Somatic Experiencing® in Canberra

A gentle, nervous-system informed and body-oriented approach that offers space to slow down, notice what is happening within you, and become more connected with your own experience.

There are times when we can feel disconnected from ourselves, finding it difficult to settle, feeling overwhelmed, or simply sensing that something within us is asking for attention. Somatic Experiencing® (SE) offers a way of exploring these experiences through awareness of your body, with curiosity, care and respect for your individual experience.

What is Somatic Experiencing®?

Somatic Experiencing® is a body-oriented approach developed by Dr Peter Levine.

It grew from Dr Levine's multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, biology, neuroscience and related fields, and from observation of how the body responds to overwhelming experiences. The approach brings attention to the relationship between our experiences, our nervous system and what we notice happening in the body.

Rather than needing to analyse or retell everything that has happened, Somatic Experiencing® can involve gently noticing sensations, movements, emotions and impulses as they arise in the present moment and support these to unfold in the present to allow completion and integration. There is no particular way you need to be in a session. We work with what is present for you, at a pace that respects your individual experience.

What happens in a Somatic Experiencing® session?

A session is usually conversational, with attention also given to what you are noticing in your body.

We might begin with what has been happening in your life, what has brought you to the session, or simply what you are aware of in yourself that day.

From there, I may invite you to notice something that is happening in your body, perhaps a sensation, a feeling, a movement or a change in your breathing. There is no need to force anything or to go further than feels appropriate. The work can be quite subtle. We might pause, notice, become curious and allow your experience to unfold at its own pace.

For some people, this may be a new way of paying attention to themselves. For others, it can offer a sense of having more space around an experience that has felt difficult. The intention is not to make something happen, but to become more aware of what is already happening and be present to what wants to happen in safe and contained way.

What might bring you to Somatic Experiencing®?

You don't need to arrive with a clear explanation of what is happening.

You might notice that you haven't quite felt like yourself, or that your usual ways of coping aren't feeling as helpful as they once did. Perhaps you’re functioning well on the outside, but inside there's a disconnect, an inability to settle or something unseen that wants your attention.

You may be experiencing:

feeling constantly “on”, even when life is relatively quiet
finding it difficult to truly rest or switch off
Feeling disconnected from yourself, what you need, or your body
Emotional exhaustion
feeling overwhelmed more easily than you used to
Difficulty feeling present or grounded
A sense that you are carrying a lot, even when life looks fine from the outside
Feeling unsettled following a period of stress or significant change
A desire to understand yourself and your experiences more deeply
A feeling that something is asking for your attention, without knowing exactly what it is
carrying tension in your body without quite knowing why
getting caught in the same emotional or relational patterns
feeling anxious, unsettled or on edge
knowing you need some space, but not quite knowing what to do when you have that space
finding that your mind understands something, but your body still seems to respond differently
feeling tired from holding everything together

Or perhaps there isn’t one particular thing you can point to.

You simply have a sense that something within you is asking for attention.

You may also be curious about a body-oriented way of exploring your experience.

There is no particular problem you need to arrive with, and no particular outcome you need to work towards.

A Somatic Experiencing® session offers a space to slow down and become curious about what you are experiencing, not just through your thoughts and story, but through your body and your felt sense.

Together, we gently notice what is happening in the present moment, at a pace that feels manageable for you.

There is no need to have all the words. No need to explain everything.
And no expectation that you need to change anything about yourself.

My role is to offer an attentive and accepting space where we can become curious about and attend to your experience together. I also help keep the pace within your capacity and work with a nervous-system informed approach.

For some people, this may offer a greater sense of connection with themselves, more awareness of what they need, or more space around something that has felt difficult. Often times you learn how to listen to, respond to and support your body and understand what it is trying to tell you, and allow what wants to happen in a safe and contained process.

If you’ve been feeling that something is asking to be explored, you’re welcome to book a session with me.

Somatic Experiencing® sessions are available in Canberra and online.

A space to slow down and notice

Much of everyday life asks us to keep moving.

