotional issues through the lens of bodily sensations and experiences.
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Primarily the objective is to learn to meet oneself in the moment, with whatever needs to be seen, heard and felt while generating capacity for this "quality of being" going forth.
That said, somatic counselling, with a trauma informed practitioner can be used for a range of issues, including:
• Processing and healing from past traumatic experiences
• Regulating emotions and exploring capacity
• Reconnecting with the body in a safe and supportive environment
• Developing coping strategies for trauma-related symptoms
• Addressing somatic manifestations of trauma, such as chronic pain or tension
• Cultivating self-compassion and empowerment
• Building a sense of safety and trust in relationships, learning about boundaries and limitations
• Integrating experiences into one's life story and fostering resilience
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Somatic counseling distinguishes itself from talk therapy through its holistic approach to emotional and psychological issues.
While talk therapy relies on verbal communication to delve into thoughts and emotions, somatic therapy recognizes that experiences often transcend language, manifesting primarily as bodily sensations and perceptions seeking acknowledgment for clarity and coherence.
In somatic therapy, the integration of mind and body is central. Emotional experiences are understood to be stored and expressed through bodily sensations, prompting the exploration of these sensations as a pathway to healing and growth.
Techniques such as mindfulness, breathwork, gentle movement, and body awareness exercises may be employed to facilitate the connection with bodily experiences and the release of stored tension or trauma.
More often special techniques (such as those listed above) are not necessary, as having a quality of presence towards the body’s language is enough of a catalyst for the process to unfold.
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Investing in a session package serves to establish a foundation conducive to fostering trust and a high-quality therapeutic relationship over time. This approach prioritizes safety and facilitates growth and resolution in a supportive environment.
Relationships and trust evolve gradually, benefiting from consistency and continuity. The goal is to develop a coherent approach to managing difficult emotions that aligns with a secure baseline in both body and mind.
Committing to a package also provides the necessary resources, such as time and space, essential for achieving meaningful resolution.
Packages are offered are also offered at a lower cost per session, and allow clients to book in advance.
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The benefit of a 75-minute somatic counseling session compared to a 60-minute session lies in the extended time available for deeper exploration, processing, and integration of somatic experiences and emotions.
Depending on the patterns at play, there is often a point around 2/3 into a session where the story runs its course and the deeper understanding rises to the surface. This can be quite a shift and also allows for a complete integration without rushing through.
This additional time can foster a deeper therapeutic connection, facilitate more profound insights, and support a more comprehensive healing process. Additionally, longer sessions may be particularly beneficial for individuals with complex trauma histories or those who require more time for processing and integration.
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It depends on the individual and the nature of what they ar coming to therapy to work on.
60-minute therapy sessions provide a valuable opportunity for clients to engage in meaningful dialogue and work towards their therapeutic goals. However longer sessions may offer more time for exploration and processing as needed (in coaching programs for example both are often utilized).
60-minute sessions do facilitate growth and insight, making them a valuable option for individuals seeking support and guidance in therapy, whereas 75 minutes offer the opportunity to engage with a deep cycle in the system.
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Currently counsellors registered with ACCT are covered in British Columbia and Alberta by the following insurance programs. Please ensure if needed that you check with your provider first.
Please also note that clients must pay in advance of all appointments and seek reimbursement via their specific policy holders.
Alberta Blue Cross
Alberta School Employee
Canada Life | Great-West Life
Green Shield Canada
Pacific Blue Cross
SunLife
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Visa, Mastercard, Direct Debit
via Stripe or e-Transfer