Practice Focus
People seeking greater ease and regulation in their bodies
Body-Mind orientation
Young people
Grief and loss
Trauma (including ongoing trauma)
Developmental/relational trauma
LGBTQIAP2SA+ / Queer / Gender Exploration / Transition
Chronic Pain / Illness
Approach + Influences
Somatic / movement / body psychotherapy orientation
Polyvagal + attachment informed /interpersonal neurobiology,
lighthearted/silly goose/creative/
parts/plural welcoming
intersectional, feminist, anti racist practising.
Why is a somatic mind-body oriented approach important?
In "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma" Bessel A. van der Kolk writes;
“Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies: The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort. Their bodies are constantly bombarded by visceral warning signs, and, in an attempt to control these processes, they often become expert at ignoring their gut feelings and in numbing awareness of what is played out inside. They learn to hide from their selves.” (p.97)”
The Australian Childhood Foundation now recognises the importance of a neurobiologically informed approach to working with stress and trauma that involves both the things we think and how we feel in our bodies.
A holistic practice that invites in many fields and forms of knowledge
I wish to acknowledge that many practises now taught by predominantly white bodies have their origin stories in cross cultural contexts as well as First Nations and Indigenous culture.
There has been an erasure of non western contributions to somatic inquiry.
My professional practice resists the dominance of the Western psychiatric biomedical model and is instead informed by many ‘fields of knowing’ including white and indigenous voices, queer voices, and women’s voices.
For example the unique teachings of Rod Owens as a Buddhist Minister, Authorised Lama, Author and Activist who describes himself as a ‘Black, Buddhist Southern Queen’ offers a roadmap of practices grounded in collective values that empower individuals with tools to help create spaciousness around feelings of distress whilst importantly also acknowledging the harms of structural violence.
These include practices of ‘taking refuge’ such as lying on the earth and noticing a sense of being held, ‘we need to experience being held by something’ whether that holding be through teachers, mentors, or sensing into a connection with our ancestors (Owen & Star, 50:45)
“energy exists before trauma”
“I am energy having a human experience.
Resmaa Menakem.
Is a somatically oriented approach to therapy or counselling right for me
It would be impossible to live in the current world and not have some experience of trauma, loss, anxiety or stress. As a collective, we have experienced catastrophic bushfires, pandemic, floods, war, cost of living crisis and war/genocide.
Trauma or chronic stress is widespread and often shows up when we face loss, illness or a major life change. In addition, our early experiences, and how we are raised impacts the 'neuro biological blueprint' of our nervous systems and that chemistry continues to be shaped by how safe we feel in the world and conversely how safe we feel in our bodies and in relationship to others.
Many experiences and aspects of our lives can influence our “emotional database” that we draw from to face new challenges. We are shaped by where we live, our access to opportunity and resource, but also acute shocks such as injuries, surgeries, stressful childbirth experiences, a scary diagnosis, or sexual assault to name a few. In addition many of us also carry those less visible shocks such as heartbreak, grief, and loss.
The echo of trauma and chronic stress can impact all aspects our lives including our capacity for joy, our sense of self, our ability to function in daily life, as well as have healthy connected relationships. An approach that incorporates both the body and the mind recognises that trauma and chronic stress impact our whole system. This approach can support mental health issues such as personality disorders, anxiety, depression, dissociation, and PTSD/CPTSD. And while it cannot 'cure' illness, it may be helpful in easing chronic pain, chronic stress, tension and bracing.
Drawn from the work of Dr Aline LaPierre, Deb Dana, Janina Fisher, Peter Levine, Dr Stephen Porges, Judith Lewis Herman, Lisa Ferentz, Pat Ogden, Maggie Kline, Eugene T Gendlin, Bessel Van De Kolk & Dr Allan Shore Resmaa Menakem, Ken Fernandes, and many others.
The very nature of emotions is that they are experiences of feeling in the body.
- Antonio Damasio
What might I expect from a somatic oriented therapy?
A mutual practice that is grounded in consent, critical pedagogy, collaboration, neuroscience and somatic body oriented therapies.
A safe enough container to express to me what works for you and what does not.
A deeper cognitive understanding of trauma, and a reduction in shame, guilt and self judgement.
A support to develop a connection between your mind and body that can create opportunities for experiences of comfort and release, supporting you to develop a sense of safe “grounded” state before reworking any trauma.
A guide to help you explore your inner world and outer world of sensation, behaviour, imagery, emotions, beliefs, motor patterns, posture, gesture, body temperature, muscular contractions and bracing.
Development of new ways to explore the inner sensory systems of the heart, enteric nervous system, throat, lungs, brainstem, spine and social engagement system (ears, eyes, jaw, cranial base, throat).
Support to learn new ways to be with your difficult emotions, and self soothe.
The use of self touch for greater self regulation and internal organisation
An increased sense of calm and ease in the body and mind, and development of the skills to communicate needs and boundaries.
Development of resources to help cope with life’s many difficulties.
A mindful nurturing non judgemental presence to support working with frozen traumatised layers of neglect, isolation, numbing and shame.
Renegotiation of traumatic injury and shock by working with just enough activation to allow for release of trauma charge, and time for integration, completion of the nervous system cycle.
note: working through a body-mind approach is gentle and a slow 'titrated' process that happens bit by bit. It can take months, but often years.
The body needs time for integration but the mind is often inpatient and wanting 'quick fixes' for problems....
However the body-mind system needs time and a lot of repetition to restore equilibrium so that a new state of post traumatic growth can emerge.
What might our human potential be if the mind were infused with respect and compassion for the heart. What if mind fully supported the heart? What if mind placed it's discernment and clarity in full service to the wisdom of the heart?
- Dr Aline LaPierre (Founder NeuroAffective Touch).
Our bodies are intent on healing
-Ariel Giaretto
Fee Schedule
50 min appointment $140
75 appointment $190
2 hr appointment $230
I am an AASW accredited Social Worker and NSW Victim Services approved counsellor. The Victims Support Scheme is available to anyone who has experienced an act of violence in NSW.
I offer face to face sessions through my clinic in Bellingen, NSW as well as Telehealth services.
Please send me an email to discuss consulting work
Contact@elizazanuso.com