We don’t see things the way they are, we see them as we are. Anais Nin

Psychotherapy - Body Oriented

Why choose Psychotherapy - Body Oriented?

Sessions offer a space to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your life and relationships. Like all psychotherapy, body-oriented psychotherapy explores how experiences have shaped who we are today. How these sessions differ, is the invitation - through thoughtful, assisted self-discovery - to engage the whole bodymind, not just cognitive thought. There is a focus is on being present with your whole self with attention given to bodily awareness and sensations.

Through supportive practices, we guide the nervous system toward regulation and reconnect with the resourced, whole self. As we regulate the nervous system and increase mindful awareness, we become lovingly curious about how we are in the now. From here we begin to see how, unconsciously, old habits, beliefs, and cultural or ancestral influences may organise our current thoughts, feelings, experiences and physical body. Our body holds unconscious memories, reflected in neural pathways, muscle tension, and ingrained patterns etc. Whilst these beliefs may have once served us, they can now be keeping us stuck. The mind has the capacity to pull us into the past or future, triggering physical and emotional responses that disconnect us from the present. Awareness is empowering: just as the bodymind remembers, it can also learn and embody new, more supportive ways of being. Knowing what we "should" do isn’t always enough—real change happens when we include the whole self rather than push against resistance. By helping facilitate connection with, and the development of, our richly resourced bodymind in this nurturing, non-judgemental environment, we can foster new insight, giving opportunity for forward movement as we change our neurobiology and integrate sustainable change. Making it possible not to just survive, but to thrive with greater health, joy, and ease.

Who is it for?

The use of somatic and creative based enquiries requires a person to be curious and isisopen minded. There is an underlaying invitation in this work to trust the innate intelligence of our biological systems to move towards health and happiness. This is a very gentle approach and can benefit most people. Some more specific enquiries might be from someone who…

  • would like to understand themselves and/or a situation better.

  • has experienced trauma and/or vicarious trauma.

  • is curious to include the whole-body into the conversation.

  • is managing high stress, and/or burnout.

  • wishes to readdress a balance.

  • might be feeling stuck, disconnected (from them selves and/or others), and/or unfulfilled.

  • does not feel as happy as they would like.

  • feels anxious.

  • is managing depression and/or feelings of helplessness.

  • is struggling with physical health challenges.

I also have much experience of working with children and young people.

What to expect…

I have three grounding working principles:

1.     You are enough and have all that you need to thrive (not just survive).

2.     Trust the process.

3.     Easy does it.  

Before we start working together, we will have a free 30 minute chat. We can think about any questions you may have and explore hopes and expectations. We will then draw up an agreement which sets out the parameters of our sessions, including cost, confidentiality, frequency and duration of sessions, cancellation arrangements, etc. Each session is an hour, and it is usual that we meet once a week. The overall length of therapy is completely individual and will be reviewed together as we go.

Each time we share space, we will co-create a safe environment for you to be fully present with your whole self. There are two parts to finding flow and it involves ease and stillness as much as it does playfulness and movement. We will slow down, enter periods of time where you are regulated, calm and centred enough to observe what is happening in the body - it is a space to sense and connect with the bodymind.  From this place, we greet whatever presents itself in the moment. This might be a topic or situation you bring, or something that arises without prior conscious thought; all is welcome. Whatever comes, we greet it with kindness and care, not with judgement – there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Grounded in Jungian and Adlerian psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy techniques, body centred psychotherapies like Hakomi, and using Organic Intelligence techniques, I invite curiosity and a playful spirit. Together, we host all that you are and all that may be preventing you from thriving. By working to understand what might not be best serving you, you can begin to have conscious choice over what usually remains unconscious and habitual. These sessions are process led, not solution focused. By trusting the process and following what emerges, new insight and possibilities will arise. Integrating these will be enriched by thoughtful, somatic embodied experiences. It might be that we follow movement during the session and, as a qualified art psychotherapist, I can also offer the use of art making to facilitate exploration and processing.

In these sessions it is important to understand that, whilst I have much learning and experience, you are in the lead and the expert on your bodymind. It is not my job to ‘fix’. Mainly, and most importantly, because there is nothing to “fix”, there is no part of a person that is ‘wrong’ or ‘missing’. Each of us, in our unique way, already has everything we need to become the best of who we can be. However, we become disconnected and/or stuck in unhelpful unconscious patterns. These are often compounded by life experiences, yet, no matter what you have been through, or are still going through, your whole self - your bodymind – is primed and ready for health and happiness. So, it is in this light that, I do not have the answers to a ‘problem’, I believe your system has all the information and knows what to do. My role is help create a space to listen and notice what might be unconscious. I will be following your lead, and from this place walking alongside to explore what it is that wants to be heard. You have agency and can feel empowered on the journey.

I offer sessions in person at Falmouth Active Health or online. Each session is £65 for an hour, and it is usual that we meet once a week. If cost is a barrier for you, please let me know as we can think about this together.

Evidence Based

Reach out

For a free 30 minute connection call, please send your details or contact me at claire@conductingspace.co.uk