We think, plan, work, care for others, make decisions and respond to what is happening around us. There can be very little opportunity to pause and notice what is happening within.

Somatic Experiencing® offers a different kind of space where you can slow down. Where your experience can be met with curiosity rather than judgement or override. Where you can begin to notice the quieter signals of your body and responses. This is an important part of the work.

I don't see the body as something that is constantly needing to be fixed. It is an ongoing human experience, communicating, responding and adapting in ways that can be useful to become familiar with and understand what the body is trying to do, needs and is asking of us. We can become our body's greatest ally and offer it the support and care it deserves.

My approach as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner

My work is grounded in deep listening, curiosity and presence. I bring my training as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner together with more than two decades of experience in natural medicine and further study in mind-body approaches. I am interested in the whole person, not just a particular experience or symptom, but the wider landscape of your life and what it is like to be you.

In a Somatic Experiencing® session, I aim to create a space where you can slow down and be met with care and respect. There is no need to have the right words or to know exactly what you need. We begin with what is here right now, and gentle support for a sense of settling that is an important part of the process.

What can I expect from my first session?

Your first session is an opportunity for us to meet and for you to tell me about what has brought you here. We will take some time to talk about your current experience and anything you feel is important for me to understand. I will also explain a little more about how I work and what you can expect from Somatic Experiencing® sessions. There is no requirement to tell your whole story. We can begin wherever feels appropriate for you. From there, we may gently bring some attention to your present-moment experience and what you notice happening in your body. You are always welcome to ask questions or let me know what feels comfortable for you.

Somatic Experiencing® in Canberra and Griffith

I offer Somatic Experiencing® sessions in person in Griffith, Canberra's Inner South, and online throughout Australia. If you're looking for a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner in Canberra, you're welcome to get in touch to ask any questions or arrange a session in person or online.

About Dianna

I entered the field of natural medicine more than 20 years ago and have worked as a naturopath and herbalist since 2009. Over the years, my work and study have increasingly brought together the physical, emotional and experiential aspects of being human. I completed the three-year professional training in Somatic Experiencing® and continue to integrate this approach into my work with people. My practice is a place for slowing down, listening deeply and becoming more curious about your own experience. You can learn more about my background, training and approach on my About page.

Is Somatic Experiencing® right for you?

You don't need to know whether Somatic Experiencing® is exactly what you're looking for before getting in touch. If you are curious about this way of working, we can have a conversation about what is bringing you here and whether it feels like an appropriate fit. You’re welcome to book a complimentary 15‑minute chat with Dianna.

Somatic Experiencing® sessions are available in Griffith, Canberra's Inner South and online throughout Australia.

Dianna is a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP), having completed the official three‑year professional training program.

What is Somatic Experiencing?

(The simplified neuro-biology background)

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body‑focused approach to healing. In this work, we gently engage with your body, your nervous system, and your inner experience to help you reconnect with a sense of safety within yourself. Your nervous system influences every part of your body, every organ, every sensation, and it also holds a remarkable protective capacity. This protective energy can show up as fight or flight, or it can become stuck in a freeze response. For some people, the system cycles between these states without finding a place to settle, leaving them feeling anxious, isolated, or stuck.

Through Somatic Experiencing, we support your nervous system in gradually returning to a felt sense of safety, at a pace that honours your capacity. Sometimes this involves allowing the body to express stored survival energy in a meaningful and contained way. When this happens, the body receives the message that it is effective in the present moment, that it no longer needs to hold onto adrenaline or remain in fight, flight, or freeze, and it can begin to soften, deactivate, and rest.

Our growing understanding of the nervous system has become invaluable in addressing the deep, often overwhelming sensations that can arise from trauma or prolonged stress. Thanks to pioneers such as Dr Peter A. Levine, Dr Stephen W. Porges, and many other researchers, clinicians, and educators, thousands of people have been supported in safely processing trauma through embodied approaches that go beyond cognitive understanding alone.

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