Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy helps you notice how trauma is held in your body.
It can show up as tension, numbness, anxiety, people pleasing, avoidance, anger, or difficulty trusting yourself.
Somatic Therapy does not require you to explain who you are.
I created Inaro for LGBTQIA+ people who want therapy that understands identity, sexuality, shame, intimacy, and the body.
My work is rooted in somatic therapy for LGBTQIA+ people.
This approach recognises that lived experience is held not only in the mind, but in the body.
Patterns of tension, emotional response, and protection can operate outside of our awareness, shaping how you relate to yourself and others.
I draw on approaches such as Internal Family Systems, somatic processing, and bilateral techniques to support this work.
Sessions offer a steady and supportive space where these patterns can be explored safely and at your own pace.
The focus is not on quick fixes, but on building awareness, increasing capacity, and supporting lasting change.
Rather than forcing change, we will slow things down.
Listening to the body, the emotions, and the parts of you that have learned to protect you.
“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”
Peter Levine
Meet Michael
Michael Cotton
I am a trauma informed somatic therapist working with LGBTQIA+ people.
My approach integrates psychological and body based work, supporting you to explore identity, emotional patterns, and relationships. I work with awareness and the nervous system, at a pace that feels manageable.
I work with people who feel something needs to change, even if they are not sure how.
I trained in somatic therapy with ISOHH and I am a member of IAOTH and ACCPH.
You may be feeling-
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Disconnected from yourself or others
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Shame around identity, body, or desire
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Anxiety, shutdown, or overwhelm
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Difficulty with intimacy or relationships
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Repeating patterns you don’t fully understand
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Wanting something to change but not knowing how
What can change-
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You may feel calmer in your nervous system.
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You may understand your emotional reactions more clearly.
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You may feel less shame around your identity or desire.
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You may communicate more honestly.
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You may feel more present in your body.
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You may stop abandoning yourself to stay connected to others.
Therapy is not a quick fix, but it can create real, lasting shifts.
If any of this feels familiar,
this may be a good place to begin.
My Approach
I go at your pace
There is no pressure to move faster than feels right for you. I pay attention to what feels manageable, allowing space for your experience to unfold gradually. This helps build trust in the process and in yourself.
Working with the body, not just talking
Your physical experience is part of the work, not separate from it. Sensations such as tension, numbness, or restlessness can give important information about what you are holding. By including the body, therapy becomes more than just understanding. It becomes something you can feel and shift.
Your nervous system
I pay attention to how your system responds in the moment. This helps to create a sense of safety rather than overwhelm. Over time, this can support greater stability, regulation, and the ability to stay present with what you are experiencing
Frequently Asked Questions
What services do you offer?
I offer therapy services either online or in person in London, tailored to individual needs, integrating somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems, and trauma informed approaches. Each session is adapted to support deeper self understanding, emotional processing, and lasting change
How do I schedule an appointment , and what are your prices?
Arranging a consultation is straightforward and free. You can book online or reach out via WhatsApp to find a time that works for you. I aim to respond promptly and accommodate your schedule where possible.
Appointments are £70 for 1 hour. Please contact me about reduced rates for lower income.
What can I expect during a therapy session?
Sessions begin with a moment to arrive and settle into the space, allowing things to slow down before exploring what you are bringing.
From there, we look at whatever concerns or challenges you are facing. Alongside talking, attention is given to how these experiences are held in the body, such as sensations, tension, emotions, impulses, or memories, and how they connect to your present experience.
The work is collaborative and paced with care. Using trauma informed approaches, mindful awareness and breath, parts work, and nervous system regulation, sessions support you to gently stay with and explore what is present.
Over time, this helps build awareness, strengthen your ability to self regulate, and support a deeper process of integration and change.