Somatic Therapy for Nervous System Regulation & Trauma Recovery
When somatic therapy may be helpful
Somatic therapy may be helpful when you feel that your nervous system has become stuck in patterns of stress, protection, or overwhelm. This may show up as anxiety, heightened sensitivity, tension, difficulty settling, emotional overwhelm, shutdown, or feeling disconnected from yourself or your body.
Many people seek somatic therapy when they have already gained insight through talking or thinking about their experiences, but still feel that something remains unresolved at a deeper bodily level.
My approach
Somatic therapy is a body-based approach that supports nervous system regulation, emotional and physical wellbeing, and recovery from the effects of stress and trauma. Rather than focusing only on thoughts or talking about experiences, somatic therapy gently brings awareness to what is happening in the body in the present moment.
I use Somatic Experiencing®, a trauma-informed somatic therapy approach developed to support the nervous system’s natural ability to regulate, adapt, and recover from overwhelming experiences.
Somatic Therapy using Somatic Experiencing®
Somatic therapy sessions usually begin seated and may initially look or feel like an ordinary conversation. My role is to support you to gently bring awareness to your present moment experience — including physical sensations, impulses, breath, tension patterns, and areas of connection or disconnection in the body.
Together, we work with what arises in a way that is paced and supportive. This may include:
tracking physical sensations and nervous system responses
noticing impulses, movements, gestures, or sounds that arise naturally
supporting the completion of protective responses
developing resources and experiences of safety
helping your system build greater capacity for regulation.
Resources may be internal, such as imagination, a felt sense of support, or noticing neutral and positive sensations in the body. They may also be external, such as supportive props, grounding practices, orienting to the external environment, or self-contact.
Somatic Therapy, the Nervous System, and Trauma Recovery
When the nervous system has experienced prolonged stress, overwhelm, or trauma, people can feel stuck in patterns of activation, shutdown, anxiety, tension, disconnection, or heightened sensitivity.
Somatic therapy supports the development of greater nervous system flexibility and regulation over time. This increased capacity can create the conditions for working with unresolved survival stress and the physical, emotional, and psychological patterns that accompany it. The work is gentle, paced, and titrated — meaning we work in manageable steps so that change can be integrated without overwhelming the nervous system.
Therapeutic Touch Sessions
I also offer therapeutic Somatic Experiencing® touch sessions. This is a gentle, consent-based form of therapeutic touch that supports nervous system regulation, body awareness, and a deeper sense of safety in the body.
Touch sessions usually take place with you either seated or lying face up on a massage table, fully clothed. Supportive touch may be applied to specific areas of the body, such as joints, diaphragms, kidneys/adrenals, and the abdomen.
As with seated Somatic Experiencing® sessions, touch work is guided by careful attention to your nervous system responses, and is paced according to what feels supportive and appropriate to you.
Sessions generally focus either on seated Somatic Experiencing® work or touch-based work. Over time, many clients experience both approaches depending on what best supports their individual process.
Location
I primarily work from therapy rooms in Rosedale/Albany on Auckland’s North Shore.
I also work from therapy rooms in Parnell, Auckland City by arrangement.
Online sessions are also available and are a popular choice for those outside the area or those who prefer the convenience of working online. The work is equally effective online and the choice often comes down to personal preference.
Appointment Information
Standard sessions: 50 minutes with a few extra minutes for booking and payment.
Extended sessions (touch work only): 75 minutes.
Fees are payable on the day of appointment by bank transfer or cash. Payment is also available in session via my accounting app.
Cancellation Policy
I operate a standard cancellation policy. Please provide 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice are charged at the full session fee, as your appointment time and room booking are reserved specifically for you.
Therapy SPACE in Albany
