Relational Somatic Therapy. Reconnect with the wisdom of your body.
WHY I’M HERE
To help you thrive
I think of myself as a guide through the thickets of life, here to help people stumble through the tangled mess of relationships, transitions, and those big, honest moments of self-reflection. You know, the moments that leave you standing in front of the mirror, blinking at your own bewildered expression and wondering how exactly you got here. I know how lonely those moments can feel, how they make you want to curl up and just wait for someone else to figure it out. I come from a place of deep empathy for those times. They’re hard, and they’re raw.
My approach is rooted in somatic therapy, which means I believe our bodies hold onto our life story—the big, sweeping highs and the murky, painful lows. Somewhere along the line, I realized something profound: healing doesn’t just happen in our minds; it happens in our bodies, in all those physical places that absorb life’s little shocks. Talking can be helpful, sure. But some things live in us too deeply for words alone to reach. When we slow down and tune into the body, there’s this uncanny wisdom that starts to surface.
It can be scary and surprising and beautiful, but always entirely worth it. My hope is to help you feel lighter, more alive, and ready to reach out for the life that makes your heart hum.
THE BASIS OF MY APPROACH
It’s about meeting you where you are, with kindness and curiosity.
When we sit down, I’m not just listening to your words; I’m leaning into the quiet, unspoken stories your body carries, the ones buried so deep they’ve woven themselves into how you move, breathe, and even hold your shoulders.
I work from a person-centred, philosophy rooted in Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, and the latest in brain science. Therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal, so I bring a full toolbox of modalities: somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and trauma-renegotiation and mindfulness practices.
CONTACT MIKI
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CONTACT MIKI ·
INTRODUCTION TO SOMATIC THERAPY
A human approach to healing
Imagine this: instead of trying to talk your way out of old wounds or emotional stress, you actually learn to feel where they live in your body. Somatic therapy starts from the idea that our experiences, especially the painful, messy ones, get stored in our minds, in our muscles, our posture, our breath, and our nervous system. It's a holistic experience.
In a session, I’ll invite you to become curious about the sensations in your body. A tightness in your chest, that knot in your stomach, maybe even the way your shoulders are practically living up by your ears. I’ll use gentle, right-brain-focused techniques like mindful movement, body awareness, or simple breathing to help you get in touch with these sensations. And then, bit by bit, we bring the left brain into the mix, using words to make sense of these physical experiences. We translate the language of the body into something you can understand and even talk about.
This process lets both sides of your brain work together, so what’s felt deep down is also seen and understood. It creates this lovely sense of balance where the emotional weight doesn’t just hang around in your body without a voice or a way out. It gives you a sense of feeling safe in your own skin. And from there, healing has this beautiful chance to truly take root.
Tools & Theories Used In Therapy
Polyvagal Theory
Created by Dr. Stephen Porges, this is an amazing roadmap that shows us how the nervous system is constantly scanning for signs of danger or safety. Picture the vagus nerve as a kind of superhighway connecting your brain to your heart, lungs, and gut. It’s responsible for things like keeping your heart rate steady and your digestion on track, all while keeping you tuned in to what’s going on around you.
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Our bodies are like finely tuned radios, with different stations for how we handle the world. When we’re feeling safe, we’re tuned into the “Safe and Connected” channel, laughing, having coffee with a friend, actually feeling like we belong in our own skin. But then life throws a curveball, and suddenly we’re on the “Fight or Flight” station, heart racing, senses alert, ready for anything from a tense email to a saber-toothed tiger (or so our body thinks). And if it all gets to be too much, we switch over to “Shutdown,” like someone pulled the emergency brake. We go quiet, numb, like we’ve just left the room, all in the name of self-protection.
The thing is, if you’ve been through trauma, chronic stress, or just too many tough times, your nervous system can start mixing up the signals. Reading danger where there isn’t any, or staying stuck in survival mode even when you’re actually safe. Polyvagal Theory gives us a way to understand these responses. It’s a guide to knowing that, yes, your body’s responses make sense, and yes, there are ways to gently bring yourself back to that sweet spot where you can breathe and connect.
Attachment Theory
A beautiful, yet slightly heartbreaking idea that the way we connect with people today is shaped by those first relationships we had as babies, usually with the folks who were supposed to keep us safe and fed and warm. It’s as if each of us was handed a blueprint for relationships when we were tiny, and that blueprint became our guide for how we expect love to feel: safe or wobbly, nurturing or a little bit unpredictable.
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Our “attachment style,” as it’s called, can tell us a lot about why we do what we do in relationships. Some of us learned that love is solid and steady; others learned to keep an eye out for the exits. For some of us the good news is that these patterns aren’t carved in granite. People can grow, change, rewrite those old blueprints. Understanding our attachment style doesn’t mean blaming or feeling doomed. It’s about finally seeing the map we’ve been using and deciding if maybe we’d like a few new routes. And that can make all the difference, helping us learn how to build relationships that feel healthier, more open, and a little more kind.
