Body-based care for transitional times

Support for birth, death, and the many beginnings & endings in between

Somatic:

of, relating to, or affecting the body; also an umbrella term for different practices that focus on the body, the nervous system, and the physiology of stress

Doula:

a person who provides non-medical care (emotional, logistical, educational, physical) through significant life experiences (birth, death, illness, transitions)

Hi there! I’m Ash.

And I’d love to be a companion on your journey, supporting you as you navigate all the ups & downs that come with having a body.

It’s my experience that somewhere in our bodies we already know how to navigate birth, death, traumatic events, and life transitions—but we live in a world that has separated us from the language of the body, the cycles of the earth, and the support of the community, making it hard to find our way through.

My work as a somatic practitioner & doula is supporting people in actually hearing what their bodies have to say and (re)teaching people some of the skills that the body already knows. This work can feel slow & subtle, but over time transforms the way that people interact with their self and the world around them.

Is somatic support like therapy?

Sorta! It’s also really different: I typically don’t work with people in active crisis, I have a different set of skills, and I don’t diagnose. Many of the people I work with also see a psychotherapist who supports their ability to process things verbally, but sometimes they feel like something is missing—some people feel disconnected from their physical body and want support specifically around that. As a somatic practitioner I offer a space where people can learn about how bodies work, practice listening to their unique body with compassion & patience, and explore different tools for bringing those listening skills into everyday moments.

Is working with a doula like having a midwife?

Nope! A doula provides emotional, physical, mental, informational, logistical, and / or spiritual support but doesn’t provide any medical-related care or advise from a medical perspective. Many of my doula clients appreciate having a support person who is dedicated solely to their emotional wellbeing during birth, death, or other health-related experiences (surgeries, appointments, etc.) and who can be with them before / during / after in a way that a doctor simply can’t. Doulas help create care plans, find resources, ask questions, and generally help people to feel witnessed while interacting with a fast-paced medical system.

What sorts of things do people bring to your sessions?

Some common themes include: wanting support before / during / after difficult life transitions (birth, death, beginnings, endings), wanting to feel more connected to the body, practice being in the present moment, boundaries, consent, caregiver burnout, increasing capacity for self care, loss of identity, chronic illness, desire to transform old patterns, medical trauma & difficult encounters with the medical system, collective & personal grief, patterns of fear / anxiety, feeling stuck and wanting to try a new type of support, and physical or emotional pain.

1:1 support

In these one hour sessions we’ll spend time learning to pay attention to the ways your body communicates and practice listening & responding to what the body needs to feel safety & resolution. Reach out to learn more about what somatic support could do for you.
Available in-person in Madison, WI and virtual via Zoom.
Having a support person with you before / during / after a significant event can make even a stressful or scary situation feel safe & empowering. Reach out to learn more about what doula support could look like for you.
Available in-person in Madison, WI and virtual via Zoom.
*Ashley has doula experience with birth, postpartum, miscarriage, abortion, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, fertility (trying to conceive), infertility, medical procedures & appointments, and pet death—but reach out if you have another life event where extra support is needed and we’ll talk about if doula support is a good fit.
Even though bodies are pretty mysterious in a lot of ways, there are things we can learn & track about our bodies that can help us to feel less fear and more empowerment. Reach out to learn more about what a personalized education session could look like for you.
Available in-person in Madison, WI and virtual via Zoom.
*Ashley has experience teaching: menstrual cycle charting (cervical fluid, basal body temperature, cervical changes), menstrual cycle hormones, nervous system 101, how to choose a birth control method, reproductive anatomy, writing a birth plan or care plan for other big life moments, childbirth education, support for new doulas, boundary exercises, and more!

Groups

Join me at Sukha Somatics in Madison, WI every Friday at 5pm for group TRE (tension / trauma release exercises). Sign ups required, limit to 6 students, $12. Register here!
It’s the end of the year and I’m getting ready to hibernate! Stay tuned for more group offerings in 2026.
Want to host a pad making workshop? A period party for your pre-teens? A nervous system intro for your therapy group? A cycle charting workshop for your women’s circle? Reach out! If there’s a reproduction / fertility / nervous system / trauma / body / consent / birth control topic you’re wanting to learn about, there’s likely a workshop I could teach!

Zines

Get a new zine mailed to your door each month! The zine of the month club is an easy way to keep learning about your wise & weird body. Sliding scale pricing for everyone. Join us!
Looking to learn about your body in gender inclusive, trauma informed ways? Check out the zine store or order in bulk for clinics, waiting rooms, workshops, gift bags, wholesale. Link to the bulk order form coming soon. In the meantime, reach out via this form!
Have a zine you want made or want to make together? Let’s talk commissions and collaborations! Commisssion and collaboration forms coming soon. In the meantime, reach out via this form!