Online somatic therapy across Australia
Body-based therapy for trauma and for a nervous system that won't settle, wherever you are in Australia
I'm Rudi Doku, a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and a Teaching Assistant with Somatic Experiencing International. Sessions run by video, and you can join from any state or territory, including regional and remote areas.
If there's no Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner near you, or you'd rather be at home, online is a workable way to do this.
The first call is free and takes 45 minutes.
Does this work online?
For many people, yes, and it's a fair question to ask about body-based work.
Much of Somatic Experiencing® happens in your awareness of your own body. You notice sensation and follow what shifts, and that can be adapted to video. My part is to guide your attention and keep the pace slow enough for you to manage. Online work won't suit everyone, so the first call is also where we look at your needs, your current support and whether the format feels right.
Some people settle more easily on their own couch than they would in an unfamiliar consulting room. If you're in Melbourne and miss the in-person feel, we can meet in person at any point.
What people bring
- Grief after a death, a separation or a move that cost more than anyone expected
- A body that stays on edge or feels exhausted however much it rests
- Anxiety that doesn't respond to logic
- Old experiences that still set off big reactions
- Burnout that has gone past needing a holiday
- Knowing exactly what your pattern is, and watching it play out anyway
I'm trained in Internal Family Systems as well, and I use it alongside Somatic Experiencing® when it helps. We work slowly, and nobody has to retell their story in detail. The work is with how your system is holding things now.
Online Somatic Experiencing® in Australia
Somatic therapy is the wider family of body-based approaches. Somatic Experiencing® is one specific method within it, and it's the one I'm certified in. Online, it follows the same slow, sensation-led approach as in a room, adapted for video.
It may suit you if you're carrying stress, grief or the after-effects of difficult experiences and you'd like to work at a gentle pace from home. If you need more support than sessions can give, we'll talk about that on the call and look at what else would help.
What an online session is like
You join by video from somewhere private. We start by arriving, which might mean noticing the chair under you, the light in the room and where your breath is sitting.
We then talk about what's brought you, and I invite attention to what's happening in the body as we do. Sometimes I'll ask you to look around the room or press your feet into the floor. Small things like these help the nervous system settle, and they work at a distance.
Near the end we take a few minutes to land before you go back to your day, and I sometimes suggest a small practice for in between.
You'll need a private room where you won't be interrupted, and a stable connection. A comfortable chair makes a difference, and so do headphones.
Time zones and practical details
I'm based in Melbourne and schedule across Australian time zones, so a Perth morning and an east coast evening both work. The first session is 80 minutes, and sessions after that are 60 or 80 minutes. 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 don't need a referral or a mental health plan, and they aren't Medicare rebatable. For fees, email rudi@rudidoku.com.au.
If you're in Melbourne and would rather meet in person, I see people at Melbourne Integrated Therapies in Thornbury and at Glo Health in Elsternwick. Plenty of clients mix the two.
Working with me
I'm a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP), certified through Somatic Experiencing International, and I assist on Somatic Experiencing® professional trainings in Melbourne.
I spent 15 years as a technology consultant before this work. What I do now grew out of what I had to learn the hard way, including how to settle my own nervous system and how to face the parts of myself I'd been avoiding so I could build a life that fits. More about me and how I got here.
Somatic Experiencing International practitioner listing
IFSANZ practitioner directory
I'm not a registered psychologist or psychiatrist, and I'm not yet registered as a psychotherapist. I don't diagnose psychiatric conditions, and this work sits alongside medical or psychological care without replacing it.
What clients say
“simple exercises that helped me short-circuit stress in a way that thinking alone never had”Servane, client
“From our first session, I felt truly heard. What surprised me most was the body work: simple exercises that helped me short-circuit stress in a way that thinking alone never had.”
“generous with his follow-up and suggesting practices for in between sessions”Claire, client
“I came to Rudi at a time of need and found the sessions to be really helpful. He is great to talk to, highly knowledgeable, skilful and empathic. His sense of humour is pretty unique and that helped too. Rudi is very passionate about his work and generous with his follow-up and suggesting practices for in between sessions.”
“there's something waiting for you to notice and explore”Min L, client
“It's natural to be on the fence. You don't know how long this work will take, and you may fear what you might find in yourself. But the fact that you're curious already means there's something waiting for you to notice and explore.”
Questions people ask
You can bring any of these to the call, or ask them here first.
Is online as effective as in person?
Many people find it works well. I don't have a study comparing the two for Somatic Experiencing®, so I'd rather tell you what I see: the work runs on your attention to your own body, and that goes with you wherever you are. If there's a reason it might not suit you, we'll talk it through on the first call.
What if the internet drops mid-session?
We agree a plan beforehand. If the connection drops, I'll phone you and help you settle before we decide whether to continue or reschedule.
Does online suit everyone?
No. If online isn't the right fit, or you need more support than sessions can offer, I'll say so and suggest other options.
If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.
What happens after the free call?
If we both want to go ahead, you'll receive a client services agreement to sign online. Once it's signed, you'll complete a short intake form, and then we meet for your first session, which is 80 minutes.
How long are sessions, and what is the cancellation policy?
The first session is 80 minutes. After that, sessions are 60 or 80 minutes, and we decide together which suits you.
I ask for notice to cancel or reschedule, and the client services agreement covers the rest.
When do I pay?
Payment is due when you book a session through my booking system. The free 45-minute call has no charge.
Do I need a referral or a mental health plan?
No. You can book directly from anywhere in Australia. Sessions aren't Medicare rebatable.
What times work for Perth or Darwin?
Western and central time zones work fine. Perth is two hours behind Melbourne, or three hours while Melbourne is on daylight saving. Darwin is 30 minutes behind, or an hour and a half during daylight saving. We'll find a recurring time that holds.
Do you see people outside Australia?
Sometimes, where it's appropriate. It depends on where you are, so ask on the free call.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what you're working with, and we'll talk about it honestly on the first call. Much of the change happens between sessions, in the practising. If you're comparing options, the typical arc of somatic therapy sessions and what shortens or lengthens it are covered in a separate guide.
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Start with a free call
Pick a time and answer three short questions. The call is 45 minutes by video, from wherever you are in Australia, and either of us can say it isn't the right fit.
Sessions aren't an emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000). For support right now, Lifeline is available any time on 13 11 14.