VITA (Vital and Integrated Tantric Approach) is a trauma-informed coaching modality based in somatics: dropping deep into the body for self-discovery and personal growth. What does somatic mean? It means you aren’t just dealing with your analytical mind. You are getting the whole body and nervous system on board. It might feel like living from the gut or heart, or roots, not just the mind. I am a scientist, and I LOVE my brain. I ADORE logic and reason. But my human experience can’t be accessed from a place of overthinking all the time. Somatics take me down into my body to reach the parts beyond reason.
You know what I mean, right? When a feeling wells up, and you say, “but I shouldn’t feel this way” or “Anger doesn’t help” or, “I have nothing to be ashamed of.” But no amount of very good sense ever talks away the fire in your throat or the pit in your stomach. Somatics helps us unravel these pieces on their own terms.
If you’ve done certain kinds of therapies (internal family systems, EMDR, etc.) some of this may feel familiar. But if you are used to talk-therapy, this is going to be a little different. I’m a coach, not a social worker or a physician, so I can’t diagnose or treat medical problems. I don’t dwell on what’s “broken.” I’m not sure I even believe that people can be broken. You are always welcome to talk about your life, but you never have to tell me any traumatic stories you don’t want to tell, and I might even interrupt long story to bring us back to the body and the sensations that are running underneath the words. Talking is secondary to feeling in VITA methodology. This isn’t to say we will never feel hard things, just that I will never force you out of your depth, nor do you ever owe me any explanations. Your active presence is enough. You are already enough.
We begin by constructing a detailed vision of where you want to be, how you want your life to feel. Once we have the vision, we work towards that goal. If now feels bad, imagining an alternate good! Once we know what we’re aiming for, we turn our attention to your physical body and explore sensations. This gets you out of story and into physical sensations. From this deeper space, deep insights inevitably unfold.
I find VITA especially powerful for revealing patterns I’ve been totally unconscious of for YEARS. Once I finally recognize my habits, I have so much more freedom! I can keep with my old ways, or I can decide to break the old mold and transform to pursue new dreams.
What kind of patterns might I transform?
- Patterns of thought – replacing self-deprecating internal talk with genuine self kindness
- Patterns of behavior – noticing an argument welling up and accessing calm so that I listen and speak more clearly
- Patterns of body – disentangling from rage or fear or shame response in the body relax into more pleasurable sexual intimacy
VITA coaching is specifically designed to help you thrive in love, sex, and relationship.
I take the most expansive view possible of these three subjects.
- Love can be love for yourself, self forgiveness, love for your child, for your spouse. It can be attracting new love into your life or rekindling fondness in old love.
- Sex can be sex with one partner or many — sex can also be JUST for you. It can be self-exploration, self-empowerment, discovery of new pleasure. Sex can be rebuilding a nurturing relationship with the physical body. Sex, too, can be healing cultural wounds around sexuality, letting go of other people’s shame to claim your own power.
- Relationship can certainly be a marriage or a dating relationship — or a relationship with your parents, child, friends, colleagues.
All coaching work will be customized to your unique situation. Some topics we might choose from in our time together include:
- Clarity on your goals
- Liberating the family dynamic
- Embracing the inner child
- Creating sexual thriving
- Getting what you desire
- Finding emotional empowerment
- The power of pleasure
- Journey into the self
- Vibrant, healthy relationships
For me, personally, VITA methodology has supported a great deal of growth towards my own personal goals. One of the most common pieces of feedback I hear from my clients is about the swiftness of the transformation:
“I can’t believe how fast this is working.” (-C.R. After 1 session)
“I don’t even remember who I was a month ago.” (-A.I. After 3 sessions)
“I feel like I just did ten years’ worth of therapy in a single session.” (-A.M. at her 6th session)
Yes! This is how it is for me, too. Fast, measurable growth.
VITA has brought deep clarity and peace to my daily life. My friends ask, “How are you so calm right now?” I AM calm! My relationships are deepening with easy lightness. My body, too, is learning new, glorious tricks. I take pleasure in subtle sensations I never even noticed before. This work is profound. I’m so glad to be able to share it with you.
