The Intelligence of Your Shutdown Response: Why Freezing Isn’t Weakness—It’s Survival
Understanding the Freeze Response as Sophisticated Survival I want to share a story from my practice that I think about often. A client—I’ll call her Sarah—came to me deeply frustrated with herself. She kept saying: “I don’t understand why I freeze up. I know I should speak up for myself. I know I should say […]
The Child Who Became Responsible Too Soon: Understanding Parentification Through the Body
When Your Shoulders Remember What Your Mind Tries to Forget Do your shoulders feel like they’re carrying the weight of the world? Does your jaw clench unconsciously when someone asks you for help—even though you’ll inevitably say yes? Do you struggle to take a full, deep breath, as if your body won’t allow you to […]
Understanding People-Pleasing: The Hidden Psychology Behind Approval Addiction
By Abi Beri, Integrative Holistic Therapist What Is People-Pleasing Really? People-pleasing goes far beyond being considerate or helpful. It’s a compulsive behavioral pattern where your sense of safety and self-worth becomes entirely dependent on others’ approval. Unlike healthy accommodation, people-pleasing involves systematically abandoning your authentic needs, desires, and boundaries to avoid conflict or potential rejection. […]
Why You Can’t Stop Checking Your Phone: The Hidden Nervous System Addiction
Do you find yourself reaching for your phone without even thinking? That familiar pull toward your device when you’re trying to focus, relax, or simply be present? If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t seem to put your phone down despite knowing you should, you’re not alone – and more importantly, it’s not about lacking […]
The Body Keeps the Score: How Somatic Therapy Unlocks Your Body’s Hidden Emotional Wisdom
“The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness. But healing happens when both work together.” – Unknown Have you ever noticed how your shoulders tense up during stressful conversations, how your stomach churns before important meetings, or how certain memories seem to live in specific parts of your body? Your body isn’t […]
Calming Your Overwhelmed Nervous System: A Somatic Approach to Finding Peace
“Your nervous system isn’t broken—it’s just stuck in an old pattern that no longer serves you.” Your heart races for no apparent reason. Your mind won’t stop spinning. You feel simultaneously wired and exhausted, like you’re running on empty but can’t seem to slow down. Your body feels like it’s constantly braced for impact, even […]
When Everything Feels Too Much: A Somatic Healing Guide for Highly Sensitive People
“Your sensitivity isn’t too much—the world that feels overwhelming is too much.” Do you ever feel like you’re living with all your nerve endings exposed? Like you’re absorbing every emotion in the room, every harsh sound cuts through you, and every bright light feels like an assault on your system? If you’re reading this, you […]
The Body Scan That Actually Works: How Integrative Somatic Therapy Transforms Body Awareness Into Deep Healing
Integrative Somatic Therapy for Deep Healing If you’ve ever tried traditional body scan meditations and found them helpful but somehow incomplete, you’re not alone. While conventional body scans teach us to notice physical sensations, they often miss the deeper intelligence that lives within our bodies—the sophisticated guidance system that can inform every aspect of our […]
Somatic Healing: Releasing Emotional Triggers and Finding Freedom
Introduction: When the Past Lives in the Present Have you ever found yourself reacting intensely to a seemingly minor situation? Perhaps a certain tone of voice sends you into anger, a particular environment triggers inexplicable anxiety, or specific types of interaction leave you feeling small and powerless—all out of proportion to what’s actually happening in […]
7 Powerful Somatic Awareness Practices for Whole-Person Wellbeing
Have you ever noticed how your body tries to communicate with you? Perhaps through tension in your shoulders, a heaviness in your chest, or a fluttering in your stomach? In our fast-paced world, we’ve often become disconnected from these subtle messages—treating our bodies more like vehicles to carry our busy minds than the wise, responsive […]
