Somatic therapy
Integrative Somatic Therapy and Coaching
With Frances Browning
My Approach
Somatic-
From the body, or bottom up - i.e. with a focus on the innate wisdom of our body, cultivating a friendship with it and our intuition as to what it most needs. With a focus on grounding and regulating the nervous system, creating a deep sense of self-trust, and a capacity to access the wellsprings of calm and peace within all of us, as a prerequisite for safely processing emotions.
Holistic-
Seeing the person as a whole and everything being interconnected - the body-mind, psyche-spirit, one's life experiences, relationships etc. For example, while we may to a certain extent work with anxiety symptoms separately, overall we want to move towards a general improvement in vitality, sense of wellbeing, capacity for joy, as well as the capacity to hold difficult emotions. We thus hope to develop a strong sense of self and be able to dance with life's various vicissitudes.
Co-operative
My clients and I work together co-operatively. It’s not top down, simply me telling you what to do or ‘healing’ you. I can teach various practices and modes of thinking, but your intuitions and your insights are paramount, I am simply here to support and facilitate. After all I can never know your body-mind as well as you do. You are the ultimate authority on you and if anything feels wrong to you, or off the mark, I will listen. Ultimately we’re attempting to move towards more capacity to hold, both within yourself and your own support networks and community.
How I work
Via Somatic Practices, Nervous System Regulation Techniques based on Steven Porges' Polyvagal Theory, Meditation Techniques and Lifestyle and Mindset Coaching, cultivating an approach of self compassion and appreciation of the innate intelligence of our bodies.
Specialist areas
I specialise in working with anxiety, chronic illness, fatigue and women's health.
Somatic Therapist based in Bristol
Training
I trained at both the Centre for Coaching, in Health and Wellbeing Cognitive Behavioural Coaching, and at Embody Lab in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy.
My teachers were some of the most eminent names in Trauma Therapy, Somatics and The Nervous System, including:
Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing.
Stephen Porges, the developer of Polyvagal Theory
As well as Manuela Mischke-Reeds, Nkem Ndefo and Dr Arielle Schwartz among others.
I am also training as a counsellor at Bristol City College to add talk therapy to my qualifications. As of now I am still in training and so only qualified to work somatically, though of course I am happy to listen and am trained as a coach, but I cannot yet provide traditional talk therapy.
Get in touch
If you would like to ask any questions or book a free exploration call please use this form.
Testimonials
Frances is excellent, she provided an enduring sense of calmness and relief. HIghly reccomend to anyone planning on accessing a specialist and effective therapy service
- Max
