So… what exactly is Somatic Coaching?

That’s one of the most common questions I get when I tell people what I do - and it’s a great one as Somatic Coaching is still relatively new on the coaching scene. Usually, I give a quick, simple answer:

I work through the body, not just the mind.

But I thought it might be helpful to offer a fuller explanation for anyone curious about how Somatic Coaching differs from more traditional Life Coaching.

First, I want to say: both Somatic Coaching and Life Coaching are powerful tools for growth and transformation. They just take different paths to get there.

Life Coaching

Life Coaching is typically goal-oriented. It focuses on identifying what you want, mapping out a plan, holding you accountable, and shifting mindsets or beliefs that might be holding you back. It’s a cognitive process - mostly led by conversation, reflection, and action steps.

Somatic Coaching

Somatic Coaching, on the other hand, brings the body into the conversation. (“Soma” means body in Greek.) This work is based on the understanding that meaningful, lasting change doesn’t just happen in the head - it happens in the body too. The way we move, breathe, hold ourselves, and feel… all of these offer clues to how we’ve learned to survive, cope, and show up in the world.

What to Expect

In sessions, I might guide you through movement, breath-work, or tuning into physical sensations and postures. These practices help uncover deeply held patterns - sometimes even unspoken or unconscious ones - and create space for new ways of being that feel more aligned, grounded, and free.

Where life coaching often works from the outside in (goal first, internal shift second), somatic coaching works from the inside-out. We start with what’s happening in your body right now, and from that foundation, we build awareness and new possibilities that ripple into your life.

This inside-out approach can be especially powerful if you’ve ever had the experience of knowing what you want to change, but still feeling stuck or disconnected from actually doing it. Somatic coaching helps bridge that gap, because it integrates your whole self - body, mind, and heart - into the process.

In short:

Life Coaching = mind-focused, action-driven

Somatic Coaching = body-based, transformation from within

Both have value. It just depends on what kind of support you’re looking for, and how deep you’re ready to go.

If you’re curious about Somatic Coaching or wondering whether it might be the right fit for you, I’d love to chat. Feel free to reach out, I’m always happy to explore it together.