Therapy often focuses on what happened in the client’s past to help make sense of who they are today. Many modalities of therapy encourage clients to reframe ideas or shift their perspectives. Sometimes, therapy comes with creating new strategies to deal with tough situations. Therapy is also heavily talk dependent.

Somatic coaching focuses on who the client wants to become in their future, what the client’s values are, and how to embody staying in alignment with these commitments to themselves. Coaching includes some talking and communicating, but focuses much more on what embodied tendencies are currently existing. We ask questions like, “What are you sensing in your body right now?”, “How do you protect yourself?”, “How exactly does your body do that?”

We get answers to these questions through somatic practices, building somatic awareness of what’s happening in our somas, and creating space to try on additional ways of being our bodies.

In somatic coaching, we communicate with our body’s innate wisdom by getting in touch with emotions, sensations, and felt senses. As we connect to our sensations, the narratives we carry often end up making more sense also, which results in a sense of wholeness that allows us to move towards our commitments fully.

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The first few sessions will likely differ from typical sessions as we get to know each other and solidify what you’re committed to working towards.

Once we get in our groove, a typical session usually includes a grounding/centering exercise that I lead us through. This helps us get in the present with each other and with our bodies. These exercises are similar to guided meditations.

Next, I’ll ask if there’s anything specific that you want to talk about during the day’s session.

If so, we’ll talk a bit about what’s on your mind and what you’re feeling in your body. I always want to follow you where you’re at. You are in charge of your sessions. I may offer suggestions for practices or topics of exploration related to what you’re bringing up. I am very direct and will offer you various options throughout the session to see how you want to proceed, whether it’s talking more, feeling into your embodied emotions, doing a practice together, or redirecting back to the overarching commitment that you’re working towards.

If you don’t have anything acute that you’d like to discuss, we’ll continue working towards the commitment you’re working towards. This often includes us talk storying and then I might ofter an embodiment practice for us to do together. Then we’ll reflect on what came up for your, how it relates to your commitment, and how your embodiment demonstrates greater societal forces. Then we’ll wrap up the session with any last things you want to discuss.

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There are many different embodiment practices that we can use. Some are intended to reveal our currently embodied tendencies while others might explore what it’s like to try on a new embodiment shape.

One example of when we might turn to a practice is if you are committed to being your authentic self and we notice that you have a hard time staying with yourself when talking with others or in the presence of others.

In this example, perhaps you struggle to stay aligned with your values when your boss or loved one disagrees with you. Perhaps you have a tendency to withdraw away from the conversation or give up on your argument or agree with the other person just to get the conversation over sooner. Whatever the case may be, we might do a mutual connection practice that recreates what happens for your when you are in connection with someone. This practice includes noticing what happens to you in your body when your attention is extended towards me and noticing what happens when my attention is extended towards you. We extend attention physically by reaching towards each other with our hands. Because our somas carry our embodied tendencies, this exercise often brings forward whatever coping strategies you typically rely on when in connection with others. Throughout our practice, we may ramp up or ramp down the pressure on you and see what happens.

In noticing what happens within you, we find articulations of what gets in the way of you being able to stay with your authentic self while also being in connection with others. We can then thank these protective mechanisms for keeping you safe and eventually explore how they continue to serve you and how you might want to expand upon them.

This is an example of a practice that we could use to both explore what embodied tendencies already exist within you and also try practicing additional embodiment strategies.

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