FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Suitability & Safety

  • It is not recommended for people with:
    • brain implants
    • seizures originating from the brain stem

    In some cases, extra caution is needed.
    Please speak with your healthcare provider before practicing if you have:
    • very low blood pressure or irregular heart conditions
    • psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, severe depression, or borderline personality disorder
    • epilepsy or recent surgeries
    • chronic pain, physical injuries, or mobility limitations
    • chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, or lupus
    • autoimmune conditions
    • are currently pregnant

    These conditions don’t necessarily mean you can’t participate — only that the pace and practices may need to be adjusted to meet your needs safely and gently.
    I always take these factors into account, so please consult your clinician and let me know so we can adapt safely.

    If you’re unsure whether this is the right fit, you’re warmly invited to book a free 20-minute call so we can talk it through together.

  • There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to stress and anxiety — different people respond to different approaches and there are more stress models out there. That said, the somatic tools I use are widely applied and well-regarded. Most are based on applied Polyvagal Theory and are designed to support nervous system regulation. While there’s no guarantee, many people find these practices effective and helpful. That’s why I chose this approach: because it works for most people, most of the time. So if you're curious, it’s definitely worth a try.

    It’s also important to know that this isn’t therapy and it’s not about “healing” in the clinical sense. However, research and clinical practice consistently emphasize that when someone struggles with deeper emotional regulation challenges, the first step is learning foundational stabilization skills — simple, practical tools that can be used anytime, anywhere. Unfortunately, many therapeutic approaches skip this step, even though it’s essential before any deeper emotional work.

    These practices are easy to learn, highly portable, and can become everyday resources that help you feel more steady and supported — whether or not you’re in therapy.

Understanding the Method

  • “Somatic” simply means “body-based.”
    It’s an approach that understands anxiety and stress not just as thoughts or emotions, but as physiological states—patterns in your breath, posture, muscle tension, and nervous system activity.

    Somatic work includes a wide range of tools and micro-practices.
    There are different categories—like grounding, breathing, orienting, gentle movement, or stress-response mobilization and many others—and within each of these there are many variations and options. Because this can feel overwhelming to navigate alone, sessions focus on finding the specific practices that fit your nervous system, your body, and your stress patterns.

    Somatic tools help you learn how to work with your body, rather than trying to think your way out of anxiety.

  • No, this work does not involve any physical touch. Some practices may include gentle self-contact (like placing a hand on your chest or belly), but nothing invasive, uncomfortable, or guided-touch based.

  • A somatic session can help you:

    • Recognize your body’s signals before overwhelm takes over

    • Reset your nervous system through small, targeted practices

    • Release activation from your muscles, breath, and stress responses

    • Build capacity so you feel steadier, more grounded, and more responsive in daily life

    • Interrupt anxiety loops by shifting the physiological state your body is in—not just trying to change your thoughts

    Think of it as learning the language of your nervous system and discovering how to shift your internal state in real time. It’s practical, gentle, and surprisingly effective—especially for people who feel “stuck in their head” or whose anxiety feels very physical.

  • Somatic approaches are grounded in well-established research on how the body and nervous system respond to stress. While different theories — such as the work of Dr. Stephen Porges, Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and others — offer various ways to explain these processes, the effectiveness of body-based tools for anxiety and stress regulation is widely supported in practice and research.

  • Somatic exercises differ by focusing on physical sensations, body awareness and nervous system regulation rather than thoughts alone. Instead of analyzing anxiety, these practices help you feel and shift it through various practices that involve the body. This body-centered approach works directly with the physiological roots of stress, making it especially helpful when anxiety feels overwhelming or hard to talk about. Somatic tools can also complement cognitive, behavioral, or mindfulness-based methods by supporting deeper integration and lasting calm.

Practical & Accessibility Questions

  • Most clients work with me for about 8–12 sessions. This time frame allows enough space to learn, practice and start integrating the somatic tools into everyday life.

    Everyone’s nervous system is different, so the length of the stabilization process can vary. For some, change happens quickly; for others — especially when the nervous system is more dysregulated or sensitive — it takes a bit longer and requires more regular practice.

    We move step by step, at a pace that feels right for you. While there’s a general structure to the process, it’s flexible and always tailored to your needs.

    We always discuss together what feels most supportive for you. Some people choose to continue for a while to deepen their practice and sense of safety — but even then, this work doesn’t become therapy.
    It remains a skills-based, somatic learning process that supports nervous system stabilization and self-regulation.

  • My rates are adjusted to reflect the income levels of higher-income European countries, as most of my clients are based in those regions. However, I warmly welcome clients from other countries and parts of the world as well. If you’re living in a country where these fees aren’t accessible, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to offer alternative pricing, or suggest free and low-cost resources — such as guided materials, books, or videos — that can still support you in meaningful ways.

  • Absolutely not a problem.
    I’m not a native speaker either, and I always adjust my pace and language to your comfort level.
    One of the advantages of somatic methods is that they don’t rely on a lot of talking — much of the work happens through simple guidance and body-based awareness.
    For the short educational parts, it helps to have a basic understanding of English, but you don’t need to speak perfectly.
    If you can follow everyday English conversation, we’ll have no trouble communicating.

Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Feel free to get in touch, I’ll be happy to help.

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