Great question! Somatic simply means 'of the body.' In our sessions, it just means I might ask, 'Where do you feel that tension in your chest right now?' instead of just staying in your head. It’s about helping your nervous system feel safe and then processing using the felt sense.

First of all, it’s completely normal to feel a little nervous. Most people do! Walking into a room to talk to a stranger about your inner life is a brave move. In my practice, we prioritize safety and connection over 'fixing' things on day one.

Here is what our first few steps together usually look like:

1. The 'Human' Connection: Our first session is mostly about getting to know each other. I want to hear your story, but I also want you to see if I’m a good fit for you. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in and what you hope feels different in your life a few months from now.

2. Noticing the 'Right Now': Because I work Somatically, I might gently invite you to notice what’s happening in your body as we talk. If you tell me about a stressful week and I notice your shoulders are up by your ears, I might just ask, 'What do you notice in your shoulders right now?' We go at your pace—there’s no 'wrong' way to do this.

3. The Collaborative Plan: We’ll look at those 'Family of Origin' patterns (like being the family people-pleaser) and talk about how they affect your current relationships. We aren't just looking for problems; we’re looking for the 'Inner Child' who just needs a little more support and advocacy.

The bottom line: You don't need to have a script or 'be good' at therapy. You just have to show up as you are. I’ll handle the rest.

Because our work is relational, I don’t believe in a 'one-size-fits-all' checklist. I want our time together to feel like a human conversation, not a clinical interview. However, we usually follow a gentle flow to help you transition from the busyness of Murfreesboro life into our healing space:

• The Landing: We almost always begin with a brief grounding or mindfulness check-in. This isn't about 'clearing your mind'; it’s about giving your nervous system a moment to arrive in the room so you aren't just 'talking at' your problems from a place of stress.

• Opening the Space: I’ll check in with you to see what needs attention today. Sometimes this is a specific event from your week; other times, it’s a heavy feeling you can’t quite put into words yet.

• Weaving in the Body: As we dive into what’s on your mind—whether it’s a family-of-origin pattern or a boundary you're struggling to set—I’ll weave in SomEx work. This might sound like me saying, 'As you talk about that phone call with your mom, I notice your breath getting a bit shallow. Let’s just pause there and see what your body is trying to tell us.'

Not at all! While our past often informs our present patterns (like people-pleasing or anxiety), we focus on how those patterns are showing up in your life today. We look back to understand, but we work in the present to heal.

To get the most out of our work together, I typically recommend starting with weekly or bi-weekly sessions.

Here is the 'why' behind that:

• Building the Relationship: In relational and somatic therapy, the most important tool we have is the trust between us. Meeting consistently at the beginning helps us build that 'relational safety' so your nervous system feels comfortable doing the deeper work.

• Creating Momentum: When we're looking at long-standing patterns—like family-of-origin issues or chronic people-pleasing—meeting regularly helps us stay connected to the shifts happening in your body and your life without having to spend the whole hour just 'catching up.'

• The Re-Assessment: We aren't locked into one schedule forever! Once we’ve established a solid foundation and you’re feeling more grounded in your daily life, we will re-assess together. We can talk about moving to a 'maintenance' pace or spacing sessions out as you feel more confident in your self-relationship.

The goal is always to find a rhythm that feels supportive to your healing, not like another 'should' on your to-do list.

To provide you with the most personalized and private care possible, I do not work directly with insurance companies. This allows us to focus entirely on your healing—without an insurance provider requiring a formal diagnosis or limiting the number of sessions we can spend together. It keeps your mental health records strictly between us, ensuring our work remains truly private and tailored to your pace. However, I do provide clients a monthly Superbill when requested.

A Superbill is essentially an itemized receipt for your therapy session. Many of my clients submit these to their insurance providers for out-of-network reimbursement. I recommend calling the number on the back of your card to ask about your 'out-of-network mental health benefits'—it’s a great way to see if your plan will cover a portion of our time together.

My office is located in the Highland Park neighborhood in Murfreesboro, close to the MTSU campus and just a mile off of th Square! I offer a quiet, comfortable space designed to help you feel grounded from the moment you walk in.