Interoception
In somatic therapy, interoception is like a flashlight we turn inward, illuminating the truth that our bodies have been holding all along. The catch? Most of us are so busy ignoring our bodies that we miss the messages. We power through the tension in our necks, the tightness in our chests, the clenching in our guts, until they start shouting—sometimes with panic attacks or mysterious aches we blame on bad chairs.
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Interoception is one of those things we rarely think about but couldn’t live without. Like the people who restock the coffee aisle or fix potholes. It’s our body’s quiet, relentless way of keeping tabs on itself, sending little pings of information to the brain about hunger, a full bladder, or that thumping heartbeat you only notice after a weird text. It’s not flashy like sight or sound, but it’s there. Most of the time, it works unnoticed, like a stagehand behind the curtain. But when it does break through, it’s often saying, “Hey, something’s off.” And here’s the thing: scientists are realizing that this overlooked sense is crucial for balance and well-being. It might even hold clues to understanding anxiety, addiction, pain, and all the ways we get stuck.
Here’s the magic: when we start listening, really listening, we unlock something profound. That tightness might not just be tension. It might be fear, sadness, or an ancient memory trying to unfurl. By tuning into these sensations, somatic therapy helps us process what’s been stuck, releasing it from the body. Interoception isn’t just helpful. It’s a lifeline back to ourselves.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN A SESSION
Imagine walking into a space where you can just… be.
There’s no checklist, no grand plan, no pressure to make some big breakthrough or “fix” anything. Every session is its own little journey, and like a good story, it unfolds as it goes, revealing exactly what it’s supposed to, in its own time.
We start by slowing down, which, I know, can feel weird and slightly maddening. But this slowness isn’t about idling; it’s about allowing yourself to settle, like a snow globe coming to rest. And as things get still, you might start to notice what’s swirling inside: thoughts, feelings, sensations. Some might make sense, and some might feel like a complete mystery. Either way, they’re yours, and they matter. So, we get curious about them.
All I ask is that you come with a little openness, a bit of curiosity, and maybe a dash of humor when you can manage it. Each session is an invitation to see yourself with fresh eyes, to let things unfold as they will, and to let yourself be surprised by what you find—small discoveries, gentle shifts, maybe even a glimmer of grace when you least expect it.
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UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA
It doesn’t always look the way we expect. It can be a single event, or it can be the slow accumulation of smaller, unnoticed hurts. If any experience is too chaotic to make sense of, it can lodge itself deep inside.
Working with trauma is a slow, gentle process, like coaxing a skittish animal out of hiding. By creating safety, one layer at a time, and allowing the body to exhale all it’s been holding, healing unfolds. It’s deliberate, careful work, giving each part of you permission to feel again.
This type of therapy listens to the body’s deep, survival instincts. Those automatic, unspoken responses that kick in when we’re not looking. It helps the body catch up with the present, shedding the tension and emotions that no longer serve us.
While you can’t change the past, you can weave it into something true. The good and the unbearable woven together with care and love, becoming a reflection of your resilience and strength.
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Bessel van Der Kolk M.D., a psychiatrist and leading trauma researcher, defines trauma as an experience that overwhelms a person's ability to cope. It’s not the storm or the sudden crash or the shouting match that leaves your ears ringing. It’s what happens to you inside, when your brain and nervous system are just trying to process what happened but can’t. It’s like a computer that’s been hit with a power surge, sputtering, shutting down, and leaving you staring at the blank screen, wondering what to do next.
The result is like having two versions of yourself trying to live in the same body. One that’s rational and wants to move on, and one that’s stuck in the raw, unprocessed part of the memory, jumping at shadows and hiding under the covers.
It takes up residence in your body. In the tightness of your chest, the way you flinch when someone gets too close, or the way your heart races for no apparent reason. Trauma influences how you move through the world.
Trauma can lead to a range of reactions that can persist long after the traumatic event. Everyone experiences trauma differently, and some may show only a few symptoms while others experience many. Some of the symptoms of trauma include:
Emotional and Psychological: Flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, guilt, mood swings, irritability, and emotional numbness.
Physical: Fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, muscle tension, chronic pain, digestive issues, and panic attacks.
Cognitive: Difficulty concentrating, memory issues, and negative thought patterns.
Behavioural: Avoidance, substance abuse, risky behaviours, and social withdrawal.
Somatic: Body tension, heaviness, and a feeling of disconnection between body and mind.
People come to me for help with…
Anxiety
This is the body's natural alarm system, tugging us back to awareness, alerting us to risks both real and imaginary. And it can be a useful one, nudging us to take care. But when it lingers, that’s when it starts to wreak havoc.
