Somatic Therapies
Explore Somatic Therapies to...
Create greater freedom, peace, and joy as you move forward in life!
Foster greater authentic connection within yourself & your relationships
Release & heal from chronic emotional and/or physical pain
Gain support as a highly sensitive or Neurodivergent soul
What is Somatic Work, Therapy, or Experiencing?
"Soma" is Greek for body, and so Somatic Therapy is body-based therapy. Lately this has become a bit of a buzz word, and for good reason, as so many are disconnected from their bodies due to lifestyle, demands, an overstimulated society, and trauma. I have also been here and at one point was so disconnected from my body, because it didn't feel like a safe place to be. While our experiences are unique, it is connection that allows us to heal and grow. But I suspect you are here because you recognize this, and are looking to create positive change in your life!
When I was a child my wise mother gave me the gift of breath and meditation, and often asked me "what is your body saying?" Around the age of 7 I began playing with yoga forms, and noticed that they released tension or brought up sensation and emotion in different areas of my body. This is the basis of Somatic work, therapy or coaching - the integration of our experiences from physiological, emotional, cognitive, and energetic perspectives. Essentially Somatic Therapy is a holistic practice, however; everyone practices it differently... so it's good to ask.
How do I practice Somatic Therapy?
My practice is holistic, considering the fascial and nervous system, the lived experiences, age, learning and sensing types, and the systems in which we exist and exist within us. Each of us has unconscious patterns affecting all we do, until we are in a space to bring these stories and patterns to conscious awareness, to release and create the change we desire. Drawing upon my strong knowledge of the body, I bridge science and intuition to support clients of all ages to develop greater awareness around their body sensations, how this informs their emotions, thought patterns, subsequent behaviours, and beyond.
This helps you to tune into your body wisdom, release patterns no longer serving, and create greater alignment in your life.
Ultimately my purpose is to guide you back into connection with your body, so you can experience greater health, peace, love, joy, and gloWithin!
Why do I integrate Somatic Therapy?
As a you might have guessed, this was my therapy to heal. I believe we are whole beings, yet for various reasons we often become disconnected which shows up as 'dysregulation'. I have professionally been practicing Somatic therapies since 2011, and personally since I was a child. I have been on a life long journey, intertwining the experiences of the mind, body, and soul. After a near death experience in 2007, I dove deep into the works of Peter Levine, Bessel Van der Kolk, Stanley Rosenberg, and Stephen Porges. As you may have guessed, my passion for learning was just being ignited. With support we are able to return to our wholeness in order to experience greater peace, love, and joy and gloWithin!
Who do I offer Somatic Therapy for?
I support clients of all ages, with a special focus on highly sensitive and neurodiverse individuals and families. You are welcome to read in the drop-down below about my specialties, modalities I work with, and different ways we can work together.
Is Somatic Therapy right for you?
Somatic therapy is beneficial to support a wide variety concerns. I practice in many ways, and meet my clients where they are - from nurturing reconnection due to trauma, to helping children gain a greater sense of being in their body. Below you will find my specialties, modalities I work with, and credentials. You are welcome to reach out to me via email with questions and we can book a time to speak so you can see if this is the right fit for you or your family.
I look forward to connecting with you,
🌺 Katherine
Specialties
Highly sensitive & neurodiverse souls - ADHD, Autism, PDA & SPD assessment (not diagnosis)
Supporting individuals & couples through the prenatal & postnatal experience
Empowering parents in supporting their sensitive & neurodiverse children
Developing self awareness, interoception & internal biofeedback
Anxiety, overwhelm, burnout, depression & sleep concerns
Comprehending near death & out of body experiences
Perfection, procrastination, body image & eating
Body autonomy & creating healthy boundaries
Attachment, parentification & intimacy
Intergenerational patterns
Chronic pain patterns
Modalities
Narrative Therapy and Dynamic Narrative Exposure Therapy™
Somatic Therapy & nervous system understanding
Holistic Developmental Integration Therapy©
Internal Family Systems & Parts Therapy
Braindance™/ Primitive Reflex Therapy
Bilateral art & sound practices
Yoga and somatic movement
Solutions Focused Therapy
Art & Expressive therapies
Meditation & mindfulness
Safe & Sound Protocol
Neuroaffective Touch®
Play Therapy
Breathwork
My qualifications
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Canadian Clinical Counsellor (CCC)
Masters of Arts Counselling Psychology (MACP)
Bachelor of Business (UBC)
Certificate in Adult Learning (U Calgary)
Expert Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT-500)
Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT)
Registered Children's Yoga Teacher (RCYT)
Registered Children's Yoga School (RCYS)
Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP)
Craniosacral Therapy, Infants + Children (Visionary Healing)
Craniosacral Therapy Level 4 (Visionary Healing)
Trauma & Memory Course: Somatic Experiencing® Skills with Dr. Peter Levine
Somatic Trauma Therapy Certification with Dr. Abi Blakeslee
Complete IFS™ Therapy mmersion: Integrating the Internal Family Systems™ Model
Certified Safe + Sound Protocol™ (SSP)Provider
Certified Dynamic Narrative Exposure Therapy™ (DNET) Provider
NeuroAffective Touch® Provider
Art Therapy Practitioner
Chronic Shame in Clinical Practice: An Embodied Relational Perspective
Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient
Braindance™ Instructor
Somatic Therapy Offerings
Virtually & In-Person (North Vancouver)
I intertwine Somatic Therapy in my clinical counselling practice for clients of all ages. As you might have guessed from above, this may take a variety of forms meeting you where you are at, fostering deeper connection with your body to empower you as you move forward.
Virtually anywhere at your own pace!
The Embodied Family Circle offers sensitive & Neurodiverse families holistic support to sustainably empower change in your family's life! Explore topics including; The Embodied Safety™ Method, the 8 Sacred Child Soul Types™, and Holistic Developmental Integration Therapy© in the comfort of your home. Gain further support in our community and through virtual 1:1s!
Infants to Adults in North Vancouver
Craniosacral is a gentle touch modality, supporting release in the fascial system (tissues), calming the nervous system so it can function optimally, and helping clients to release unconscious patterns. This modality is powerful for releasing emotional patterns no longer serving, chronic and acute pain, sleep concerns, birth trauma, improving digestive issues and so much more!
Group sessions in North Vancouver & Vancouver
Our Somatic Wellness Series offer you the opportunity to explore, learn, release, and grow through developing greater connection with yourself and others. In these series we explore Somatic CBT - physiological, emotional, intellectual, and behavioural patterns we desire to change
to experience greater freedom, peace, love, and joy. Join us for breath, movement, sound, art and more!
North Vancouver, BC
© 2025 Katherine Connolly