I am a sociologist turned somatic practitioner who specializes in system transformation.
Whether you are an individual or an organization, we work together to shift the patterns that are keeping you stuck, so you can do the good things you are here to do.
To re-shape the systems we are part of, we need to re-shape our nervous systems. We shape and are shaped by each other, as well as the wider systems we create and belong to— interpersonal, inherited, and organizational. When we can shift away from the urgency of survival reactions, we can access a greater sense of choice and possibility, better boundaries and self-trust, and access to knowing beyond the thinking brain.
“Working with you is a beautiful blend of calm presence and powerful charge, a paradox perhaps, and one that I find to be a catalyst for change”
Coach, Consultant, Facilitator
Clients grow capacity to handle conflict, find solutions, and connect better to the people with whom they live and work.
When we cultivate these skills and capacities, we have the potential to transform not only ourselves but our relationships and communities.
Everything
is fractal.
Education
Through somatic coaching, relational facilitation, and integrative bodywork, I support individuals working toward a more just world as they achieve personal and professional goals by cultivating a deeper connection to themselves and their communities. My unique approach brings together cultural, developmental, and intergenerational frameworks to foster meaningful change.
I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sociology from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Afterward, I trained in trauma-informed modalities that support systemic transformation. I’m an ICF-certified Wayfinder coach, a Somatic Experiencing® and NARM® practitioner, and a certified mindfulness instructor through UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. My work is enriched by a background in public health research, community organizing, and education across seven countries. Centered on principles of love and justice, I support change-makers who are seeking personal and collective transformation.
“The way you hold space, the tenderness that is so evident in your approach, your thoughtful questions, the silence you allow, the gentleness with which you pull on a thread.”
Formal Education
MA (Hons), Sociology
BA, Sociology of Gender and French
Certifications & Trainings
Biodynamic Craniosacral Practitioner (RCST®)
ICF Professional Coach (Wayfinder Certification)
Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner
Transforming Touch® Practitioner
NARM® Practitioner
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher (Tara Brach/Jack Kornfield and UCB)
Ancestral Reconnection Guide (mentorship with Shauna Janz)
Approach
This work is about rhythm and relationship.
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With every session, we’ll explore a simple practice that you can take home. Personalized strategies, so you can begin to create a foundation to support yourself through the ebbs and flows of life.
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Research has shown that our early history informs our development, our sense of who we are in the world, and how we relate to others. Our life experiences shape our thoughts, beliefs and feelings, and these are reflected in the nervous system, hormones, and even posture. The reverse is also true. That’s why I certified as a practitioner of NARM®, which builds on the insights of Somatic Experiencing®.
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My values are rooted in the principles of healing justice.
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My wish is to meet you as you are, and to support your agency, in a way that is trauma-informed, heart-centred and attuned to you. This also means recognizing edges, and referring you to other practitioners as needed.
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Movement is life. Together, we can begin to notice where life is moving, and where emotions are held
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Stillness is dynamic. Here, we pause to notice the stories we tell ourselves, and discover the deeper truths that emerge from presence in the here + now.
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The seasons and the tides. Our bodies and their cycles. Expansion and contraction. Words and silence. Rupture and repair.
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My approach is grounded in the elemental guidance offered by yogic and ayurvedic sciences.
“Karishma balances each person’s autonomy with mutual guidance and support, always working to ensure the group is moving in the direction of liberation. All while centering relationships with self, others, and the land throughout the process. Our work together has been a process of remembering, of reconnection of body and spirit, of growth towards wholeness and greater ease in relationality.”
Migrant Justice Organizer
shape:shift 2024 cohort
Fees & payment
Fees vary by service and package.
Payment accepted in cash, check, Zelle or credit card.
Changes or cancellations
Less than 48 hours notice will incur a charge for half of the session fee.
Less than 24 hours will incur a charge for the full amount of the session.
Exceptions for emergencies and illness/COVID exposure.
Policies
COVID protocols
The location at 150 Broadway has an air purifier.
If you have symptoms of any kind before your appointment, or if there has been a known COVID exposure, please let me know immediately so that we can reschedule.
Caveat
My work facilitates nervous system re-balancing, self connection and integration. This work does not constitute psychotherapy and it is not a substitute for professional mental health services.