Over the past seven years I have been researching the complex trauma that can arise in immigrant communities as a result of cultural clash and identity confusion. My initial research, focused on the secret lives of British Asian women, was featured in gal-dem, a virtual magazine sharing the voices of women of colour.
Email from a reader - Part 1, British Asian woman aged 29
Within hours of publication, I received hundreds of emails from women sharing their personal stories and struggles. This affirmed how much this dialogue was needed and absent in my community. Shortly afterwards, I was invited to share my findings on BBC radio and secured funding for a closed podcast sharing the personal life stories of seven women.
Email from a reader - Part 2, British Asian woman aged 29
A few years later, I received a scholarship from The Somatic School which enabled me to further my research into how somatic techniques and therapies might support individuals who are navigating double lives to integrate aspects of their identity that had been hidden or oppressed.
Now I support people from all walks of life to experience holistic integration of the self and move towards a life of deeper authenticity, connection and joy.
I curated The Somatic Pathway to support individuals in finding their authentic voice, vision and purpose and to help them establish a strong sense of self, even if this process was beginning in adulthood. I know that the implications of a life defined by inauthenticity and deceit and huge and far-reaching. This is a resource I wish I had in my teens and early twenties and it has been my life’s work to put it out into the world.
The image below explains why cultural clash so often leads an individual to live a double or secret life:
The complexity of navigating a double or secret life can have huge implications, leading to adaptive behaviours and coping mechanisms. As you can see in the right hand column, this compromises the processes required for identity formation.
What is this programme about?
The Somatic Pathway is a 6-month holistic coaching programme comprised of three key strands:
We spend approximately 8 weeks in each stage and make strategic use of coaching models, alongside Somatic techniques and tools. This kickstarts the the immensely difficult but necessary process of embarking on identity formation in adulthood.
Is this programme right for you?:
Do you feel some parts of you are always hidden in different areas of your life and nobody knows the real you?
Are you chronically fearful and anxious about being ‘found out?
Do you struggle to make decisions because of conflicting values and principles?
Do you know the things that would make you happy would lead to your family abandoning or disowning you?
Have you normalised having to be deceitful and lie because it helped you to survive for so long?
Do you feel paralysed by guilt and shame when you envision disappointing your family?
Do you feel your connections lack depth and integrity because others are unable to understand your complex situation?
Do you struggle to imagine a future where you can fit into both of your cultures and communities simultaneously?
If this resonates with you, then I know you are probably experiencing immense grief, loneliness, social isolation and anxiety on a daily basis. I also know you have likely normalised this, because your entire life, you have been straddling these two worlds and this duplicity (this state of being double). Envisioning a more authentic life can feel impossible because it threatens the framework on which your sense of self has been built, a framework which incorporates inauthenticity as a necessary component. I understand how impossible it can be to imagine a different way. I also know that a small part of you longs for a life which feels lighter and simpler. This isn’t a quick-fix at all and nor is this programme about integrating all aspects of your life.
This process simply enhances your awareness and helps you to develop the tools and capacity to face and then consciously choose the life you are living; rather than it being an accidental continuation of behaviours you had to adopt in childhood to survive. Embarking on The Somatic Pathway may result in you integrating some aspects of your life - or none. These external changes are secondary to your inner transformation. As we embark on an inner journey, you will deepen your connection with your body, clarify your personal values and boundaries and create a vision for a more authentic life - defined on your own terms. The natural result of this work is usually the confidence, conviction and the tools to support you in making some changes - the ones that are right for you at this point in time. My job is to be beside you and support you on your journey. This is a judgement-free, supportive and collaborative environment. Together, we can explore all of this and more.
How is this different from 1-1 coaching sessions?
This is the right programme for you if you are looking for focused and personalised support on some of the topics mentioned above and are keen to approach this through a holistic, nuanced and intercultural lens. I specialise in working with British Asian women, but this model has also proved highly effective for those facing similar challenges from different cultural backgrounds. The Somatic Pathway is a 6 month long programme because this deep work requires a longer-term commitment and greater support. It also differs from the 1-1 Coaching sessions because we collaboratively work through the 3-stage process outlined above. The individual sessions offer more structure and guidance; there are set exercises, reflection tools, review points and check-ins.
Programme Overview and Pricing
WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SOMATIC PATHWAY?
Please include your name, timezone, preferred days and times. I will then reach out to arrange an informal call where you can ask questions and find out more.