My philosophy of care & therapeutic approach

My own journey with somatic therapy has been deeply transformative.

At the time of my worst mental health, I needed an approach that didn't try to categorize or fix me. A way of seeing my experience that delved deep to the root cause of my feelings and made sense of the chaos. I became passionate about this beautiful, fascinating, & intricate world of somatic therapy.

We aren't truly taught to care for ourselves on a deeper emotional level, and many of us don't have the tools to self-regulate and process our feelings about the world when we most need it.

I’m here to help you feel at home in your body, and to connect deeply to what truly matters to you. These skills of self-regulation and stress-release translate into our daily life, into the workplace, and into our closest relationships & families.

Though it is gaining popularity, somatic therapy is not solely an additional skill in Western psychotherapy's toolkit - it is a totally different paradigm of healing. One where we're not looking to fix or change ourselves, but create more space to feel and respond.

We each have an innate capacity to be deeply connected to our own inner experience. Embodiment, vision, metaphor, symbolism, and relationality—with our bodies, our communities, our ancestors, and the earth—have been central to Indigenous worldviews long before modern ‘somatics.’ I continue to learn from incredible teachers who guide us toward true transformation, relationality and depth.

In my practice, I prioritize curiosity, depth, collaboration and playfulness. This is a space where you can explore your emotions and experiences without judgment, and together we create a space where you can express your thoughts about our process.

If you’d like to explore whether we’re a good fit, I invite you to book a free consult with me. I work with people on a long-term basis, and am honoured to be part of your journey.

BA, RTC, & Relational Somatic Therapist

I'm Andree Patenaude

Training

& Qualifications

• Somatic Dreaming Facilitator

• Clinical Somatic Educator in Training (2.5 year program) - Homebody Healing (ISMETA)

• Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) - Orca Institute

• Relational Somatic Therapist - Opening to Grace Relational Somatic Therapy

• Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography w/ a focus on community resilience, systems change & anti-oppression

• 15+ years in community work, mental health & outreach with folks from many walks of life.

• Former frontline harm reduction worker, crisis response worker & program manager

• Compassion & Vulnerability Wisdom Cycle - DIMA Mystery School 2022

• Cellular Transformation - Workshops & Trainings with Jennifer Millar 2017 - ongoing

• San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training 2022

• Mental Health First Aid 2019

• Motivational Interviewing 2017

• Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention 2018
  

"Andree’s energy is calm and encouraging.

She is very understanding. For someone who is uncomfortable being vulnerable in front of others, I feel very safe with her. She creates a warm, comforting environment where all feelings and thoughts are allowed to be felt and heard. Andree is a wonderful listener and a caring person. Like a warm fire to sit beside on a cold night, she has been comforting and supportive through my recovery journey."

client experience

Questions? Send me a message.

Request a consult here and I will respond to your message within a day or so.

In our consult, we will talk about what you're experiencing and answer any questions you may have.

There is no pressure to commit, just a conversation to see if we're a good fit.

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