I am a somatic psychotherapist and counsellor who supports clients with managing anxiety,  depression, life transitions, gay and lesbian issues and/or healing trauma in both the Crows Nest and Redfern, Sydney. I am a full clinical member of both PACFA and ASPA professional associations.

              Michael Muir Somatic Psychotherapy

I work in partnership with clients to facilitate finding more fulfilling ways of being.
I employ somatic psychotherapy techniques which encourage the body and mind to transform and reconnect. This involves verbal engagement and bodywork, both biodynamic massage and other forms of touch where appropriate.
All of this supports the exploration of limiting beliefs and a movement towards happiness, spontaneity, creativity and an ongoing sense of wellbeing. You don’t have to do it on your own.
 

Somatic Psychotherapy

Somatic Psychotherapy embraces a comprehensive and holistic approach to personal growth and development. This approach acknowledges that all facets of human experience are interrelated: that the processes of the body/mind not only affect and reflect each other, but are inter-functioning aspects of a person's whole being, and that each person's individual history, their cultural/biological context and somatically-based subjective reality are all inextricably interconnected.

How I work

I provide a safe and supportive space so my clients have the opportunity to explore and deepen their connection to who they really are.  This often leads to a renewed enthusiasm and a desire to engage fully in life, with confidence, clarity and heart. 

Simple body awareness techniques, such as tracking sensation and sometimes biodynamic massage, in combination with a person centred approach to therapy (utilising pyschodynamic theory) increases the client’s capacity for self reflection – this is a whole of person style of therapy.

I believe when you change the way the body perceives, you change the way the mind perceives and you see the world differently.

What can I expect from a session?

Every client is different and I work with each client according to their needs. Some considerations are:

1) I want Somatic Psychotherapy but i don’t want physical touch.

Sure! We will work within the client-therapist relationship using counselling techniques, person-centred therapy and psychodynamic theory. We will look at ways to support letting go of limiting patterns, having more choice and increased energy to live a full vibrant life.

We could also use techniques such as tracking sensations within your body and mindfulness exercises to give you more of an embodied experience, which is somatic psychotherapy without physical hands on work.

No touch, but supporting an integration of body and mind - reconnecting with your entire 'being'.

2) I want Somatic Psychotherapy and I’d like both verbal work and bodywork.

OK. We will work within the client-therapist relationship using verbal counselling and psychotherapeutic techniques, and at an appropriate and agreed time we could engage in bodywork to supplement and deepen your process.

Bodywork within somatic psychotherapy can assist you feel more solid, confident, less anxious, more emotionally stable, relaxed, sleep better, improve energy flow and digestion. Bodywork is also helpful in exploring setting healthy boundaries.

3) I already have a therapist who isn’t a bodyworker or I really just want Biodynamic Massage

Biodynamic massage is a deeply nurturing experience just on its own. The emphasis is on settling the nervous system, promoting flow and ease, relaxing muscular tensions and deeply healing and re-energising.

We do not engage in verbal therapy during a biodynamic massage however space is made for emotions if they arise but there is no requirement for exploring or deepening. Of course if you decide that you want to explore something within the biodynamic massage then you are most welcome – but the choice is yours to initiate this. 

Anxiety and/or Panic , Grief and Loss - General , Life Transitions , Sexuality , Trauma Counselling

Body Centred Psychotherapy , Developmental Needs Meeting Therapy , Mediation , Mindfulness approaches , Psychodynamic Therapy

Michael Muir Somatic Groups

• All About You

• Coming Home (a group for gay men)

• M-Body-Ment

My workshops and groups are about building awareness (ie bringing more of our unconscious self into our consciousness).  Fundamental to building awareness is building connection with our whole being, meaning our mind as well as our body.  If one of these is left out of the equation then the road to happiness is more arduous and much longer.

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