Michael Muir Somatic Psychotherapy

How Does Somatic Psychotherapy Work?



Somatic psychotherapy works to encourage your body and your mind to transform and connect. The techniques involve verbal engagement and bodywork, where appropriate, specifically biodynamic massage.



All of this supports the exploration of limiting beliefs and a movement towards happiness, spontaneity, creativity and an ongoing sense of wellbeing. You don’t have to do it on your own. Somatic psychotherapy involves us working together to facilitate you finding more fulfilling ways of living and being.

What Is Somatic Psycotherapy?



Somatic Psychotherapy embraces a comprehensive and holistic approach to personal growth and development. This approach acknowledges that all facets of human experience are interrelated: that the processes of the body/mind not only affect and reflect each other, but are inter-functioning aspects of a person's whole being, and that each person's individual history, their cultural/biological context and somatically-based subjective reality are all inextricably interconnected.

What Do I Do



I provide a safe and supportive space so my clients have the opportunity to explore and deepen their connection to who they really are. This often leads to a renewed enthusiasm and a desire to engage fully in life, with confidence, clarity and heart.



Simple body awareness techniques, such as tracking sensation and sometimes biodynamic massage, in combination with a person centred approach to therapy (utilising pyschodynamic theory) increases the client’s capacity for self reflection – this is a whole of person style of therapy.



I believe when you change the way the body perceives, you change the way the mind perceives and you see the world differently.

What Can I Expect From a Session?



Every client is different and I work with each client according to their needs. Some considerations are:



I want Somatic Psychotherapy but i don’t want physical touch.

Sure! We will work within the client-therapist relationship using counselling techniques, person-centred therapy and psychodynamic theory. We will look at ways to support letting go of limiting patterns, having more choice and increased energy to live a full vibrant life.



We could also use techniques such as tracking sensations within your body and mindfulness exercises to give you more of an embodied experience, which is somatic psychotherapy without physical hands on work. No touch, but supporting an integration of body and mind - reconnecting with your entire 'being'.



I want Somatic Psychotherapy and I’d like both verbal work and bodywork.

OK. We will work within the client-therapist relationship using verbal counselling and psychotherapeutic techniques, and at an appropriate and agreed time we could engage in bodywork to supplement and deepen your process.



Bodywork within somatic psychotherapy can assist you feel more solid, confident, less anxious, more emotionally stable, relaxed, sleep better, improve energy flow and digestion. Bodywork is also helpful in exploring setting healthy boundaries.



I already have a therapist who isn’t a bodyworker or I really just want Biodynamic Massage

Biodynamic massage is a deeply nurturing experience just on its own. The emphasis is on settling the nervous system, promoting flow and ease, relaxing muscular tensions and deeply healing and re-energising.



We do not engage in verbal therapy during a biodynamic massage however space is made for emotions if they arise but there is no requirement for exploring or deepening. Of course if you decide that you want to explore something within the biodynamic massage then you are most welcome – but the choice is yours to initiate this.



The details about sessions

I work from midday to 8pm (last session at 6:45pm) Monday to Friday from rooms in Peregian Beach and Crows Nest.

Session Details



I work weekdays from midday to 8pm (last session at 6:45pm) from my office in Crows Nest.



The fee for a 60 minute consultation is $200

Some health funds offer rebates for Somatic Psychotherapy as part of an extras package