Somatic counselling and psychotherapy work with both mind and body, and have the potential to create real and sustained change. I see many clients who have had therapy in the past and feel like they have an intellectual understanding of why they are the way they are, yet are unsure of how to move forward.

Working somatically is a slow and gentle process. It allows the time and space to meet the parts of you that weren’t supported, felt scared or worried and didn’t have the opportunity to be seen or heard. Connecting with these parts helps to embody a felt sense of safety, so you can enjoy a more fulfilling life.

This work can help you befriend the parts of yourself that unconsciously influence how you feel and which drive behavioural and thought patterns.

Meeting yourself by inviting the body and nervous system to be part of the process creates the conditions for sustained change as you give yourself what you need. Acknowledgment, attention, a voice, some support.

Getting to know these places invites in the possibility for change, presenting you with the opportunity to navigate the world in more expansive and authentic ways.

*feel less triggered during sessions by safely working with the body to process difficult emotions, rather than repeating a story that you may find traumatising. This can support you to stay within your window of tolerance

*an integrated approach that includes mind and body, helping you to achieve sustained change in a safe and gentle way

*working with what is here now, rather than revisiting the past

*create the conditions for greater awareness, self compassion and trust

*you have access to tools that can resource and support you between sessions, such as learning how to approach what may be challenging and learning how to resource yourself when you feel activated

Michelle works with adults and finds this approach to therapy supportive for

*those experiencing challenges within personal and professional relationships

*supporting those experiencing anxiety from known and unknown sources

*grief and loss that may come from losing a loved one, separation, isolation, loss of employment, losing one’s meaning or purpose, or any event that has caused you to experience a sense of loss

*the effects of single incident ptsd and cptsd that stems from a challenging childhood

*you find yourself at a crossroads, and are perhaps questioning your life direction, meaning and purpose

*the impact of climate related trauma and/or eco distress that creates uncertainty about the future

*self esteem issues relating to a harsh inner critic or for those that find themselves being highly sensitive to external criticism

*you have an intellectual understanding of why you are the way you are, but don’t know where to next. Including your body in the psychotherapeutic process can help you take the next steps in your journey

As a Polyvagal informed somatic therapist, Michelle will work with you in a safe and supportive way to grow your capacity to feel safe so you can be present during the psychotherapeutic process. Using a Polyvagal framework will help you to navigate the influence that the state of your nervous system has, and how this may be contributing to certain thoughts, behaviours, feelings and the way you relate to others in the here and now, rather than starting from a moment in time from the past.

Michelle takes a client centred outlook and will support you in a compassionate and non judgemental manner, moving between the story you are sharing, to noticing how your body is responding to what is being said. This encourages integration between mind and body, working in a way to invite the body to process difficult subject matter, rather than repeating a story that can be triggering.

The therapeutic frameworks that form the basis of session include a Focusing oriented approach, working somatically with the different parts, education about the role of the nervous system via Polyvagal theory and an attachment lens.

Online sessions are available by appointment Australia wide with limited availability in person.