why somatics?

there has arisen a misconception about the definition of “soma.” “soma” is often described as being “of the body;” however, the Greek root word originally refers to “the living body/organism in its wholeness.”

honoring that original message, somatics as provided by gu wellness counseling honors not only the wisdom of the body but also the wisdom of our many subtle, energetic entanglements. somatics is expanded outwards to include our spirit, our ancestors, our histories and lineages, realms and beings that are beyond-the-human, time and space, our connection to the universe, and so on.

in all transparency, to tend to my nervous system with care and support. this is why i also include the word “reciprocity” when discussing payment. the package format allows me to manage my finances with greater clarity, security, and foresight. this in turn also allows me to show up with greater and more consistent capacity for you and for the whole of my client-community.

i’ve also found packages to be supportive for folx whose income is inconsistent. when your income may be in flux, a package deal allows you the opportunity to plan, prepare, and save.

there is no required pace for package sessions. all sessions are good for one year from the date of purchase.

that being said, i’d personally recommend weekly, biweekly, or monthly frequency for sessions, and if we need to take a longer break at any point, we can collaborate around a pause.

when you are a longer-term and ongoing client, we don’t center a specific focus. yes, we have orientation points that guide the journey, but the open-ended nature of that work means we don’t need to follow a continuity. we also may have sessions that are entirely “talk” therapy.

during these packaged sessions, we will intentionally choose just one focus and stay continuous with that focus session-to-session, and we will explore this focus via somatic practice (rather than talk). does this mean the journey will feel linear? not necessarily. the nature of somatic work is inherently emergent and therefore nonlinear.

another way to think of the differences is this: as a longer-term therapy client, we simply enter the forest and wander. as a packaged-session client, we will select a trailhead then follow that trail with commitment. the trail itself may take twists and turns, but we remain committed to that particular trail.

not only all that, but somatic care package sessions are 75 minutes, whereas my regular therapy sessions are 50 minutes each. this is for two reasons: 1) the language of sensation and soma move much more slowly than our conversational minds do, and 2) somatic sessions for me as the provider are actually more easeful, and so i can maintain for longer durations.

these somatic care packages may feel therapeutic; however, they are not considered therapy as defined by the mental health profession.

while i do offer discounted pricing for packages with more sessions, at this moment in my career i do not offer a broader sliding scale for the packaged program. if my situation changes, i will update this webpage to reflect those changes.

i also designed this program in part to better support my sliding scale for longer-term, individual therapy clients, so i hope by purchasing these packages you can also feel confident that you are contributing to supporting other people’s care journeys.

neither is better than the other! most of my therapeutic experience has taken place online, so i am skilled and practiced at attuning even from a distance. each option has its own pros and cons.

virtual allows you to be in your own space, have access to your familiar objects and comfort objects, and any furbabies/pets are welcome to join.

in-person allows you a dedicated, separate space to do “The Work,” as well as the possibility of incorporating a more multi-sensory experience via practices like healing touch or aroma therapies.

we can also do a hybrid situation where we meet in-person for some sessions and virtual for other sessions.

i invite you to consider whatever option is more supportive for you and any access needs you may have. if you need help determining what that is, feel free to ask me any clarifying questions via my contact page!

*NOTE: i currently offer in-person services on Mondays and Thursdays only.

presently, no, these sessions are designed to be 1 on 1 care. however, if you and a friend or few want to split packages amongst yourselves, you’re more than welcome to! (for example: maybe you and a friend want 6 sessions each, you can split the 12-session package at no extra cost.) at minimum, each person must be committed to at least 4 sessions each.

please let me know you’re interested in this pathway when you contact me. please also let me know how many people are interested in splitting which package.

absolutely! please just make sure that it is a consensual gift purchase and that your gift’s recipient genuinely wants to embark on this kind of journey.

if you have confirmed the above with your person, reach out via the contact form below to let me know if you’d like to make your purchase a gift.

you can live ~anywhere~ and receive a somatic care package from me (of course, if you want in-person, you’d need to live around the Denver, CO area, but virtual is open to anyone, anyplace).

while these packages may feel therapeutic, they are NOT therapy and therefore are not regulated in the same ways as the mental health professions.

doesn’t have to be! don’t feel you need to treat our last session as a “hard out.” previous clients are welcome to return. however, i cannot guarantee i will have availability at the time of your return. we can also discuss the possibility of extending our care plan if need arises.

i am also open to you becoming a longer-term, ongoing client for my regular individual services if i have capacity.