Welcome to the Garden: A Note on Somatic Growth

In our fast-paced, digital world, we often treat our healing like a software update - something that should be downloaded, installed, and "fixed" instantly. But as a somatic practitioner, I believe our psyche is far more like a garden than a machine. A garden cannot be forced to grow; it can only be tended. It requires the right conditions, nutrient-rich soil, and a patient, embodied understanding of the seasons.

The Living Body as Ecosystem

The word soma refers to the living body in its wholeness. Much like a landscape, the body is a dynamic ecosystem that remembers every storm and drought it has survived. In this space, we move beyond the intellectual story of our lives and begin to listen to the language of the nervous system.

We ask: How is the soil of my body holding this tension? What parts of my internal landscape have gone dormant to survive? How can I create a "greenhouse" of safety so that my organic process of healing can finally unfold?

Tending the Subterranean: Befriending the Unconscious

Beneath the surface of every garden lies a complex, invisible network of roots and mycelium. In therapy, this is our unconscious. Through psychodynamics, authentic movement, and dream exploration, we begin to "befriend" these hidden layers. Rather than fearing the dark or the unknown, we approach it with the curiosity of a gardener. We look for the "unnameable knowns" - those felt sensations that haven't yet found words - and we give them the space and nutrients they need to integrate into our conscious life.

The Power of the Grove: Healing in Relation

No plant exists in isolation. Forests thrive because of their interconnectedness, and humans are no different. My passion for Somatic Group Therapy stems from the belief that because many of our deepest hurts happened in relation to others, they must be healed in relation to others. Group work is the grove where we practice the social engagement necessary for true regulation. Here, we don't just talk about change; we live the shift in real-time, witnessing and being witnessed as we navigate the complexities of social connection.

Cultivating the Playful Self

Finally, a garden is a place of spontaneous life. By utilizing Play Therapy and Expressive Arts, we invite the inner child and the archetypal self back into the conversation. Play is the sun that allows for neuroplasticity and new growth. Whether we are working with children or adults, play allows us to test the boundaries of our Window of Tolerance in a way that feels creative rather than threatening.

What to Expect in This Space

This blog will be a collection of field notes on the human experience. We will explore:

• The Biology of Belonging: Deep dives into Polyvagal theory and somatic regulation.

• Movement as Medicine: How dance, flow arts, and formative psychology help us shape our experience.

• Integration Strategies: Practical ways to bridge the gap between "knowing" your trauma and "feeling" your wholeness.

Healing is not about removing the "weeds" of our past, but about composting them - taking our most difficult experiences and transforming them into the very nutrients that allow our most authentic selves to bloom. I invite you to join me as we wander through these layers, tending to the body and mind with curiosity and care.