Get unstuck.
Rekindle your spark.
Reconnect to your sense of power.
I help my clients get “unstuck” in their bodies, their therapeutic work, and their lives.
Have you felt uncomfortable in group classes or a gym setting, or felt like the instructor or trainer wasn’t willing to accommodate your body (or didn’t know what to do with it)?
(I have!) I’ve invested years in training in movement for those of us who don’t fit in the norm. My work is tailored to the individual and is designed to be affirming for those who feel they are not welcome or comfortable in traditional “fitness” spaces: fat, trans, queer, & people with disabilities, among others!
Group classes can be great, but they aren’t able to take into account your individual needs and how to work with them. And for many of us, a group class simply doesn’t allow us to show up in a full and authentic way. Each of us deserves a space where we can be treated with respect, allowed to be vulnerable, express ourselves authentically, and be free of judgment or rules about how we “should” look, feel or learn.
I am here to support you. I have no expectations about what your body looks like, your social identification, how your mind works, or your physical abilities. I don’t need you to be “good” at anything (whatever that means), and it’s okay if it takes you a while to feel comfortable or learn something new. There is no agenda, goal or timeline other than the ones that we create together, and I am open to your feedback about what works best.
Curious about how movement or somatic support can enhance your counseling or therapy sessions?
While my work is not a replacement for licensed mental health care, it can support the process and facilitate growth in often surprising ways.
Many of my clients have engaged in years of talk therapy– a top-down approach to mental health. They’ve found that mindful movement– a bottoms-up approach to mental health– is the missing piece to breaking through plateaus and bringing therapy to life in an embodied way.
They’re able to make connections and see patterns that they’ve “known” about but never really “felt” in their bodies– and suddenly change feels much more possible. Our sessions become a laboratory to uncover new connections and concepts, which they share and unpack with their mental health professional.
If you’re working through anxiety, depression, or overwhelm, there are many ways that we can work with your body for quick relief. More importantly, we can teach the body and nervous system how to feel more supported and resourced to support you going forward.
Scroll down to the “Nervous System Support” section to read more.
Is your relationship to “exercise” a complicated one?
For most of my life, I had no idea that moving my body could be a fun thing to do. I hated gym class, and the idea of attending a group class felt super stressful.
Maybe you’ve always felt you’re a slow learner, or uncoordinated. Maybe you don’t like the way your body feels or looks when it moves.
Our beliefs about our bodies are often based in narratives that simply aren’t true. You can enjoy movement. Your body is capable of amazing things. My clients surprise themselves again and again with the things their bodies can do and how much they enjoy doing them.
If you decide to work with me, you’ll notice that I don’t even call it “exercise.” We train; we have a movement practice; we play; we explore. We find ways to make movement work for you.
If you are in recovery for an eating disorder, you know that it can be tough to find a new relationship to movement. As someone who has worked through her own disordered eating recovery, I do not teach or talk about weight loss or shape change. Instead, the focus is on the positive ways that we can use movement, strength, and embodiment work to enhance the quality of your life.
Not sure exactly what you need?
Our time together is a place for you to feel supported in whatever ways feel most important. We’ll work together to create a supportive structure for your optimal well-being, and to give you tools and techniques so that you can feel better when we’re not together.
Read more about my tools and methods here, and how and why this process works here.
“It’s exactly what’s been missing from my life. You’ve made me realize how strong I still am despite chronic pain and depression and being told that I’m weak.”
-Ann, client
I have limited availability for private lessons online or in my studio space at 593 SE Central Parkway, Stuart FL. Read more about me here.
“There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it.” -Elizabeth A Behnke
you deserve to feel good in your body.
I teach movement, meditation, and somatic (body-based) practices to help clients recover their innate wholeness, working with the overwhelm associated with experiences related to nervous system dysregulation. We all deserve to thrive, and to feel strong, durable, and able to react well to the circumstances of our lives. Learning to leverage your own mind-body connection can be truly transformational.
My services are not a replacement for licensed mental health care, but may be supportive in conjunction with it. Potential clients will be interviewed to determine that they are supported in their mental health care before training, and may be required to provide authorization from their current mental health care provider.
FAQ
What do we do during sessions?
That really depends on you and what you need! We’ll work together to find the best way to support your body, mind and nervous system.
We use a variety of different tools and methods. For most clients, a typical session blends movement, strength and mobility training, traditional and contemporary yoga techniques, and nervous system support.
One of the things we may work on is learning to “read” your own body so you can better resource yourself.
Who is this for?
This work is for anyone who is drawn to it. My current clients include trauma survivors; those in recovery from substance abuse or eating disorders; highly sensitive people; introverts; creatives; many of them are also healers, coaches or yoga teachers who are looking for additional support themselves.
How long is a session?
Each session is 60 minutes long. Our first session may take up to 75 minutes to complete intake forms and get to know each other.
How often should we see each other, and for how long?
My work with clients is tailored to your individual needs. Some clients choose to schedule twice weekly, and others come weekly or bi-weekly. This type of work is most effective when done on a consistent basis over a length of time (2-3 months, for example) rather than 1 or 2 sessions.
Where do we meet?
I see clients in my studio at 593 SE Central Parkway, Stuart FL, or online via Zoom. Please let me know if you prefer that I wear a mask during our sessions– I am fully vaccinated but am happy to add any extra protection that makes you feel safer.
Tell me about accessibility.
I have a limited amount of sliding scale spaces available. Preference is given to BIPOC and LGBTQ2S, those living with disabilities, and those living with lower income. If these apply to you, please talk to me about how we can work together.
The studio is wheelchair-friendly (with wheelchair-accessible parking directly in front). Please note that at this time the restroom is not wheelchair-friendly.
All practices are tailored to each individual in a collaborative format (so that each person can decide what works best for them).
Do I need special equipment?
If we’re working together virtually, there’s no need to purchase anything special (unless you want to)! We can use any existing equipment that you have lying around, or get creative with everyday objects.
If we’re working together in person, I have everything you need available to use– just bring yourself!