Mindfulness-based Somatic Psychotherapy (Hakomi)

Somatic psychotherapy is the ever-growing field of psychotherapy that deeply values the body as both the holder of past patterns, but also the source of the wisdom for growth and healing.

The reference to “somatic” psychotherapy almost accidentally falls back into the duality of mind OR body. In fact, we are referring to a bodymind system. The aim is to heal splits, and return to wholeness. A wholeness with all parts of our system inter-relating freely, and an awareness of our inter-relatedness with the whole world.

Hakomi is a specific somatic psychotherapy approach with philosophical roots in Taoism and Buddhism. It draws on, and has influenced, other therapeutic approaches such as Gestalt Therapy, Bioenergetics, Internal Family Systems, Psychomotor Therapy and Feldenkrais Method.

What you can expect in a session

Cultivating a state of mindfulness shapes and holds our sessions. This allows us to observe how we are organised without falling into reactive patterns. It also creates a spaciousness to explore new possibilities. We study thoughts, emotions and sensations in the body; areas of stuckness or strong emotion; get to know ‘parts’ and how these relate to current and past experiences. We might conduct ‘little experiments in mindfulness’ to study current organisation, noticing limiting beliefs or habitual motor patterns, including how the system might be ‘organising-out’ nourishment. We can engage in inner-child activities to offer ‘unburdening’, missing experiences and healing of old wounds. We might also take time just hanging in moments of wholeness (Self energy), embodying and integrating the possibility of being expansive. You can read more about the method here and here. Where there is an interest, I weave Hakomi with art practices and find this supports the flow of creative wisdom.

In 2025 I will be running a ‘Hakomi Clinic’, offering 1-3 sessions for people who would like to try Hakomi. Sessions will be offered at a reduced rate, in return for the sessions being video-recorded for my Certification process. Suitability criteria will apply. I will provide clear information and assurance about the privacy and ethics of the recording process. More details soon. To express interest:

My training in somatic psychotherapy

My training in Hakomi includes completion of the three-year Professional Training program at the Australian Hakomi Institute; completion of the one-year Hakomi Embodied Awareness Relationship Training H.E.A.R.T; level one of Trauma to Dharma with ; and Character Training with Jules Morgaine; plus attendance at multiple Hakomi workshops over the last 6 years. In 2023 I completed the core training with The Right Use of Power Institute which further articulates the ethical grounding of the Hakomi method.  Regarding Internal Family Systems (IFS) I have completed an Introduction and Advanced Skills training in Internal Family Systems training with Bonnie Weiss, IFS Intuitive Drawing, foundation workshop and Drawing into Self course with Ruth Culver, plus attending multiple training webinars with a special interest in unattached burdens. I attend group supervision with Paris Williams, where we focus on the inter-relationship between complex trauma and extreme states (sometimes referred to as psychosis). I am enrolled to attend “Understanding Bad Trips & working with Psychedelic Casualties” intensive training with the Wild Mind Institute in 2025 and am interested in the overlap of spiritual emergencies, extreme states with early attachment trauma. This training sits alongside training in sensorimotor art therapy.

5 core principles of Hakomi

If you’d like to read more about the principles of Hakomi, this is a helpful article. I also can’t recommend strongly enough, this stunning and expansive short book aimed for clients and therapists orientating themselves to the values and feel of the method Grace Unfolding: Psychotherapy in the Spirit of Tao-Te Ching