somatic & creative arts therapy
Our Integrative Somatic Trauma and Creative Arts Practitioner, Claire Stephensen, helps women, those assigned female at birth and non-binary people to understand and express the language of their bodies.
Claire works predominately through combining her clinical background in Neurobiology and Neuropsychotherapy with her passion for somatics and embodiment.
*Please note, due to a full case load, Claire has paused new patient bookings and Curiosity Calls. If you would like to be notified when she has availability for new bookings, please register your interest here. We do not have a clear estimate for our waitlist timeline and as such, you are welcome to seek other mental health supports in the meantime.*
Services.
Why Somatics and Creativity?
We know that trauma and overwhelming feelings limit blood flow to the prefrontal cortex – the place where words and logic live. The blood flow is too busy being sent to the survival parts of our brain and body.
Talking therapies are wonderful – yet when we bring body-based and creative approaches into therapy – we are meeting the parts of our body and brain that are already online – and creating new maps for us to return back to homeostasis and therefore access our words and logic again.
In sessions with Claire, music and creativity are always used from a somatic approach - whereby, we are bringing awareness to thoughts, feelings, sensory experience, physiological responses and how we relate to the world around us.
FAQ
What if I’m not creative and/or am completely disconnected from my body?
Creativity in the dominant culture has a particular look about it. Polished. Perfect. So quite frankly, it doesn’t feel safe in many of our bodies (even those who consider themselves creative)!
Creative and somatic processes are introduced in a way that centres safety first. We will often begin with subtle creative and somatic practices that allow us to dip our toes in, provide structure as we experiment with focusing on the process over the outcome. This, in itself supports gentle rewiring of the stories that are stored in our DNA — and allows us to restore/re-story old patterns.
Different modalities can be used throughout: subtle somatics, movement, pastel drawing, paints, clay, music listening, movement to music, play, characters and roles, drumming and voice exploration. We work with what feels ok to start with and then play with what sparks the most interest. People often arrive feeling unsure and leave feeling a sense of liberation.
How does a session look?
A session has a predictable structure that allows for flexibility as required.
A check-in
An embodied/somatic process to anchor into the safety that is available
Embodied goal setting
A somatic/embodied/creative process to meet the desired outcome
Wrap-up that includes at least one simple, practical take home
All sessions include module-type learning and unlearning around the cultures of care; alongside grounded and practical in-the-moment tools.
Curiosity Calls
Would you like to speak with Claire and learn more about what a session looks like?
Claire now offers a complimentary Curiosity Call prior to booking in an initial session.
*Please note: Curiosity Calls are currently on a temporary pause.*
Who might benefit?
Those who experience:
· Trauma, stress, or repressed emotions in their physical symptoms
· Chronic and persistent pain – and need practical tools to support this
· Feeling trapped in a culture of shame, oppression, and disconnection
· Disconnection from themselves or their body
· Challenges with body image
Claire also enjoys working with those who have had formal psychiatric diagnoses – however, diagnoses are not required for sessions.
Is there any type of rebate or funding?
Currently, there are no Medicare or private health rebates available for appointments with Claire. However, Claire does work with those who are self-managed or plan-managed NDIS participants.
Claire Stephensen
Integrative Somatic Trauma and Creative Arts Practitioner at Vera
In-person & telehealth consultations available.
Pricing*
Claire offers equity-based pricing - which acknowledges that we all come from different levels of privilege and experiences of oppression. This pricing model is based on trust and asks you to check in with your current access to having basic needs met, housing, social support and financial income.
Tiers
Equity — This is really important for me, yet it hurts to pay this amount of money. I may have to decide between attending sessions and meeting my basic needs (eg. food and rent).
Initial Session
$180 - please allow 90 minutes
Follow-Up Session
$160 - please allow 60 minutes
Standard — This expense does not jeopardise my ability to meet my basic needs. I may have to make sacrifices for lifestyle and entertainment expenses - as I choose how to spend my money.
Initial Session
$200 - please allow 90 minutes
Follow-Up Session
$180 - please allow 60 minutes
Rebalance — I am sufficiently financially secure to pay this amount. It does not jeopardise my ability to meet my basic needs nor significantly limit my activities and purchases. I may have to account for it, but I can afford it.
Initial Session
$220 - please allow 90 minutes
Follow-Up Session
$200 - please allow 60 minutes
NDIS Pricing
Initial Session
$260 - please allow 90 minutes
Follow-Up Session
$193 - please allow 60 minutes
*Please note prices are subject to change.
To be in Claire’s medicinal spaces means to be valued, acknowledged, and deeply heard.
She creatively weaves together sessions that incorporate whole-body listening, psychosomatic education, creative evidence-based practices and storytelling — demonstrating the kind of authentic, vulnerable and embodied leadership that de-stigmatises our most human expressions.