Trauma isn’t just about the event itself. It’s also about how that experience lives on in your body and nervous system, especially when it was too much, too fast, or too soon, and you didn’t have the support you needed.

That can mean an accident or a frightening event. It can also be quieter: growing up in a home where you had to be easy, capable, or useful to feel you belonged. There may be no single event you can point to. Your system may simply have learned that it wasn’t safe to slow down, have an opinion, receive care or be fully yourself.

When something overwhelms us, the body responds automatically by preparing to fight, flee, or freeze. Sometimes it settles again once the moment has passed. When stress is repeated or there isn't enough safety or support, the body may keep responding as if the danger never fully ended.

Do you recognize this:

You're the capable one, and you find it hard to stop.
You learned early on to earn your place by doing, helping, or achieving.
You look fine from the outside, but inside you always feel "on."
Rest makes you restless, guilty, or uneasy.
You notice other people's needs before your own, and boundaries are hard to feel or express.
You understand your patterns, but your body still reacts in the same way.
You sometimes feel numb, disconnected, or far away from yourself.

These patterns aren't flaws. They may once have helped you cope, belong, or stay safe. Together, we can explore what your system needs now.

Somatic Coaching

Body-oriented support for stress, overwhelm, and trauma, inspired by Somatic Experiencing®

In Somatic Experiencing, we don’t simply look back at what happened. We work with what your body is still holding in the present, so old stress responses have a chance to complete and new responses can become available.

We work with the sensations, emotions, impulses, images and movements you notice in your body, as well as your thoughts. We go slowly and stay within what feels manageable, so you don't have to relive your story or tell me every detail.

We also look for what helps you feel steadier, such as your breath, a sense of ground, a good memory, or a trusted person.

Step by step, your nervous system can practice moving between activation and rest. Over time, you may find more choice in how you respond, more room to feel, and more trust in your body.

How the process unfolds:

This work often moves through three overlapping phases:

1. Finding your footing. First, we get to know your system. You begin to notice how pressure, tension, or disconnection show up in your body, and what helps you come back to yourself. This may include orienting to the room, sensing your feet on the ground, or following your breath. We also explore your window of tolerance: the range in which you can stay present without tipping into overwhelm or shutting down.

2. Meeting what's been held. As your system feels steadier, we gently turn toward what your body is still carrying. We go in small steps, moving between activation and ease. The aim isn't to relive the past, and we adjust as we go to help you stay within what feels manageable.

3. Integration in your daily life. Over time, you may notice changes in ordinary moments: pausing before you say yes, feeling a boundary sooner, or resting with less guilt. What you've experienced in sessions can gradually become part of how you live.

This isn't a fixed path. We follow what your system needs and can come back to steadiness whenever that helps.

SCHEDULE AN INTAKE

How does it work?

How to begin

Free call (optional, 15-20 minutes): A chance to ask your questions and see whether this feels right for you.
Intake Session (€90, 75–90 minutes): We explore what brings you here, what you've been carrying, and what helps you feel steady. You don't need to tell your whole story. As we talk, we also notice how your body responds, so you can get a feel for this way of working. Together, we then decide how to continue.
Ongoing Sessions (€90, 75–90 minutes): These are available in Eenrum and on Thursdays in Groningen.

Does this sound familiar, and do you feel I could be the right coach to support you? You're very welcome to get in touch. You can call or WhatsApp me on 0652454053, or send me a message through the contact form.

CONTACT ME

What clients often notice:

Every process is different, but over time, people often begin to notice small and meaningful changes.
Feeling old tension loosen as the body discovers new possibilities.
Feeling more connected to their own strength and aliveness.
Feeling more present and at ease in their body.
Knowing what helps them feel steadier in difficult moments.
Letting emotions be there, even when it feels vulnerable.
Understanding old patterns with more kindness.
Sensing a clear yes or no, and taking that seriously.
Taking up more space without immediately managing other people’s reactions

Inspired by Somatic Experiencing®

My approach is inspired by Somatic Experiencing®, a body-oriented approach to trauma developed by Dr. Peter Levine. I am currently completing the Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner training at Bodymind Opleidingen, which I expect to finish in September 2027.

MAXI MEISSNER