Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about somatic therapy
Things people actually want to know, with straight answers about the approaches, what sessions are like, what it costs and whether this might be right for you.
Getting started
How do we get started?
It starts with a free 45-minute consultation about where you are and whether this feels like the right fit. If we decide to go ahead, I'll send a short client services agreement and an intake form, and once those are done we book your first session. You can start that conversation whenever you're ready.
How much does it cost?
My fees are on a sliding scale between $140 and $220 per session, and the initial consultation is free. If we decide to work together, you'll receive a simple services agreement that includes the fee, so you know the cost before we begin. These are my fees for therapy sessions. For executive coaching, see executive coaching at Vertical Development.
Payment is due when you book a session through my booking system. I ask for notice to cancel or reschedule, and the client services agreement covers the rest. Sessions aren't Medicare rebatable. If you have questions about fees, email rudi@rudidoku.com.au.
How long are sessions, and how often will we meet?
Your first session is 90 minutes, which gives us room to understand your history and what you're hoping for without rushing. Sessions after that are 60 or 90 minutes.
I usually work fortnightly, and some people start weekly. We agree the rhythm together and review it as we go. There's no fixed package or minimum commitment.
Do you work online or in person, and where are you based?
Both. I see clients in person in Thornbury and Elsternwick, across Melbourne's inner north and south-east, and I work online with people across Australia and internationally.
Somatic work translates well to video once we've established how to track your body together, so online sessions work well, and plenty of my ongoing work happens that way.
What to expect
Will I have to talk about or relive what happened?
You won't be required to describe traumatic experiences in detail.
In Somatic Experiencing®, we can work with sensations and responses you're noticing in the present, without deliberately revisiting every part of what happened.
I'll check how you're responding during our sessions, and we can slow down, pause or change direction if something feels too intense. Difficult emotions can still arise, and we'll discuss how to approach those experiences together.
How many sessions does it take to see results?
There's no reliable number of sessions that applies to everyone. Some people notice changes relatively early, and others need more time to become comfortable with the process or to explore longstanding difficulties. How long it takes depends on what brings you here, your goals, your circumstances and how you're responding to the work.
We'll talk about what you're hoping for at the outset and regularly review whether the sessions are helping. There's no fixed package or minimum commitment.
There's more in this guide to how many sessions somatic therapy usually takes.
Approaches and suitability
Why do I still feel stuck even though I understand my patterns?
Understanding why you respond in a particular way can be helpful, but insight doesn't always lead to immediate change.
You might recognise that a situation isn't dangerous and still notice your chest tighten or feel an urge to withdraw.
Somatic Experiencing® offers another way to explore these responses. Alongside your thoughts and emotions, we pay attention to what happens in your body and explore manageable ways of responding differently.
The work doesn't replace understanding. It gives us another aspect of your experience to work with.
What is Somatic Experiencing® and how is it different from talk therapy?
Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a body-oriented approach to trauma and chronic stress, developed by Dr Peter Levine. It explores how overwhelming experiences may affect bodily sensations and stress responses.
SE's model proposes that when an experience is too overwhelming to process, the body's defensive responses, such as fighting, fleeing or freezing, may not get to complete. That is a model of how stress responses work, and the research on SE is still early.
Talk therapy works mainly with thoughts, meaning and the story of what happened. SE adds attention to bodily sensation and the nervous system's responses, and many people use the two together. In a session we notice what's happening in your body as we talk, and you don't need to retell the whole story.
People often come to SE with difficult or complex experiences, anxiety that stays high, feeling numb or cut off from themselves, or stress that doesn't shift with rest. More on Somatic Experiencing® in Melbourne →
What is IFS (Internal Family Systems) and how does it work?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) was developed by Dr Richard Schwartz. It starts from the idea that the mind is naturally made up of different parts, each with its own history and its own reasons for what it does. In IFS we build a relationship with those parts, getting curious about what each one is protecting, and we work from what the model calls Self, a calm and compassionate presence.
I use IFS alongside Somatic Experiencing® because parts often show up as sensations in the body. More on Internal Family Systems in Melbourne →
What's the difference between Somatic Experiencing® and EMDR?
EMDR and Somatic Experiencing® are different approaches to working with trauma.
EMDR is a structured psychotherapy that works with distressing memories using bilateral stimulation. It has an established evidence base for PTSD.
Somatic Experiencing® focuses more directly on bodily sensations and responses associated with stress and overwhelming experiences. Research into its effectiveness is still developing.
The most appropriate approach depends on your circumstances, goals and support needs. For some people, different approaches may complement one another.
Read the full comparison of Somatic Experiencing® and EMDR →
Professional practice and safety
Are you a psychologist? Is this therapy or coaching?
No, I'm not a registered psychologist or psychiatrist. I'm a certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, I've completed IFS Level 1 through the IFS Institute, and I'm a Certified Integral Coach. I'm also completing a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy at Ikon Institute. My training is set out on the About page.
With individuals the work is therapeutic, and it sits alongside medical and psychiatric care. If you're already working with a GP, psychologist or psychiatrist, I'm glad to work in a way that complements that. Executive coaching is offered separately at Vertical Development.
Is what we talk about confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is an important part of our work together. I treat what you share with me as private and only disclose information with your consent, or where disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.
There are limits to confidentiality, including certain situations involving serious safety concerns, child protection or legal requirements such as a valid court order. I'll explain these limits in the client services agreement before we begin.
I also keep records relevant to our sessions. These are handled in accordance with applicable privacy requirements. You can ask about how your information is stored, who may access it, and how to request access to or correction of your records.
For more information, please read my Privacy Policy or ask me about confidentiality during our free 45-minute consultation.
What if I'm in crisis or need urgent support?
This work isn't crisis or emergency care. If you're in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, please reach out now, without waiting for a session. In Australia, call 000 in an emergency, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24-hour crisis support. If you're outside Australia, contact your local emergency services or crisis line.
Once things are more stable, this work can be a good place to turn to, and I'm happy to help you think about the right mix of support.
Still have questions?
Bring them to a free 45-minute consultation. Either of us can say it isn't the right fit.
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