“ There is that in us which has moved from the very beginning: it is that which can liberate us.” Mary Whitehouse
Engaged Eco-Psychosomatic (EEP) sessions take place in the sensuous container of nature. These sessions are fully dedicated to heightening bodily felt sense through a sensory feedback loop between the textures in nature and somatic awareness. Through this immersive and responsive engagement, holistic embodiment heightens, neuroplasticity is intrigued and creative agency is activated. It is a form of experiential learning that can then thread into daily life interactions with transformative results. When there is an element of nature to assist in enduring the sensational tides of addressing the inner self, there is a tangible reality to respond and absorb the intimate intricacies that words cannot always express. The body can emote.
In these sessions, I meet you at a designated place in nature for 90 minutes. Together, we venture into nature. You can choose a specific intention to address or see what surfaces as you immerse. Throughout the experience, I hold the space for you to fully focus on your bodily felt sense, somatic awareness and creative intrigue. If a dog or a person passes, for example, I make sure you can remain focused as I explain or redirect any passersby. I bring a camera to document your experience. The photographs serve as reminders of the beauty within such intimate and honest somatic interactions. Sessions are 90 minutes long and cost $222 - $444, sliding scale. Please be in touch with me if you are interested in an EEP session and the sliding scale does not accommodate your budget. You can pay for an Engaged Eco-Psychosomatic Session here.
Testimonials:
“I absolutely loved doing this work with Alycia. It was incredible to see how far I’ve come in being open and *opening* to my experience, and having Alycia there to hold the space through music and gentle reminders was essential. I needed the permission to be my full self, immersed in this experience of being fully Present in Nature, with all amount of being passing by (people, animals, etc.). It felt frightening and enlivening all at once to literally dance with the elements and energy around me, and I am so grateful Alycia was there to support me.
I especially appreciated just how prepared she was. I wasn’t entirely sure what I would need or want for our session, and Alycia came with all manner of things — different articles of clothing for my comfort, colors, layers, items to play with. It was incredible and really started our session with the magic of it all. Having her play the gong and some music for me to play through was also so fun and such a great energetic container for the space, which was otherwise fairly exposed. I’m also so grateful that she was able to document the experience without it being distracting at all. I love that I have these photographs and videos forever now of this really special moment!
It’s amazing to reflect and recognize, and celebrate, that I’ve come so far. I never would have even considered an opportunity like this before my work with Alycia. I’ve grown so much and am incredibly proud of myself and the work we’ve done.”
“I had the pleasure of working with Alycia recently, as a client of her service and gifts as an engaged eco- somatic practitioner. She asked me to choose a place in nature that I felt I had a personal connection to. I chose a public woods park near my home that I used to spend lots of time in as a college student. I had spent time in those woods in the past as a sacred past time to reflect, to find ease in an hectic life and connect with nature alone, so it was nice to have this session done in a place where I felt a connection and felt safe in.
Before the session, she explained to me what the session would entail, she read readings about eco-somatics, and quotes from poetry to help me center deeper in presence. She told me that my only job was to keep my attention on the sensations in my body and follow my curiosity, my impulses and body’s requests. She gave me permission to make noises, to travel throughout the park or to stay in one place and reassured me that everything was okay and safe to do. She told me that it was her job to keep me safe and to provide small cues, or meditations if I began to get caught in my head and distracted. She gave me the permission to fall as deeply into my own experience of connecting with nature as I wanted to, and affirmed that she would handle other people, dogs and animals who came close so I didn’t need to give my attention or energy to anything else but my own experience with my body and the earth. For me, this permission was the greatest gift of all. As a person who connects with nature often, in both artistic and therapeutic ways, I noticed a palpable difference in having the permission to not talk to others in the park or lessen my own experience in order to make others feel comfortable.
In the beginning of the session I was able to experience a slowing down of time, and a more alive experience of nature around me. As we walked further, I had the instinct to lay down on the ground to feel the earth holding me and a wave of sadness and grief came over me. I began to cry, not knowing where the tears were coming from. Alycia’s presence held me there and allowed me to feel completely safe in letting go of my tears. She gave me tissues, and put her hand on my back, which provided me the nurturing I was so desperately needing. People who were walking in the park walked past and asked if I was okay, and Alycia just assured them that everything was and I was just having a moment of connection to nature. It was such a rare experience for me to not have to stop crying and explain myself to an onlooker, but rather to be able to stay with my feeling for as long as it needed to pass.
As I continued in my journey, I had such rich, diverse and primal instincts that Alycia encouraged. I ran, slid, built, played, cried and screamed, all the while being witnessed by someone without judgement, without feeling the need to hide or holdback. Alycia helped me dive deeper into my own experience as well by seeing what I was working with and inviting me to experience it more fully, more vocally, helping me to take what I was doing and expand it bigger. I was able to touch on some very personal restrictions I have been struggling with in my own life, and work on being able to re-program my experience and find some resolution. At the end of our session, I felt so much lighter, clearer and at peace with myself.
Alycia has a gift of a depth of presence and insight into people’s deeper stories. Her intuition knows what to say and where to take her clients so that they can follow their own healing process. She doesn’t force her own vision upon people, rather creates a setting where one can follow their own inner being with the intelligence of their own body, imagination and curiosity within nature to allow for whatever naturally unfolds. Working with Alycia in nature is nothing short of profound and deeply restorative to the body, mind and spirit. I would encourage anyone who feels either disconnected from nature, their body or their spirit to spend time in an engaged eco-somatic practice with Alycia, it will be well worth your time.
With much gratitude and peace.”
