Listening to What Your Body Knows: Somatic Journeys for Women

Many of the women I work are already self-aware, can explain their patterns, name their triggers and trace the story back to its roots. And yet something still feels stuck. This is often where somatic therapy comes in.

A central part of my work is somatic journeys: gentle, guided explorations that invite you to slow down and listen to what your body is communicating. Through felt sense, body sensations, visualisation, imagery and metaphor, we explore what may be sitting beneath the thoughts and stories of everyday life.

Why the body?

Women are often taught, subtly or not, to override their bodies. We learn to push through exhaustion, smile through discomfort, put others' needs first and stay "fine" while carrying a great deal.

Over time, the body can become the place where all of this is stored: the tight jaw, the heavy chest, the knot in the stomach, the constant bracing, the fatigue that rest doesn't touch.

Your body has been holding information, and often protecting you, for a long time. Somatic work offers a way to listen to that information rather than ignoring it. It is through the listening process, that healing and transformational shofts can occur.

What a somatic journey looks like

A somatic journey is led by you. I might invite you to notice where in your body you feel something right now, and to describe it with curiosity: its size, texture, temperature or movement. Sometimes an image or metaphor emerges, perhaps a stone in your chest, a clenched fist or a tide pulling back. We stay with it allowing it to unfold at your pace.

There's no right or wrong way to do this, every journey is unique. You don't need to relive painful experiences or retell your story in detail. Often, the body shares what it needs to without many words at all.

Emotions, patterns and deeper insights

By turning towards your body with curiosity, you may begin to notice emotions, patterns and deeper insights that have been difficult to put into words. For many women, this might include noticing where they hold stress around caregiving, work or relationships, recognising the moment they automatically shut down or please others, or finding a long-buried sense of anger, grief or tenderness. These moments of recognition can be quietly powerful, and they often bring a sense of relief and self-compassion.

Safety comes first

I work from a trauma-informed approach, which means safety and grounding are always at the centre of our work. We move slowly, check in often and build in ways to steady yourself, such as feeling your feet on the floor, orienting to the room or following your breath. You are always in control of the pace and depth, and you can pause or stop at any time.

This careful foundation supports nervous system regulation, helping your body learn that it is safe to soften, rest and feel. From there, reconnecting with yourself becomes possible, along with new options for healing and change.

Is somatic therapy right for you?

If you feel disconnected from your body, stuck despite insight, overwhelmed by stress, or carrying experiences that are hard to put into words, somatic journeys may offer a different kind of support. If you're curious, I'd love to talk with you about whether this approach feels like a good fit.

Get in touch to book an initial conversation.

Myvanwy

Embodied Woman Counselling & Psychotherapy

Mullumbimby & Online

PH. 0419 118 188