Nicola Braybrooke Smith
SOMATIC THERAPY
Somatic Experiencing| Somatic Bodywork|
Trauma Healing
HOW CAN SOMATIC THERAPY HELP YOU?
- Regaining your Vitality & Life Force
- Re-orientation during Times of Transition
- Support with Grief & Loss
- Freedom from Anxiety & Panic Attacks
- Nervous System Reset for PTSD
- Work with the Root of Chronic Pain
- Emotional Support Post-Birth & Processing Birth Trauma
- Resolution of Frozen Shoulder | Irritable Bowel Syndrome | Fybromyalgia
How Often Do I Come for Somatic Experiencing & Somatic Bodywork?
Somatic Experiencing is process work and a commitment to a minimum of 6 sessions is required. After this we will discuss the best way forward, depending on the support needed and desired outcome of the work.
Zero Balancing Touch: for deeper work, a series of 3 sessions is recommended. Follow-up single sessions are available as part of a regular self-care routine.
Holistic Pulsing: book a single session, or a block of sessions as a part of regular self-care.
All body therapy sessions are given through comfortable clothing, on a massage table.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Working with Nicola and SE has been a nuanced process with profound impact. Nicola's presence, voice and holding allowed me quickly to visit some very uncomfortable places in myself that were ready for some love and attention,
I am noticing my trauma responses quicker and can distance myself to become the observer, enabling me to further reach in and heal them.
I feel my NS is finally starting to unwind and I am getting better at going with any dysregulation that arises and creating the safety I need! So really pleased!
I experienced working with Nicky as permissive, open, supportive, and gently instructive as she guided me to allow and to drop ever deeper into the ( somatic) experience of my body.
Giving space and time to this inner territory allowed me to hear what my conditioned programming of flight and fight normally drowned out.
Thank you for being with me in such an expansive way and for reminding me of my anchors and my resources. And I felt so supported by your presence too - like you held a space in which I could feel my strength.
Love Your Embodied Life
SOMATIC THERAPY with Nicola Braybrooke Smith
Nicola is a registered and fully qualified SEP , Touch therapist and Yoga teacher. She offers practical 1:2:1 sessions of Somatic Experiencing and conscious touch work, supporting you to feel more at ease and alive in your body.
We all have the right to live a life free from chronic anxiety, depression, fatigue and struggle. During your Somatic Therapy sessions with Nicola, you will learn practical ways to develop body awareness, increase self-awareness and integrate positive and life-affirming changes.
Somatic Therapy is available to anyone who wants to engage with their own journey of embodied healing.
Where do you want to start?
During a session of Somatic Therapy we can utilise different body-based practices: conscious & consensual touch, tracking body sensation, mindful movement, deep listening & breathwork.
Or, you can choose a specific modality: Somatic Experiencing, Zero Balancing Touch, Holistic Pulsing or slow & subtle Yoga, from the inside out.
The benefits of Somatic Therapy can be enjoyed online worldwide or in person in Central Portugal, or in Stamford, UK
For a free 20min consultation.
What I Offer
Somatic Experiencing ®
Online: Worldwide
In-Person: Stamford, UK.
Central Portugal
Somatic Experiencing (SE) Sessions are offered online and in person in Stamford, UK & Central Portugal
Somatic Experiencing is a body-based approach that helps us to gently overcome trauma, shock and stress disorders.
It provides a way for the body to learn how to gently resolve and process the effects of this ‘shock’ which is held in the nervous system.
People often come for Somatic Experiencing when when they feel that they would like to move on from an experience in the past that is preventing them from living life fully in the moment.
More information from Dr Peter Levine on SE
Zero Balancing Touch ®
In-person: Central Portugal. Stamford, UK
Zero Balancing sessions are offered in Tábua, Portugal & Stamford, UK
Zero Balancing is a gentle and powerful hands-on bodywork system that facilitates both structural (skeletal) balance and a clearer, stronger flow of energy in the body.
Using finger pressure and light traction, ZB supports the person to feel where they are, creating an opportunity for the client to release deeply held patterns that were previously held unconsciously, within the bone tissue.
Fritz Smith MD founder of ZB talks about how we work with the bones. Watch now.
Learn more with Fritz Smith MD on fulcrums
What does a Zero Balancing look like? Have a look.
Holistic Pulsing
In-Person: Central Portugal. Stamford, UK
Holistic Pulsing sessions are offered in Tábua, Portugal
Is a traditional Hawaiian bodywork that utilises rhythmic rocking & movement to induce a trance-like state of profound relaxation. Sessions are 60-75mins.
Please wear loose and comfortable clothing for the session.
Learn more about Pulsing the back body
Movement Circles for Women
Online: Worldwide
In-Person: Central Portugal & Stamford, UK
Women’s Dance Spaces & Supportive Circles are offered as seasonal support.
As a mother of two girls and as a woman moving through menopause,
I am particularly interested in enabling women to create and find support during times of life-change,
whether that be entering into motherhood or menopause, experiencing grief or loss, experiencing a change in career or a move to a new country.
I co-facilitate seasonal movement circles for women, both in-person and with an online group. I work with dance, embodied movement, deep listening and guided somatic practices to enable women to support one another during these periods of transition and change.
Humans are fundamental rhythmic beings who have the capacity to self-regulate, organise and heal themselves.
Your task is not to seek love but simply to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against love.
