Why I Do This Work

I believe that personal healing is inseparable from collective healing. When we reconnect with our bodies, we enter into authentic relationship with our whole selves, which allows us to enter into genuine connection with the world around us. In a world that often encourages disconnection from self and other, somatic work helps us return to wholeness and connection.

I also do this work because I know what it’s like to feel broken; to be caught in striving, self-blame, and disconnection. I know what it’s like to get caught up in spiritual practices and healing modalities that encourage transcendance, self-denial or clawing out of who we are, rather than turn towards with understanding and compassion.

My mission is to create a space where our bodies and who we are is not something to override or fix, but a source of truth, resilience, insight and belonging. Where healing happens not by endless struggle to improve, change or figure things out; but by listening and slowly returning to what’s always been sacred and true within us.

Somatic work doesn’t assume someone else holds the answers. It lets the body lead, and in doing so, brings us home to ourselves.

The modalities I practice (Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Inner Relationship Focusing, NARM, and the Unshaming ProcessWork work of David Bedrick) are all life-affirming paths back to trust in the self and the body’s wisdom. They don’t just treat trauma, they help us understand our symptoms as intelligent messengers, and teach us how to listen and feel trust in our own selves again.

There are many portals into wholeness and healing. For me, I’ve always been drawn to the body as portal. I have extensive dance experience from ballet and modern to Flamenco to more experimental and free form styles. I also have spent years practicing and exploring yoga and embodied spiritual practices.

Charlotte von Hemert is the founder and owner of Wild Heart Somatics LLC, based in Woodstock, NY.

What People are Saying