applied neuro-somatic therapy.

Live radiantly and function optimally.

Kate Manuell, RSMT/E, RYT

let the light within you unfold, to who you are at your core.

Kate has been working with populations across the Seacoast NH & ME for a decade leading Recreation & Wilderness Therapy Programs and teaches Trauma-Informed Yoga, Biofeedback-informed Relaxation + Mindfulness.

Kate brings a multi-modality holistic approach to regulating the nervous system and creating a thriving life through Somatic Therapy, Biofeedback and Leadership Coaching. Her passion is addressing root cause health + behavior issues through a Polyvagal +Trauma-Informed lens to create more autonomy, self awareness and empowerment to those she works with.

Heal at the core and create real, sustainable change in your life.

a bottom-up approach to functional health thats based in neuroscience.

WHAT IS CLINICAL SOMATIC THERAPY?

Somatic translates to “of the body”. Clinical Somatic Movement Therapy & Education is an emergent and evolving profession of body-based modalities. With influences from Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing to Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, CST is a Functional Nervous System approach that addresses the body first, where there are often physiological + neurological needs unmet and traumas unresolved, causing an environment of dis-ease in the body. This is truly a bottom-up approach to healing that uses movement, gentle exercises, breath, touch, sound and interoceptive cues to build on the body’s natural healing capacities, and solidifies a connection to something bigger than ourselves.

From relieving chronic pain, mitigating the effects of illness + diagnoses, to building a thriving life, I am here to guide you.

Our brains and bodies are designed to thrive, not just survive in this world!

Our work together we unlearn maladaptive (unhelpful) behaviors to make space for new ones that move your life forward in a positive direction. You will be amazed at how rapidly your outer world shifts. Your health, relationships, creativity, and work will start to thrive like never before.

who is this work for?

From youth to adults, anyone who benefits from the work is a candidate for the work. Bottom-up versus Top-down approaches focus on the optimal functioning of our primal nervous system in a modern world. We look at Heart Rate Variability, Resonance Frequency, and other bio-markers of health to teach your body to function optimally and self-regulate. Based on neuroscience and the human need to connect to a larger purpose, Clinical Somatic Therapy honors the body as able to self-regulate and self-heal.

This applies to any age, race, sexual identity, gender expression, and socio-economic position.

WHAT IS OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE?

Our nervous systems are wired to search for danger or safety constantly. When we aren’t functioning optimally, our subcortical brain structures (HPA-axis) detects false danger and we experience anxiety, stress and chronic depression.

On the other hand, when we are functioning optimally, our body is producing just enough cortisol to activate the body to complete the task at hand, and then quickly and seamlessly de-escalates and can come back into a restful state. In addition, when performing optimally we experience more flow state + executive functioning, and as a result we are able to build lives we love and are proud of.

While stress and chronic illness keep us running on empty, we experience a nervous system phenomenon of being “stuck on” where our brain/body is stuck in fight or flight mode. This creates all sorts of mental and emotional distress.

I use a tested modality called Biofeedback to give you the information about your nervous system in real time. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin temperature is measured with electrodes while the quantitative data of your physiology is shown on a screen in real time. This allows you to teach your body to regulate itself by receiving feedback on how it’s performing. Biofeedback is a powerful didactic tool to raise heart rate variability, improve cardiovascular health, and tone the functioning of the nervous system.

what is somatic coaching?

  • Knowing about the functions of the central nervous system empowers you to make real, lasting change in your life. My Psycho-Neuro-Physiological approach gives you feedback on the state of your autonomic nervous system. Through vagal tone testing, I approach the body as a living, breathing nervous system.

  • Somatics not only honors the mystery of life, but fosters a connection to soul through your vessel, the body. Connect to the divine in all things through meditation, body based interoceptive practices, and yogic techniques. This supports your wholeness and creative expression!

  • Also called CSE’s, neuromuscular reprogramming teaches your body to release the habits of holding onto pain via habitual patterns of contraction in the nervous system. Benefits include relief from chronic pain, new possibilities for behavior, movement and perception. Clinical somatics teaches your system to experience more joy and authentic ease.

  • Group somatic movement practices facilitate cohesion, emotional regulation, growth understanding and healing in community. Using the voice, partner sharing, and improv exercises promote creative expression and the facilitation r of strong communities, individuals, and families.