The cave you fear to enter guards the treasure that you are looking for.
The movement toward well-being is a movement toward integration, a flexible state of harmony.
SOMATIC THERAPY Fees
Sessions of Somatic Experiencing & Somatic Bodywork in UK & Europe
Fees for Somatic Experiencing & Zero Balancing Touch Sessions
£65/session in UK or €65/session for mainland Europe. Sessions last between 50-60 mins.
My fee structure aims to reflect the different financial capacity of individual clients. If you are on a low-income or are currently unemployed, please enquire about bursary places
Please email to change appointment times. *If you need to cancel at the last minute, due to illness or emergency, please also inform me via a phone message*
Online rescheduling must be done at least 48 hours before the appointment time. The aim is for us to reschedule, within that week.
Re-scheduling at the Mill Birth & Wellbeing Centre must be done 72 hours prior to your appointment time. We will aim to reschedule the day before or the day after.
Missed appointments or appointments cancelled outside the specified time frame must be paid for in full (* at discretion of therapist)
For Somatic Experiencing & Somatic Bodywork in Central Portugal
Please contact me directly.
NICOLA BRAYBROOKE SMITH
I am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Zero Balancing Touch Practitioner & Yoga teacher and Mother of 2 girls.
My role as a practitioner is to accompany you on your journey of exploration and embodied change. I offer people a space of deep listening alongside conscious and consensual touch. Together we will find the way to restore stability to your system and to enable resolution and integration of the old patterns and responses that were ‘stuck’ in your nervous system and in your structural body.
I have worked for over 25 years in the field of therapeutic movement and touch. I co-founded Bodywisdom School of Traditional Thai Massage, and have experience of facilitating intensive healing retreats in UK, Europe & Thailand. My book, Thai Massage Step by Step offers a practical introduction to this healing art form. My training and background in Scaravelli Yoga incorporates a contemporary understanding of developmental movement and how this affects our embodiment.
In my private practice, I have worked with a diverse range clients from post-birth to end of life, youth projects and autism support groups and men and women of all ages, abilities and disabilities.
Training and Qualifications
- Internal Family Systems Online Circle. Foundations of the IFS model. 6 month training. June 2023 – December 2023
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Graduate (3 year training) with Somatic Experiencing Spain and SOS International, UK. March 2021-April 2023
- Working with Complex Trauma. 5 week course with Peter Levine and Diane Poole Heller. February 2023
- Somatic Interventions for Chronic Pain and Syndromes. 5 week course with Peter Levine and Diane Poole Heller. February 2022
- Zero Balancing for the Digestive System, 5-day intensive with Judith Sullivan, London, November 2019.
- Zero Balancing Association CPD Day, April 2019
- THAI Sen Lines Therapy Intensive with Felicity Joy, May 2018
- Autism Awareness Training. 2-day workshop in conjunction with Autism Sussex. Hastings. 2018
- OsteoThai for breathing with Luliana College, September 2015.
- Special Yoga for the Special child, Level 1. 5-day training with the Special Yoga Centre, NW London. November 2014
- “Advanced Zero Balancing” with Fritz Smith, July 2014
- Pulsing Master Class & Teacher Training with Silke Ziehl. The Open Centre, London. January-September 2010
- ” Field Work” Advanced Zero Balancing with Fritz Smith. July 2010
- Yoga from Within. Study Retreat with Angela Farmer & Victor Van Kooten, Eftalou. October 2009
- Zero Balancing for Pregnancy with Richard & Karen Walters. February 2009.
- ” Freely Moveable Joints” Advanced Zero Balancing with Fritz Smith. July 2007
- Zero Balancing Skills Workshop with Jeff Lennard. April 2007.
- Advanced Yoga Studies:Yoga teacher training programme with Donna Farhi & Faculty, Vancouver (170hrs). August 2006
- Core Zero Balancing Workshops I & II: Auckland. February 2005; London. November 2005
- Deep Bodywork Foundation with Silke Ziehl Open Centre, London. July 2003-March 2004
- OsteoThai General with OsteoThai College, Sunshine House, Greece. 2004
- Pulsing Foundation with Silke Ziehl. The Open Centre. May–November 2003
- Further and Adult Education Teacher’s Certificate: City & Guilds 7307, Stage 2. The City Lit. January – July 2002
- Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training at Sivananda Vedanta Centre, India. (200hrs) January 2003
- Lifesaver First Aid Course for Adults & Lifesaver First Aid Course for Babies & Children: St. John’s Ambulance. February 2003
- Yoga for Pregnancy workshops with Lolly & John Stirk. November 2003. Lolly has been a child-birth educator and yoga teacher for the past 20 years, her style of teaching supports the work done by the Active Birth Movement.
- Baby Massage Teacher’s Training with Peter Walker. February – March 2002
- On-site Massage Training, Academy of on-site massage, London, November 200
- Sunshine Network, Thailand & England. January 1998, Jan-April 1999 & Dec 2000-February 2001. Extensive training with Asokananda (author of The Art of Traditional Thai Massage)
- Anatomy, Physiology and Body Massage Diploma (ITEC). Morley College. Feb-May 2000
- Therapeutic Massage Diploma. BodyMind Therapeutics, Leeds. May December 1997
CONNECT WITH ME
You are welcome to contact me with any questions about how I can support you. I offer a free 20 minute consultation to guide you towards the best approach.
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