What Happens in a Session? A Gentle Guide to My Approach
By Isabel Prystawik – Motionally Counselling and Facilitation
Somatic Counselling in Vernon, British Columbia | Okanagan Valley
1. Check-In
We begin by landing together—what’s been present this week? What’s stayed with you from our last session?
2. Acknowledgement and Celebration
We pause to acknowledge any insights, questions, or changes you’ve noticed—big or small. If it feels right, we celebrate. Curiosity, recognition and joy are part of this process.
3. Setting a Focus
You name what feels important today. That might be an emotion, a body sensation, an interaction—or just a desire to see what comes up.
4. Grounding Together
We settle in. That might mean orienting to the space, or tuning into your senses. We build a sense of trust in the present moment before moving forward.
5. Exploration
Here’s where we dive in. We might use:
Co-regulation – Nervous system attunement to help you feel safe and grounded.
Resourcing – Connection to sources of strength and stability.
Guided imagery – Using imagination and story to access deeper layers.
Body awareness – Noticing where tension, ease, or emotion lives in the body.
Sensory modulation – Working with how your body manages sensory input.
We might explore your eight senses:
Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch
Proprioception – Where is your body in space?
Kinesthetic sense – Your awareness of movement
Interoception – Your internal sensations (heartbeat, breath, etc.)
This is a partnership, not a protocol. We go at your pace. There’s no pressure to rehash trauma or push emotional release. You get to decide what feels safe.
You’re not broken. You’re not too much. You’re not behind.
You’re already in motion—toward your own remembering, your own rhythm, your own way of being.
Whenever you're ready, I’d be honoured to meet you there.
