Mission Statement

Embodied Heart Somatics seeks to provide a safe, supportive container for every client in every session to allow for deepening self-insight and personal growth by utilizing present moment awareness of the body without force, and with an attitude of loving presence, organicity, and collaboration.

About Catherine

QUALIFICATIONS

Hakomi Somatic Therapy Advanced Training Graduate
Hakomi Somatic Therapy Comprehensive Training Graduate
Hakomi Somatic Therapy Teaching Assistant
Licensed Massage Therapist
Advanced Pain Reprocessing Therapist
Certified Tai Chi & Qi Gong Instructor
B. Sc. in Psychology
B. Sc. in Nutrition

EXPERIENCE

10+ years as a licensed massage therapist
10+ years as a dance and movement arts facilitator
5+ years as an evidenced based health facilitator for older adults
3+ years case management in community mental health
2+ years as a somatic mentor in private practice
1+ year as a volunteer massage therapist serving hospice patients

ADDITIONAL RECENT TRAINING

2024 - Present: Innate Somatic Intelligence Trauma Therapy Approach Training - 6 months
2023 - 2024: Hakomi Somatic Therapy Advanced Training - 1 year
2023-2024: Sourcepoint Therapy Training - 65 hours
2024: Advanced Vagal Toning with Arielle Schwartz - 24 hours
2021-2023: Hakomi Somatic Therapy Comprehensive Training - 2 years
September 2023: Body Mind Centering, Primitive Reflexes, Righting Reactions, and Equilibrium Responses - 6 day training
August - September 2023: Vagal Toning to Embody Your Vibrant & Spiritual Self with Arielle Schwartz, PhD - 12 hours
February - March 2023: Pain Reprocessing Therapy Training - 21 hours
August 2022: Myofascial Release Intensive - 72 hours
April 2022: Body Mind Centering, Endocrine System - 5 day training
2014 - 2022: Upledger Institute, Craniosacral Therapy - 96 hours
September 2021: Anatomy Trains, Structure and Function - 21 hours

“The sessions I’ve had with Catherine are some of the most effective and powerful therapy sessions I’ve ever had – and I’ve had many.

I found the structure of Hakomi, and Catherine’s work in particular, quite healing and supportive, very safe and deeply human.

The sessions felt mutually created and balanced. The process of slowing-down, tuning in, and recognizing some deep currents/energies/signs within me felt revolutionary and surprising– a needed shortcut and revelation of the self.

This is work that is hard to do on one’s own – so being guided with such professionalism, insight, and care was very helpful.”

— J.

Catherine is a soulful, compassionate Hakomi-informed somatic mentor and a highly skilled somatic bodywork practitioner.

Her personal experience living with chronic pain for over a decade fuels her mission for supporting other people who are challenged with unexplainable chronic symptoms and/or nervous system sensitivity. She sincerely stands by the benefits of her work in somatic awareness and personal growth.

She is a graduate of the Hakomi Somatic Therapy advanced training, and on track to become a Certified Hakomi Practitioner. She is also a Certified Advanced Pain Reprocessing Therapist, Licensed Massage Therapist, and significantly trained in Craniosacral Therapy.

Through her personal experience of living with chronic pain for over a decade, her commitment to personal growth and healing have expanded her compassion and capacity to support others who are struggling emotionally and physically.

Catherine holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition, and in Psychology as a double major graduate from Middle Tennessee State University.

She has been a practitioner of dance and movement arts for 30 years, and a teacher for over 10 years. She obtained her massage therapy education from Chattanooga State Community College in 2011-2012, and studied with Chris Campbell at Time for Tai Ji where she obtained a 150 hour teaching certificate for Tai Chi and Qi Gong in 2013.

Catherine has 3 years of experience working in the field of community mental health and 4 years of experience working with disabled older adults.

She worked as a Supported Employment Specialist for adults with severe persistent mental illness from 2017-2020, and she worked as an Evidenced Based Promotion Program Facilitator for older adults in rural areas of Tennessee from 2013-2017 facilitating programs such as Tai Chi for Health, Matter of Balance, and Arthritis Foundation Exercise in a variety of settings including assisted living facilities, nursing homes, senior activity centers and hospitals.

She also has volunteer experience with Visiting Nurse Homecare and Hospice in New Hampshire providing therapeutic touch to hospice patients.

When Catherine is not putting her creative ambition into her somatic work, she enjoys spending time with her partner and her dog, rock climbing, hiking, live music, sound healing, nourishing community, plant medicine, and anything else that keeps her heart and spirit alive.