Natasha Alan-Williams

I’m Natasha, a SIRPA Practitioner, Somatic Therapist and Bodywork Practitioner. I’ve been working professionally with the body since 2011.

My approach is compassionate, collaborative and paced around safety, choice and individual readiness. As a SIRPA Practitioner, I support people experiencing persistent pain and other persistent symptoms to explore the relationship between their symptoms, stress, emotions, thoughts and nervous system.

Together, we develop greater awareness of patterns that may be contributing to or maintaining symptoms, while building resources, capacity and practical ways of responding differently.

My work draws on current understanding of pain neuroscience, stress physiology, nervous-system regulation, somatic psychology and trauma-informed approaches. I also integrate my training in Embodied Processing, Somatic EMDR-informed approaches, parts- and attachment-informed work, NeuroAffective Touch and Myofascial Bodywork.

Somatic EMDR-informed work is a thread through my practice, providing structure while allowing the work to remain responsive to each person’s individual needs, capacity and readiness.

Sometimes we need to understand the story. Sometimes we need to notice what is happening in the body. Sometimes we need to build safety and resources first. Sometimes we are ready to explore experiences that continue to affect us in the present. The work can move between these different areas according to what feels appropriate.

My professional background

My professional background began in Myofascial Bodywork, followed by training with SIRPA in persistent symptoms and nervous-system-informed approaches. I subsequently undertook further training in trauma and embodied therapeutic approaches, including Embodied Processing, Somatic EMDR and NeuroAffective Touch.

I bring these different strands of training together in an integrated, body-aware approach, while my SIRPA training provides an important foundation for my work with people experiencing persistent symptoms.

I’m based in Poole, Dorset, and work both in person and online.

Outside the therapy room

I love being by the sea, yoga, salsa dancing, being in nature and, of course, a good cup of tea.