FAQs
Understanding Somatics & the Nervous System
What is somatics?
Somatics is an approach that recognises the interconnection of the mind and the body. Somatic practices support you to connect with your body, listen to your inner experience, and understand the messages of body sensations. These practices can also help to process and release stored stress patterns or trauma from the nervous system, supporting restoration, balance, and greater wellbeing.
What is the nervous system?
The nervous system is the body’s communication network. It is responsible for sensing, interpreting, and responding to our internal and external environments. The nervous system plays a central role in shaping how we experience the world - from emotions and thoughts to physical sensations and behaviours.
There are several branches of the nervous system, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. In somatic work, we often focus on the autonomic nervous system, which regulates functions like heart rate, breathing, digestion, and stress responses. This system helps us shift between states of activation (such as fight-or-flight) and restoration (such as rest-and-digest), and is central to how we process stress and nurture resilience.
What is nervous system regulation?
Nervous system regulation refers to the ability of the nervous system to respond appropriately to stress or safety and to return to balance when a challenge has passed. A regulated nervous system isn’t always calm, but can move flexibly between different states (like activation, rest, or social engagement) as needed.
When your nervous system is balanced and resourced, you can have greater capacity to meet stress, connect with others, make clear decisions, and feel more at ease in your body. This is what many people mean when they talk about feeling “grounded” or “resilient.”
Nervous system restoration is the ongoing process of reconnecting with this balance, especially if stress or trauma has made it harder to access at times.
What does trauma-informed mean?
Being trauma informed means acknowledging that trauma is part of the human experience and may be present in the body. Trauma is not defined by what happens to us externally, rather it is the internal process that occurs in the body after a threat. It can be understood as a natural survival response and as energy which has not yet had the opportunity to complete its cycle and be discharged from the body.
I work in a trauma-informed way by facilitating with this awareness. This means offering an invitational and accessible environment that supports choice, agency, and nervous system regulation. I share practices and spaces that invite connection to each person’s innate resilience and capacity for growth, healing and restoration. Trauma-informed practice doesn’t require you to share your story, rather it works with your present somatic experience. My approach is also solution-focused, holding space for the possibility of meaningful and positive change.
About My Approach & How I Work
What happens in a somatic session?
A somatic session is a space to gently explore the connection between your mind, body, inner experience, and nervous system. Each session is guided by what feels relevant and supportive for you in the moment and can look different for everyone.
Sessions include a combination of tools and practices to support regulation and reconnection. This might involve guided awareness, movement, breath, or sound. You may be invited to notice body sensations, get to know your nervous system’s states, or to explore what brings a sense of grounding, balance, or connection. All practices are offered with choice and at your own pace. I also share information about the nervous system and the practices offered, so you can better understand the processes at work in your body and develop your own inner toolkit.
Is this therapy?
What I offer is not therapy, and is not a replacement for therapy, though it can be a beautiful complement to therapy. Somatic practices focus on embodied awareness, regulation, and reconnection, it’s not a clinical process though it may be deeply therapeutic.
Do I need to have any experience beforehand?
No experience is required, you are very welcome to show up exactly as you are.
Practical Questions
Can I book just one session to try it out?
Yes, absolutely! You are most welcome to book one session and see if it is for you.
Do you offer flexible or accessible pricing options?
Yes, I offer sliding-scale pricing. You can read my pricing guide here.
How do I book a session or connection call?
Please feel free to email me if you are interested in booking a session for the first time, alternatively you can book a complimentary connection call here to talk about options with me.
Can I contact you before booking anything?
Please feel free to reach out at any point if you have any questions or would like to know more. You’re welcome to book a free connection call, or you may wish to get in touch via email first. Please note that if I’m not the right fit or not quite what you are looking for, I may be able to suggest other resources or people who may be better suited. I’d love to hear from you :)