Body-based care for transitional times
Support for birth, death, and the beginnings & endings in between
Somatic:
of, relating to, or affecting the body; also an umbrella term for therapeutic modalities that focus on (re)connecting with bodily sensations
Doula:
a person who provides non-medical care (emotional, logistical, educational) through a significant life experience (birth, death, illness, transitions)
Hi there! I’m Ash.
Ashley & ancestor Basil
And I’d love to be your companion as you navigate all the challenges & joys of these messy, beautiful, complicated bodies we have.
The natural world instinctively knows how to be with, respond to, and even thrive in the cycles of life, death, & rebirth. Animals in the wild shake off the tension in their bodies after near a death experience and return to a calm & present baseline. Certain plants rely on the intensity & destruction of a wildfire in order to germinate their seeds, which burst into beautiful flowers. And if we zoom way out to deep time, we can see throughout various natural (and now, human-induced) catastrophes how Mother Earth herself has always found ways to (re)stabilize & nourish life. The more-than-human world knows how to ride the waves of grief, loss, change, joy, and pain.
The human animal has the tools to navigate these cycles too, but so many of us live in situations that have separated us from the language of the body, the cycles of the earth, and the care of community—all the things we need to recognize our wholeness and receive the support that’s always already available.
As a somatically-focused doula, I support people in learning the language of bodies and uncovering the wisdom & creativity that bodies already hold. This type of support can be especially helpful during life’s big transitional moments such as giving birth or actively dying, but it also makes a difference during the little births, deaths, and cycles of everyday life.
Check out the frequently asked questions or schedule a consult to learn more about how this type of care might fit into your journey.
I have been working with Ashley since May 2024 and she is absolutely fantastic. It’s hard to describe somatic work because each session is a little bit different. That’s because the sessions are based on tuning in and listening to how I’m feeling in my body, something I realized I rarely, if ever, did in the past. I feel like I’m developing a relationship of consent with myself & my body that I never had before. With the guidance of Ashley, I’m able to explore how my body communicates “yes" and “no", which can be emotional but also extremely powerful. She has given me tools I can apply to real world scenarios when I feel anxious or overwhelmed. I highly recommend her services.
—Torey
Book a free consultation
Interested in working together? Set up a free 20 minute virtual consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
Is somatic support like talk therapy?
Nope! Somatic support uses a different toolkit than psychotherapy: we focus our attention on the information coming from the the body (sensations, images, behaviors) and the state of the present moment nervous system—which doesn’t include diagnosing or advice from a mental health perspective. People who tend to be a good fit are often interested in (re)connecting with their physical body and want support specifically around that. As a somatic practitioner I offer a space where people can 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! Doula support includes emotional, physical, mental, informational, logistical, and / or spiritual support—which doesn’t include medical-related care or advice from a medical perspective. Doula clients often appreciate having a support person who is dedicated solely to their emotional wellbeing during birth, death, or other health-related experiences (surgeries, procedures, appointments, etc.) and who can be with them before / during / after in a way that a nurse or doctor simply can’t. As a doula I help create care plans, ask questions, find resources, and help people to feel witnessed and cared for while interacting with a fast-paced medical system.