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Episode 86

Somatic Healing & Expressive Arts Therapy for Trauma Recovery with Cathy Williams founder of Intuitive Self

with Cathy Williams founder of Intuitive Self

01:14:31

Summary Feeling numb, burned out, or stuck in your head? In this episode, Cathy Williams, a Movement & Expressive Arts Therapist and founder of Intuitive Self in Melbourne, Australia, shares how somatic therapy, intuitive movement, and expressive arts can help…

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Educational content only; this podcast is not therapy, diagnosis, or medical care.

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Summary Feeling numb, burned out, or stuck in your head? In this episode, Cathy Williams, a Movement & Expressive Arts Therapist and founder of Intuitive Self in Melbourne, Australia, shares how somatic therapy, intuitive movement, and expressive arts can help you reconnect with your body, regulate emotions, and release stored trauma. We explore body mapping, breathwork, music-supported healing, vicarious trauma, and embodied social justice—all through a faith-friendly, evidence-informed lens.

About Our Guest Cathy Williams is a Movement & Expressive Arts Therapist, facilitator, trainer, and award-winning author. She founded Intuitive Self and works with adults worldwide through workshops and 1:1 sessions. Her book, Body Wisdom: A Guide to Connecting with Your Intuitive Self, blends story, poetry, and practical guidance for reconnecting with body and heart.

Key Topics & Timestamps 00:00 — Show intro and mission 02:45 — Cathy's "why": from community development to somatic & arts-based work 11:20 — What somatic movement therapy is (and isn't) 20:30 — For numb/disconnected clients: breath as anchor; gentle body scan 24:50 — Body mapping: turning sensations into color/shape 33:10 — Music as a container for safe exploration 46:10 — The Five Rhythms arc: Flow → Staccato → Chaos → Lyrical → Stillness 55:30 — Embodied social justice: how systems live in the body 1:03:36 — Cathy's book Body Wisdom and how to work with her online 1:11:52 — Closing encouragement: "Trust in the Lord, guard your heart, renew your mind."

Try-It-Today Tools

  • 60-Second Breath Check — Notice your breath without changing it.

  • Micro Body Scan — Crown → jaw → shoulders → chest → belly → hips → knees → feet.

  • Body Map Card — Draw a simple outline and mark sensations with colors/lines.

  • Song-Length Intuitive Move — Let one body part lead to instrumental music.

  • Anger Circuit — 30s stomping + 30s shaking + 6 deep breaths + journaling.

Resources Mentioned

Work With Cathy Global 1:1 sessions and practitioner trainings: https://www.intuitiveself.com.au/

Work With Diana / Media

Contact Diana: diana@throughthevalleytherapy.com

Sponsors — Partner With Us Our audience: clinicians, coaches, faith-informed wellness seekers, community leaders. Perfect fit: CEU platforms, mental health tech, somatic/breathwork trainings, ethical supplements, counseling resources, journaling tools, clean wellness brands. Media kit & inquiries: diana@throughthevalleytherapy.com (Subject: "Sponsor — Holistic Counselor Podcast")

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