Somatic coaching approaches coaching through the body, sensations, emotions, and thoughts, as opposed to cognitive-based coaching.
I have learned from two schools: 1)Strozzi Institute for Somatics is the world’s original and longest-running somatic coaching program, whose lineage consists of aikido, jungian/gestalt psychology, vipassana meditation, and polarity therapy, and 2)Axialent Conscious Business which presents a mindset approach.
Somatic coaching approaches change through the body so that you can keep your actions aligned with your vision and values, even under stress. Somatic coaching also holds social and environmental impact as integral to embodied learning.
Aligning action with vision and values in a way that holds mutual safety, dignity, and belonging
Client testimonial
“Ultimately, I wanted somatic coaching to help me break patterns of overthinking, connect with my authentic self, and show up fully in my work and life—whether that’s in entrepreneurship, yoga, or personal relationships.”
Caitlin C., MBA Student and Business Owner
Why coaching through the body?
…awareness of a self-limiting pattern of mine isn’t enough to make me change that pattern.
Somatic coaching approaches change through the body so you can keep your actions aligned with your vision and values, even under stress. When pressure comes in, change that’s achieved through mindsets isn’t as sustainable because the way our bodies respond, physiologically, is more deeply rooted (think of “knee-jerk reactions”). Change through the body is more sustainable in the face of the same old pressures, because you have coached your body to respond differently to pressure.
Or, it’s like this: awareness of a self-limiting pattern of mine (or awareness of why I have that pattern) isn’t enough to make me change that pattern. It takes practice, and intentional practice, to develop a new relationship from that pattern. When that practice is done through the body, it becomes muscle memory, like riding a bike.
Coaching with Stephen: …there’s no ‘wrong’ to right in our work together.
My coaching style is intuitive, collaborative, compassionate, and committed to you.
My style of coaching says that you are the expert of your own body and your own life.
There’s no ‘wrong’ to right in our work together.
I bring everything from my life, work, and studies to support you living into the future you’re longing for.
What might you discover?
Do not try to save
the whole world
or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create
a clearing
in the dense forest
of your life
and wait there
patiently,
until the song
that is your life
falls into your own cupped hands
and you recognize and greet it.
Only then will you know
how to give yourself to this world
so worthy of rescue.
-Martha Postlethwaite
About Stephen and coaching
Stephen has coached people from individual contributor to C-suite in small and large businesses. These industries include consulting, healthcare, education, and tech. Themes coached include but are not limited to career transition and advancement, managing up, parenting, imposter syndrome, entrepreneurship, relationship deepening, team leadership, public speaking, and spiritual development. Stephen’s coaching stems from several methods beyond his coach training.
Stephen’s formal education at UCLA and UC Berkeley contributes to his coaching offering. While getting an MBA at UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he specialized in Leadership Development and Social Impact, he learned to coach with optimizing team performance, incentives and motivations, and the deep importance of cultural context. At UC Berkeley, where he majored in Rhetoric, he learned about the power of authentic speech, which contributes to coaching people to be authors of their own lives.
His informal education also contributes to his coaching offering. He’s received certifications in mindfulness based stress reduction (free MBSR course here) and mindful self-compassion and has practiced meditation for 18 years. He’s also a practitioner of attachment-style parenting, continental philosophy, and aikido.
His work over 15 years as a manager of (and later, a self-employed consultant for) high-performing medical clinics of all sizes informs his ability to coach to individual and managerial growth.
He actively receives coach supervision, not only because it’s a good ethical practice, but also so he can offer broader and deeper support for his clients.
You can see a detailed list of his experience and achievements here.
Stephen Peterson
Somatic business coach
Stephen Peterson
Somatic coach
Questions? Please head to FAQ or contact me using the form below
Not sure yet? Here are some free resources to get a feel for somatic coaching:
And some book recommendations: