You understand the pattern. Your body hasn’t let it go yet.

Trauma-informed counselling and somatic therapy for people who have done the thinking, and are still living the same story. In Aylesbury, and online.

Book a discovery call How I work
Hannah Nicholson
A woman curled up on a chair beneath a heavy stone

Where people usually start

You have read the books. You can name it while it’s happening.

And still the same thing happens. That isn’t a failure of insight. Some things are held in the body, and the body needs a different kind of attention.

Illustration of a woman sitting beneath the outline of a tree

Why I moved from talking therapy to somatic therapy

I started out as a talking therapist.

But something never quite felt complete. I could see the patterns and the insight was there, and yet so many clients still felt stuck.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve helped hundreds of people reach a place of peace. What I noticed over the years is that understanding a pattern and being free of it are two very different things. The body is where the tension, the overwhelm and the stuckness actually live.

Where words can only go so far, the nervous system tells the deeper story.

Now, as a somatic therapist, I support people to move beyond just understanding their experiences and actually feel safe enough to change them.

If you’ve done the talking and something still isn’t shifting, you’re not doing anything wrong. There may just be another layer to explore.

Healing isn’t about repairing something broken. It’s about restoring connection.
Hannah Nicholson
A woman resting one hand on her chest

How the work goes

Talking helps.
It isn’t always enough on its own.

When something overwhelming happens, the body organises itself around surviving it. That organising is intelligent, and it often outlasts the thing it was protecting you from.

What actually happens in a session

Years later it shows up as anxiety that arrives before the thought does, as shutting down, as being unable to rest, or as the same difficulty in relationship after relationship. Somatic work brings your attention to what is actually happening in your body while we talk. Gently, and in small doses, so that stored stress and unfinished survival responses have somewhere to go.

What a session is like

We talk, much as you’d expect. Alongside that, I might invite you to notice something: where your breath is sitting, what your shoulders are doing, what happens in your chest when you say a particular sentence. You stay in charge of how far we go. Nothing is forced, and you can decline any invitation without explaining yourself.

Some sessions are almost entirely talking. Some are quieter. Both are the work.

Your first session

We take time to get to know one another and talk about what has brought you here. There is no pressure to say everything at once, and no expectation that you’ll arrive with it neatly explained. Mostly, this session is about finding out whether working together feels right to you.

What people bring

The things that come up most often

Kind words

From people I’ve worked with

Shared with permission. Names withheld to protect confidentiality.

★★★★★
SWIPE

Hannah is incredibly professional, down-to-earth, intuitive and genuinely gifted. From the moment you step into a session with her, you feel at ease. She gently guides you to tune into what your body is communicating. It’s subtle but powerful. At the end she reflects back key insights, often noting things I’d said that I hadn’t even realised were significant.

Somatic therapy client

Working with Hannah has been a truly transformative experience. She’s warm, intuitive and incredibly grounding. Each session felt like a gentle return to myself. Her guidance helped me reconnect with parts of myself I thought I’d lost. I always left feeling seen, supported and aligned.

Somatic therapy client

She is truly gifted at creating a safe, welcoming space before diving into the work. Her guided meditation was perfectly timed and thoughtfully tailored, allowing me to go only as deep as I felt comfortable while still feeling expansive. She extended invitations rather than pushing, which made the experience feel both safe and respectful.

Somatic therapy client

Another profound session; it was emotional, but I felt safe the whole time. I have already noticed a gentle shift. Hannah can quickly guide me to a place of self-discovery and easily bring me out again without leaving me feeling down.

Somatic therapy client

A fantastic experience. Hannah’s energy is very welcoming and encouraging. I feel there are no limits to what we can uncover. These sessions are very empowering and I have felt more like myself than I have in years.

Somatic therapy client

I see myself in a different light. My inner voice has changed dialogue to a kinder, more supportive and encouraging narrative. I feel more confident. It’s hard to explain in words, but I feel more like me than I ever have.

Somatic therapy client

Recognise yourself in any of this?
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Before you get in touch

Questions people usually have

Do I need to know anything about somatic therapy first?

No. Most people arrive knowing very little about it, and some arrive fairly sceptical. You don’t need any experience, any particular beliefs, or the right words for what you’re feeling.

Is this instead of talking therapy?

No, it sits alongside it. I trained and worked as a talking therapist first, and we still talk. The difference is that we also pay attention to what your body is doing while we do.

What if I get upset in a session?

That’s allowed, and it’s common. Part of my job is to keep the pace manageable so you don’t leave feeling wide open. We go slowly, and we always come back before we finish.

How many sessions will I need?

There’s no set number. Some people come for a short, focused piece of work, others stay longer. We’ll review it together as we go, and you’re free to stop whenever it feels right.

Do you work online or in person?

Both. I see people in Aylesbury and I work online. Somatic work translates well to video calls, and plenty of people prefer being in their own space for it.

Is what I say confidential?

Yes. I work within the BACP Ethical Framework, which includes confidentiality and regular supervision of my practice. I’ll explain the small number of situations where that might change when we first meet.

How do I know if you’re the right fit?

That’s exactly what the free discovery call is for. It’s a short, no-obligation conversation so you can hear how I work and get a feel for me before committing to anything.

Folded towels and candlelight

Practical things

The details, before you decide

Where
Aylesbury
& onlineWhichever suits your life.
Sessions
From £66Short-term, longer-term and one-off sessions.
Starting
A free callGet a feel for me before committing.
Availability
Enquiries openGet in touch and we’ll find a time that works.

Take the first step

Book a discovery call

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Pick whatever time suits you, and I’ll be in touch to confirm.

A short, no-obligation conversation

A chance to hear how I work and ask anything you’re unsure about, before you decide whether to book a session.

  • Free of charge
  • By phone or video
  • No obligation to book
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Occasional letters on the nervous system, the body, and living a little more at ease. No pressure to book anything, just a way to stay connected if you’re not ready yet.

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Between sessions

Small, ordinary ways of coming back to your body

Somatic work asks you to notice your body. That’s easier when you already have a few unhurried moments in your day where you’re paying it kind attention rather than rushing past it.

Washing your face slowly. Warming a balm between your hands before you use it. Feeling your own touch on your own skin. These are tiny things, and they’re also practice.

Alongside my therapy work I’m an ambassador for Tropic, a British brand whose products are plant-powered, vegan, cruelty-free and freshly made here in the UK. It fits how I live, and it’s what I reach for myself. If it’s of interest, you’re very welcome to have a look.

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Being open with you: I earn a small commission on anything ordered through my page. Nothing here is part of therapy, there is never any expectation to buy, and it makes no difference to our work together.