Somatic therapy in Thornbury
Body-based therapy for trauma and for a nervous system that won't settle, in Melbourne's inner north
In-person somatic therapy and Somatic Experiencing® with certified SEP Rudi Doku at Melbourne Integrated Therapies on Mansfield Street, a few minutes from High Street.
I also see people in Elsternwick and online across Australia.
The first call is free and takes 45 minutes.
Somatic therapy, briefly
Somatic therapy works through the body as well as conversation. Attention goes to sensation and to the pace of the nervous system, because that's often where a pattern lives when understanding it hasn't been enough.
My main training is Somatic Experiencing®, developed by Dr Peter Levine. Sessions are slow and conversational, and nobody has to retell what happened for the work to happen.
What people bring to the Thornbury room
- Grief after a death or a separation, felt as heaviness or numbness in the body
- 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
- A separation or a career change that has shaken your sense of who you are
Somatic Experiencing® can sit alongside counselling, psychology and medical care, and I'll say so if I think someone needs more support than sessions can give.
What a session looks like
We talk, and I invite attention to what's happening in the body as we do, whether that's warmth in the hands or a tightening in the throat. We follow it with curiosity.
We move in small steps between what feels hard and what feels steadier, so the nervous system never gets more than it can manage. Much of a session is conversation, and you choose how much to share. I use Internal Family Systems alongside Somatic Experiencing® when that helps.
The first session is 80 minutes. After that, sessions are 60 or 80 minutes.
Getting to Thornbury
Melbourne Integrated Therapies
8-10 Mansfield St
Thornbury VIC 3071
Transport and parking
Thornbury station on the Mernda line is a short walk away, and the 86 tram runs along High Street. Street parking is usually easy to find.
If you're in Northcote, Preston, Fairfield, Brunswick East or Coburg, this is likely my closest room to you.
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've trained with Maggie Kline and Kathy Kain, and I use Internal Family Systems alongside SE when it helps.
Fifteen years of moving countries taught me to adapt fast, and I didn't notice what it was costing my nervous system. Therapy that worked with my body, and later Internal Family Systems, led me to train in this work myself. Read how I came to this work.
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. No outcome is guaranteed. If you're managing a diagnosed condition or in acute distress, please make sure clinical care is in place. I'm also completing postgraduate study in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Ikon Institute.
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.”
“so many options you haven't seen yet”Min L, client
“I'd recommend this especially to people who think they know themselves, but for some reason keep hitting the same wall. There's a chance you've been intellectualising your journey. There's so much wisdom available through a somatic approach, and so many options you haven't seen yet. It's one of the most beautiful gifts you can give yourself.”
Questions people ask
You can bring any of these to the call, or ask them here first.
Do you offer Somatic Experiencing® in Thornbury?
Yes. I'm a certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) and offer in-person Somatic Experiencing® sessions at Melbourne Integrated Therapies in Thornbury.
Where exactly is the room?
At Melbourne Integrated Therapies, 8-10 Mansfield St, Thornbury VIC 3071, near High Street and a short walk from Thornbury station on the Mernda line.
Can we work online instead?
Yes. I see people across Australia by video, and overseas where it's appropriate. Some people start online and move to the room later, or mix the two.
Do I need a referral or a mental health plan?
No. You can book directly. Sessions aren't Medicare rebatable, so there's nothing to organise first.
How is this different from counselling?
Most talk-based therapy works through conversation and understanding. I add attention to what the body is doing while we talk. Plenty of my clients also see a counsellor or psychologist, and that works fine.
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.
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'd like a sense of it before you book, what a realistic number of sessions looks like is covered in a separate guide.
How do I book?
Use any of the Book a free call buttons on this page to pick a time for the free 45-minute call. For session fees, email rudi@rudidoku.com.au and I'll send them to you.
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Start with a free call
Pick a time and answer three short questions. We'll also work out whether Thornbury, Elsternwick or online suits you best.
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.