My mother in 1979. She is pregnant with me in this photo.

An Authentic Movement informed therapy practice involves the client expressing their internal experience through moving their body. While the client moves, the therapist supports the client by acting as a witness to their expression. Through movement, it is possible to bypass some of the limitations of language-based thought and the conscious mind. In somatic-based therapy approaches we recognize that the body does not serve the mind. Instead, information from the nervous system influences the perceptions and actions of our mind. This approach is useful in the processing of trauma, overcoming stuck narratives, feeling more comfortable with your body, and connecting with suppressed emotion. The movement is, by itself, healing. Allowing the body to move in whatever way it needs may be something that comes naturally or it may require courage and experimentation.

Authentic Movement

Authentic movement can be practiced in individual, couples, family, and group therapy formats. In a couples session, each partner takes a turn as Mover and Witness. The Mover becomes more comfortable communicating themselves to their partner. The Witness develops their ability to attend to their partner. Both roles foster feelings of connection and help to overcome repetitive patterns that might exist in a couple’s verbal communication.