Anna Siebert

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What drew you to somatics and mental health?

I came to this work through navigating my own healing journey. I spent decades seeking resolution for the pain and challenges I experienced, but nothing seemed deep enough for me to ‘hold onto’ any gains made in sessions.

I battled multiple health issues, including autoimmune disorders, gut health problems, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, connective tissue problems, chronic infections and biochemical imbalances.

I looked calm on the outside most of the time, but I was permanently freaking out on the inside. The only way I felt calm was when I was on the verge of passing out, which happened semi-regularly. (Side note: I now know this is a collapse response, and not true calm at all!)

Traditional medical approaches had no answers for me. Although integrative and holistic approaches helped me gain some life back, it seemed never enough to allow me to actually ‘live’. After the ecstatic and traumatic birth of my eldest cracked me open, I discovered that my many hidden and unrecognised traumas had been driving these psychological and physical difficulties.

Through healing with somatic approaches, I realised that there was actually nothing wrong with me; my body had just become ‘stuck’ trying to resolve traumas as if I was still in them, rather than being an event that had happened in the past. As the traumas resolved, my mental and physical health challenges began to resolve, in turn.

My slow gains hadn’t been because I was ‘broken’, or because of ‘faulty thinking’, or somehow ‘less than’. All that had been happening was that my physiology was preparing my body for ‘attack’ at all times, even when none existed, and eventually my system had worn out.

Likewise, in my work, I have never seen anyone who ‘just doesn’t want it enough’, who ‘isn’t trying hard enough’, who ‘needs to toughen up more’.

Instead, what I have seen is layer upon layer of stress and trauma, sometimes multigenerational, that is wreaking havoc upon our systems. And many of us have no idea how to be any other way. No one showed us how, as no one had showed *them* how. And so it continues, unless we make a change.

Because, in truth, if we don’t know how our nervous system works, if we haven’t experienced safety and regulation within our bodies and within relationship, if we can’t ‘find’ the pathway to move from states of fear into states of connection, then all the ‘good practices’ just won’t stick.

No matter how much we meditate, practice gratitude, see therapists, try to be assertive, have healthy boundaries, or whatever else we might try, we aren’t able to effect the lasting changes we so deeply desire.

Thanks to many incredible scientists and practitioners who have shared their wisdom, we don’t have to stay stuck. I can absolutely say you’re not ‘broken’.

I am eternally grateful to the many somatic modalities I have trained in, for the deep support and healing they offer my clients.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are your qualifications?

Registering Bodies

Australian Counselling Association

Somatic Experiencing International

International Institute for Complementary Therapists

Tertiary Qualifications

Masters Counselling (Monash University)

G. Dip  (Advanced) Psychology (Honours equiv.)  University of Adelaide

G. Dip.  Counselling (University of Tasmania)

G. Dip. Psychology (Bachelors equiv.) (University of Adelaide)

G. Cert. Clinical Education (Flinders University)

B. Health Science (Public Health) (University of Adelaide)

Cert. International Health and Development (Intermed)

Other Qualifications

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (Somatic Experiencing Australia)

STS Individual & Group Supervision Certification (Sydney Supervision Training)

Transforming Touch Practitioner (formerly Transforming the Experience-based Brain) (Stephen Terrell)

Touch Skills for Trauma Therapists Practitioner (Kathy Kain)

Somatic Resilience and Regulation Practitioner (Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell)

Integral Somatic Psychology (Level 1) (Raja Selvam)

Group Therapy Facilitator Training (Ari Badaines)

Safe and Sound Protocol (Unyte Integrated Listening Systems)

Interpersonal Neurobiology (INPB) (Dan Siegel, Mindsight Institute)

Five Phases (formerly Kids In Tune) (Ale Duarte)

Tracking Sensations with Children (Ale Duarte)

Becoming Us Facilitator Training (Elly Taylor)

Mindful Rebozo Training (Birthing4Pros)

Acupressure for Birth (Red Tent Health Centre)

Dip. Childbirth Education (Childbirth International)

Meditation Teacher Training (Transformation Meditation)

Diploma Birth Doula (Childbirth International)

ASIST Applied Suicide: Intervention Skills Training (Living Works)

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (Crisis Prevention Institute Inc.)

Fees