Somatic therapy turns us inward, giving this tangled experience a curious and gentle look. We’ll untangle it, learning to question the difference between caution and catastrophe. Slowly, anxiety becomes less a puppeteer yanking our strings and more a signal—one that helps us recognize triggers, find calm, and start putting down new roots in the present.
Depression
The feeling of trudging through wet cement while the whole world continues in colour. Depression is in the ache that runs through your whole body, turning the simplest things into mountains.
Somatic therapy invites you to stay with yourself in challenging moments, and gently look at the places where feelings live in your body, noticing the patterns, the rhythms, the small flashes of life still flickering. We slowly ease the weight, and let a hint of light in. With patience, clients often say they feel the fog lift, just enough to see a path forwards.
Conflict
Conflict can feel like being caught in a storm. Waves of frustration, hurt, and confusion. Sometimes it’s the hollow ache of loneliness, even when someone is sitting right next to you, or the sharp sting of being misunderstood.
Whether it’s with others or with the relentless critic in your own head, it isn’t about finding someone to take your side. It’s about slowing down and tuning into what’s really happening. We won’t just talk about your struggles but to feel into them. It’s a chance to understand why that a comment lingers, or why setting boundaries feels like climbing Everest.
YOUR COMMITMENT
Therapy can be a miracle, like finding a flashlight in a dark cave, but here’s the catch: you have to use that flashlight to light your own way.
Our time together gives you a chance to slow down, to dive deep, to understand and to unravel those habits and patterns that might be holding you back. Yes, it’s meaningful, and yes, it’s hard work. It can leave you feeling raw, reflective, even a little wrung out as you turn over what you’ve uncovered.
But that’s just the start.
The real work, the part that matters most, is what you do after. How will you use the discoveries and new self-knowledge? It’s in those everyday moments when you get to decide: Out in the world, with your people, at work, in the choices of each day, that’s where change starts to take root. It’s about practicing again and again, nudging yourself into awareness, stepping out of those old ruts. This is about taking ownership over your life, about courage, about real self-care. It’s about showing up for yourself, in all of your beautiful humanity.
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“When you say that…
what happens in your body?”
FAQS
If this kind of work is new to you, but something inside you is nudging you to explore, book a free 20-minute discovery call. No pressure, no big commitment, just a chance to chat and see if this feels like the right fit.
Sessions are 60 minutes or minutes, it’s your call. The 90-minute sessions give us more time to dig in, wander a bit, and really explore the heart of things, but the 60-minute ones can still do a lot of good work. It’s about what feels right for you.
For full T&Cs click here.
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Yes, listening to your body is an innate skill that we all have. We did it before we had language! It will take a little bit of time to get back into the groove. You don’t have to worry about it, I will be there to guide you.
What I offer isn’t massage or yoga or anything with soothing candles in the background. It’s psychotherapy, but we use the body as a guide, like a compass pointing toward the truth. We tap into a quieter, deeper part of the brain—the part that doesn’t overthink but just knows. From there, we start uncovering insights about yourself that can be surprising, tender, and often exactly what you need to move forward.
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Everyone’s got their own rhythm in this work, their own unique way of moving forward. How many sessions you’ll need, and how often, depends on a mix of things—what you’re carrying, what you want to lay down, how strong you’re feeling, how much room you have in your life to dig in. It’s not one-size-fits-all. We’ll figure it out together, take it one step at a time. And if you’re wondering how it might look, we can talk it through on your discovery call, just see what feels right.
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Yes, both.
I offer online sessions and in-person sessions in North Vancouver.
Some people love the comfort and convenience of meeting online. Others prefer being together in the room. There is no right choice—only what feels right for you.
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Life happens. Kids get fevers, cars break down, the universe conspires against us. My time, like yours, is precious. So if you need to cancel, just give me 24 hours’ notice. If you don’t—or forget entirely—you’ll still be charged for the session. It’s not personal; it’s just how I keep the lights on and the coffee flowing. Thanks for understanding.
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Yes, very likely (if you are in Canada). I’m a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists (https://acctcounsellor.com/index.php), which means your extended health plan might help with the cost of our sessions—depending on your provider and the details of your compensation package. My receipts have all the necessary bells and whistles for insurance claims. But honestly, it’s always best to check with your provider first because no one needs the stress of unexpected fine print after a session.
I’m happy to discuss if needed, and I promise I’ll do my best to make it less confusing . We’ll figure it out together.
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Good question. Honestly, finding the right counsellor is like finding the right hiking boots—you need someone who feels solid, comfortable, and ready to support you through whatever terrain lies ahead.
That’s why I offer a free 20-minute discovery call. It’s a chance for us to chat, no strings attached, and see if we click. You can tell me a bit about what you’re looking for, and together we can figure out if I’m the right person to walk this path with you. And if not? No hard feelings.
If You’d Like to Learn More
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