In 2005, I became a client of Hakomi, a remarkable somatically-oriented therapy. What I appreciated about it was that it went beyond “talk” therapy, using mindfulness to access the ways in which I was organizing my reality. This approach strongly complemented my Zen meditation practice, which has always been somatic at its core. Over the years, and along with EMDR, hypnotherapy, and other therapeutic modalities, I have learned to work with my own performance anxiety, much borne of complex PTSD.

For the past couple years, I have been training in Hakomi Coaching, completing Hakomi Informed Somatic Coaching (2025), as well as Hakomi Character Training (2026), and am currently working toward my International Coaching Federation Certification as I work to complete the Embodiwise Foundations of Somatic Coaching.

Hakomi-informed coaching can help you identify and move toward goals, and examine blocks and beliefs that can affect your practice habits, performance poise and even your technique. Simply bringing mindfulness to our bodies can reveal points of tension, posture, non-useful and excessive movement of the body. Hakomi can take the practice further, leading to greater understanding of ourselves and habitual patterns of technique and performance.

In my studio and Performance Workshop, I have always included an exploration of mind-states and mindfulness in my work with students, but have not explicitly used somatic techniques to help students move into more mindful states to see patterns and belief systems that inhibit their own growth. I now feel ready to do so.

This can be a standalone engagement, or for guitarists, a powerful adjunct to lessons. I’m currently offering free and reduced-rate sessions as part of the contact hours needed for Certification. If this sounds intriguing, please use the Contact Form. I look forward to working with you!