Somatic Therapy
from £60One-to-one somatic therapy integrating Somatic Experiencing®, somatic yoga therapy, and nervous system-informed work. In person in Brighton & Hove, or online.
A neuroscience-informed approach, developed through clinical practice
Somatic Experiencing®, somatic yoga therapy, and direct clinical work and research — brought together into an approach that works with the nervous system rather than around it.
Why the body first?
Conventional talking therapies work top-down: they engage the thinking mind in the hope of influencing feelings and behaviour. For many people, that's useful. For many others — particularly those living with trauma, chronic stress, or functional neurological symptoms — it isn't enough. The body holds patterns that cognitive processing alone rarely shifts.
Somatic therapy works differently. It starts with physical sensation, movement, and the direct experience of the nervous system in the present moment. Insight often follows — but it isn't the mechanism. The mechanism is physiological change, not narrative.
Neuroscience increasingly supports this. The pathways between body and brain run in both directions. Working with the body is one of the most direct routes to durable nervous system change. This approach was built on that understanding, and refined through watching it work with real clients in real clinical contexts.
The three pillars
Rewire — Building new neural pathways
The nervous system is neuroplastic. It changes in response to experience — which means the patterns that developed in response to stress, trauma, or dysregulation can, with the right conditions, develop differently. Through SE and somatic yoga, we work with your system's stress response patterns directly, gradually expanding your window of tolerance and building more flexible reactions over time. This is not willpower or mindset. It is physiology.
Release — Completing interrupted responses
When the nervous system encounters overwhelming threat, it sometimes gets stuck mid-response — holding incomplete survival responses as chronic tension, pain, or dysregulation. Somatic Experiencing® works with this at a physiological level: supporting the body to complete what it started, discharge accumulated activation, and return to baseline. This happens without requiring you to revisit or narrate traumatic events.
Restore — Developing genuine regulation
Regulation is a skill, not a fixed state. The goal is not permanent calm — it is range: the capacity to move between activation and rest, and to return to balance after disruption without being overwhelmed by it. Somatic practice builds this capacity at the level of the nervous system, not just as a coping strategy.
What sessions look like
Somatic Classes and Workshops
from £11Weekly classes at The Tree of Life Centre, Hove. Nervous system regulation, interoceptive awareness, and somatic movement — designed to be accessible whether you're completely new to yoga or have been practising for years. From £11.
Monthly deep-dives into specific nervous system themes: interoceptive awareness, vagal tone, discharge through movement, stress physiology. In person at The Tree of Life Centre, Hove. These run in person at £20.
Who this work is for
This approach is well-suited for people living with:
- Chronic stress, anxiety, or burnout
- Chronic pain or medically unexplained physical symptoms
- Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) or similar presentations
- A sense of disconnection from the body, or difficulty feeling physically safe
- Curiosity about the nervous system and what somatic practice can actually do
You don't need a diagnosis. You don't need prior experience of yoga or therapy. Many people come because they have a sense that something is held in the body that hasn't shifted through talking — and they want to try a different approach.
What my clients say
Ian
Executive Creative DirectorEmily has been a real breath of fresh air after managing chronic pain for a long time. Her academic work means she’s on top of the emerging science around the impact of mindfulness and movement on the nervous system, and she’s been a fantastically supportive coach for someone new to yoga.
Importantly for anyone struggling with chronic pain, she brings a huge amount of emotional intelligence and kindness to her practice.
Rose
Brand DesignerI’ve been attending Emily's dynamic flow yoga classes for the past two years, and I can’t recommend her classes enough. Emily’s cheerful personality, combined with her well-paced, energetic sessions, makes each class the perfect way to start the day. Her choice of music keeps things upbeat, and the flow is challenging enough to push you, but always balanced. I leave each class feeling energised, positive, and ready to take on whatever the day brings.
Dee
Massage TherapistEmily’s early bird yoga class is the best start you can have to a day. Emily’s knowledge and passion understanding the mind and body is infectious. I find myself utilising Emily’s teachings in my everyday life…it’s the class that keeps giving, done in a calm and well structured way.
Hannah
GPEmily is a special person and teacher. Her yoga is balanced, insightful, strong and never rote or dull. She is always learning and ready to share her new found wisdoms. I always feel so held and safe in Emily’s classes. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Nicole
Neuroscientist
My first yoga session with Emily was truly transformative. As someone new to yoga, I walked in feeling nervous and unsure of what to expect, but Emily's warm and welcoming presence immediately put me at ease. Her calm guidance helped me let go of my fears and fully immerse myself in the practice.
By the end of the session, my body felt rejuvenated—like it had been gently awakened—and my mind was clearer than it had been in weeks. Emily's approach not only taught me the movements but also created a safe space for self-discovery and relaxation. I’m so grateful for this experience and can’t wait to continue my yoga journey with her.
Bones
Yoga TeacherI love Emily’s classes. They are always playful, encouraging and full of nourishment for the body mind and soul. She creates a beautiful safe space to explore and play through a mix of creative flows, shaking, expert cues and self enquiry. After every class I feel so grounded and open. Thank you Emily for your magical and beautiful space holding!
Amy
Teacher and Individual Needs AssistantFinding my happy flow...
As a newbie to yoga I was a little nervous going to my first Vinyasa Flow session. Emily soon had me smiling from the inside out.
Emily is a warm, professional teacher who gently guides you through the flow in a calm, safe space.
Having had a baby 5 months ago, this was the 'me time' that my mind and body so desperately needed.
I left feeling revitalised, stronger and happy. Thank you Emily!
Emmie
Freelance Brand StrategistEmily’s yoga classes always shift my energy, lift my vibe, and leave me in a much better mood than when I arrived. She has such an incredible understanding of the body and knows all the science-based techniques to help us reconnect with ourselves—out of the mind and back into the body. Her longer somatic classes are a must-try, packed with practical hacks to shift your energy. Plus, her soundtracks are the best!
Ivonne
Yoga TeacherI truly enjoyed Emily’s guidance in her class. As a long time yoga practitioner myself, I love when I find instant connection to a teacher that makes me feel, calm, motivated and challenged in a gentle way.
I definitely want to come back to Emily’s classes for more of her yoga magic 👌. Thanks Emily.
Charlie
Mama & StorytellerI didn’t quite know what to expect from somatic yoga, but I was thrilled to discover how peaceful and balanced I felt every time after Emily’s classes.
The class is gentle and Emily has a wonderful, nurturing presence.
Also I have seldom been able to practice anything whilst on my period, but I was amazed to leave cramp free (having come into the class with pain)!
Thank you Emily for the unique work you do and I’m looking forward to becoming a regular on your deeper dives!
Keely
TeacherEmily is a wonderful teacher and she offers her own unique style and expression. She’s always so gentle and encouraging and her classes have such a great flow to them, which is helped by the amazing ambience she manages to create. She is a truly unique teacher who is able to convey genuine empathy and kindness through her yoga. I cannot recommend her enough.