Welcome to my Somatic Coaching practice where I integrate Somatic Experiencing with Somatic Parts Work. Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a naturalistic form of healing that will help you learn how to settle and release physiological activation from your body. Very often this process helps people to reduce stress and return to a sense of regulation and mastery in their lives. SE will support you in learning how to attend to uncomfortable sensations in your body and gently unwind them through your conscious attention. SE is particularly useful in managing stress because so many of the symptoms are physiological. Somatic Parts work helps to uncover the ways your internal system may have adjusted to form protection when you have experienced harm. By engaging with all of your parts in loving and compassionate ways, they are able to settle and go back into the role they are meant to play. Having worked as a therapist for many years, I am able to bring therapeutic support into every session. If you would like to read more about SE, visit the website at www.traumahealing.com or read In an Unspoken Voice by Dr. Peter Levine.

Benefits and Risks

SE may offer you many benefits such as an increase in your ability to self-soothe, feel empowered and achieve your goals. However, there may also be risks as with any treatment that focuses on healing trauma. Although SE is designed to help you resource and work with manageable amounts of discomfort, you may experience challenging feelings, images, or thoughts. Furthermore, as with any stress reduction treatment, there can be no guarantee that you will reach your goals. That said, many people report that SE has helped them tremendously and has created positive change in their lives. Learning how to reorganize “body memory” is often vital to learning how to relax and calm your nervous system.

In Somatic Coaching, we will determine your goals. It is my job to support you in achieving your goals. Sometimes, this means that we can discuss topics that cause discomfort. Anytime we are making a transformation in our lives, it can be uncomfortable. I ask that you are aware that this process can be uncomfortable and allow the discomfort to support your growth. Please communicate with me when there is discomfort so that we may process this together for your greatest growth.

Confidentiality

Everything that you share with me will remain confidential. There are a few reasons, however, I am required to break confidentiality by law. The first would occur if you were of danger to yourself and had an active plan to harm yourself. In this case I would contact crisis response services to conduct a further assessment which may result in hospital care. Another reason would occur if you were planning to seriously harm another person. I would be required to contact the person threatened if possible as well as the police department. Confidentiality will also be broken if I learn of child or elder abuse and will contact protective services immediately. If I learn of a child abuser from a person’s past who is actively still around children, I am mandated to report him or her.

Fees

Client agrees that the fees are non-refundable.

For sessions: Sessions take place in agreed upon time between client and coach.

Cancellation Policy: There is a 24 hour cancellation policy. Any cancellations need to be made with more than 24 hours notice or the session will still be charged. Late arrival: I will wait for 15 minutes past session start time. If client is later than 15 minutes, the session is considered a no show and will be charged the full session fee.

Time

Sessions are 55 minutes unless otherwise agreed upon. Additional time is prorated.

Sessions are available Tues- Fri between 11 am and 3 pm.

For Voice Note/Text support, you are welcome to drop in your reflections, questions, and processing at any time. I will listen and respond when my energy is best to do so. I am in Telegram Monday through Friday two times per day. I will do my best to respond within 24 hours. For the best results keep messages focused and concise (keep voice messages under 3 minutes).

I am not there on the weekends and evenings to allow full presence with my family and with you.

Client Responsibilities

As a client, I understand and agree that I am fully responsible for my physical, mental and emotional well-being during my coaching calls and the time I am in the containers, including my choices and decisions. I am aware that I can choose to discontinue coaching at any time.

I understand that “Somatic Coaching” is a Professional-Client relationship I have with my Coach that is designed to facilitate the creation/development of personal goals and to develop and carry out a strategy/plan for achieving those goals.

I understand that coaching is a comprehensive process that may involve all areas of my life, including work, finances, health, relationships, education and recreation. I acknowledge that deciding how to handle these issues, incorporate mentorship into those areas, and implement my choices is exclusively my responsibility.

Scope of Practice

I understand that mentorship does not involve the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association. I understand that mentorship is not a substitute for counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care or substance abuse treatment and I will not use it in place of any form of diagnosis, treatment or therapy.

I understand that this service is not therapy and the coach is providing coaching services. The coach is not performing this service using their therapy license.

I understand that if the coach determines that I would be better cared for under mental health treatment and qualify for a mental health diagnosis that the coach will refer the client to appropriate treatment and terminate the coaching contract. The client will be refunded according to the prorated amount of money left on the contract.

I promise that if I am currently in therapy or otherwise under the care of a mental health professional, that I have consulted with the mental health care provider regarding the advisability of working with a coach and that this person is aware of my decision to proceed with the coaching relationship.

I understand that information will be held as confidential unless I state otherwise, in writing, except as required by law.

I understand that certain topics may be anonymously and hypothetically shared with other coaching/mentoring professionals for training OR consultation purposes.

I understand that coaching is not to be used as a substitute for professional advice by legal, medical, financial, business, spiritual or other qualified professionals. I will seek independent professional guidance for legal, medical, financial, business, spiritual or other matters. I understand that all decisions in these areas are exclusively mine and I acknowledge that my decisions and my actions regarding them are my sole responsibility.

I have read and agree to the Coaching Agreements

Appointment