I want to give you a real understanding of how your nervous system works
1:1 Somatic Experiencing Exploratory Sessions
1:1 se exploratory sessions
Welcome to a place where you can explore, be curious and discover your body’s wisdom, giving you the tools to feel more connected, alive and empowered.
Here, your feelings and life experiences are not only validated but celebrated for the brilliance of your nervous system in doing what it needed to survive. This sanctuary invites you to show up authentically, explore every aspect of yourself and embrace the depth of your emotions without the need to hide or prove anything. It's a space where you can meet your edges and the unfamiliar with my full presence, attention and compassion.
This work is intentionally slow. To change your nervous system, we must proceed gradually—too much, too fast, too soon can set us back. Together, we will build a strong supply of resources and strengthen your capacity. You will always have a choice in everything we explore, ensuring that when you’re ready to meet your edges, both you and I will know.
We will guide your nervous system towards new, supportive pathways that align with who you are now. This work is extraordinary and deeply meaningful. It may not always be fun, easy or comfortable, but it is possible and available to you. I will be with you every step of the way, reminding you of your resources and your courage. Together, we will navigate as much as you are ready for, showing that there is nothing you can share that I cannot hold with you.
What ARE SE Exploratory Sessions?
SE Exploratory sessions are body-based, so anyone with a body can benefit from this work. These sessions are about understanding and befriending your body, becoming a team rather than fighting against it.
I envision these sessions as an opportunity to explore the language of your nervous system, explore your physiology, explore a felt sense of your body and explore what it means to expand your capacity so that you can feel more connected, alive and empowered. A brave place to be curious about developing and nurturing a relationship with your body, where you can explore boundaries, cultivate self-trust and tap into your inner wisdom—ALL AT YOUR OWN PACE.
This method examines how your body has been affected by your life experiences. It focuses on issues such as difficulty managing strong emotions, decompressing after stress or feeling overwhelmed by minor triggers. Somatic Experiencing views these behaviors from a physiological perspective and I’m here to translate them into a language you can understand and change.
This work does not require you to retell or relive any traumatic event. Instead, it helps you slowly and safely resolve your body's fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses. This process resets your nervous system and quite literally changes your biology. You will restore inner balance and boost your resilience, capacity, vitality and ability to engage in life.
You will also begin to understand the meaning behind bodily sensations like a pit in your stomach, tightness in your chest, when your muscles tense, when your face gets hot or feeling the urge to run. It teaches you that these sensations are your body's way of communicating with you.
These sessions will help you gain the tools to manage your emotional responses effectively.
Through my own exploration, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of my own nervous system. I’ve learned how to listen, track and allow the intelligence of my body to guide me and I’d be honored to empower you with these same tools.
The way in and out is through the body.
What happens in aN SE Exploratory Session?
While it’s hard to explain and put words to what happens in these exploratory sessions because it’s beyond most things we've ever been taught, I continue to be in awe of the places we go. It's a profound and transformative experience. Most sessions end with a feeling of “wow” as you begin to see, sense and feel your own wisdom, learning to become friends with your body instead of seeing it as the enemy.
SE Exploratory Sessions are a chance to meet yourself exactly where you are, addressing what you're holding and possibly even holding for others. The session involves a continuous exploration of tracking your body and nervous system, noticing what feels tense, tight, numb and constricted versus what feels at ease, relaxed, soft and open.
Your body tells a story and I'm here to explore its narrative with you, teaching you how to track your own nervous system. I'll help you understand the different states you move in and out of, staying with you through stress or shutdown until it moves through and completes its cycle.
It's a place where I get to see the inner workings of your brilliant mind, reflect your patterns to you in a supportive and non-judgmental way and help you access insights, messages and wisdom from your body. You don't need to understand this methodology logically—just be with the mystery, which leads to more trust, “wows” and less need to always be in control.
This is a place where you can be seen in your mess without needing to figure it out, analyze, think your way through, get it right or be good at it. It's an exploratory space for the unfolding of your true self, where I can reflect back all the wisdom that comes through when you are in the present moment. Your innate knowing and wisdom have always been there.
You might practice un-learning all the ways you have been told to stay small, stay quiet, keep your voice down, don’t make a scene, be a good girl, don’t make them angry or don’t bring that up. That was then and now there is a part of you that knows you have something to say and I’m here to help you with this new exploratory vocabulary and language.
This is an exploratory space to learn about your needs, create healthy boundaries and know how to communicate them to others without feeling like you're asking too much or being selfish. We'll practice communicating in a way that benefits both you and others.
It would be my privilege to support you, exploring your inner world and demonstrating that healing, leading to greater access to joy, is not only possible but within reach.
It's a place to explore following impulses and allowing bodily sensations like yawns, burps, movement and more. Here, there's no need to pretend or hold anything back. This is where we can experience your body in a whole new light. It would be an honor to witness and support you in this profound way.
What I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with you through the fear and the mess. That’s all any of us can do. That’s what I am here for.
Shauna Niequist
MY APPROACH
My approach is to show up as a human first. We take some time getting to know each other and together, we create a space that feels comfortable and safe enough to explore and nurture your inner wisdom.
From this place of strength and openness, we'll walk hand-in-hand to slowly meet new edges that may be uncomfortable, exploring only what you're ready to feel.
This exploratory process isn't about rejecting any part of you; instead, it's about embracing and integrating all aspects of yourself, even the challenging ones. There's nothing you can share with me that I won't be able to explore and hold with you.
I blend ancient Buddhist practices with modern mindfulness, experiential somatic techniques, embodied movement and parts work to help you explore, feel, process and connect with your authentic self. With this personalized, exploratory attention focused on your unique needs and this methodology, I believe you will begin to notice meaningful and profound changes right away.
My current sliding scale rates are $55 - $125 for a fifty minute SE Exploratory session
I bring over 12 years of experience in yoga, embodied movement, somatic language, mindfulness meditation, breathwork, Tibetan Buddhism, parts work and my full presence to each session.
You are the way to your own wisdom
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You are the way to your own wisdom •
Se Exploratory Sessions empower you to navigate challenges with greater ease and find freedom from overwhelming emotions and life’s discomforts.
Steph Strauss
what se exploratory sessions can help with
Trauma
Stress + Anxiety
Depression
Grief
People Pleasing
Speaking Your Truth
Healthy Boundaries
Dissociation
Low Self-Esteem
Life Transitions
Relationship Patterns
Body Awareness
Regulating Your Nervous System
Understanding Your Nervous System
Developmental Trauma
Navigating Strong Emotions
Creative Expression
Blocks to Taking Action
SO YOU CAN FEEL
Greater Calmness
Increased Clarity
Connected to Yourself + Others
Vitality
Comfortable in Your Skin
Improved Confidence
Emotional Stability
Deepened Self-Love
Awake to Your Life
Increased Joy
Grounded + Centered
Increased Gratitude
Embodied
Inner Strength
Compassion
Safe in the Present Moment
Relaxed
Freedom to BE YOU
Somatic Experiencing resources
DISCLAIMER
SE Exploratory Sessions are designed for education and empowerment. They do not constitute medical advice. Steph Strauss does not diagnose medical conditions, prescribe medication or offer treatment plans.
Steph Strauss is currently training to become a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). While Somatic Experiencing tools may be used during our sessions, these are not official Somatic Experiencing sessions.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs immediate assistance, text MHFA to 741741 or dial 988 to reach a crisis counselor anonymously, available 24/7.