Overview

The FNQ APS Committee are pleased to offer this much-anticipated follow-up session for those who attended the 2024 FNQ APS Foundations of Somatic Therapies presentations. Clinicians new to the topic, or those seeking a refresher, are also warmly encouraged to attend; the day beginning with a comprehensive revision.

There is currently significant evidence to suggest, that accessing the body’s intelligence can play a pivotal role in the alleviation of many psychological and physical difficulties. Somatic Psychology is the exploration of the interactions between body, brain, mind, emotion and behaviour. That is, acknowledging the importance of including the body in any healing model. This integrative model, that is often phenomenological in approach, sits as a comfortable ‘bed fellow’ with the medical, neuroscientific approach of Psychoneuroendocrinology.

What seems paramount, in whatever discipline brings us to this integrative space, if the goal is to alleviate, then ultimately prevent mental health difficulties, is how did these psychological difficulties transpire? Then, what do we do to ‘fix’ or prevent?

As such, this session will begin by exploring how developmental dynamics impact current disquiet. By unpacking the influential roles of interpersonal, social and environmental interactions (or lack thereof), workshop participants will become cognisant of the direct impact these dynamics have on the developing nervous system and the resulting capacity of interoception. By detecting how to gage, then further engage interoception, workshop participants will have an enhanced capacity to bring the power of Somatic techniques into their work with others.

This exploration will then delve into how to integrate these Somatic techniques into other validated interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapies, EMDR, parts work therapies and mindfulness approaches.

The FNQ APS are excited to share this interactive training event that is a combination of professional and personal development. Participants can be ensured that they will leave feeling grounded, refreshed and inspired.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

• integrate somatic based principles into various therapeutic approaches.
• have a workable knowledge of the neuroscience of interoception, including how to further strengthen interoception.
• understand how interpersonal/family relationships and social environments affect mind/body development and communication.
• increase their ‘tool kit’ of somatic based techniques for client support and self-regulation.
• optimise intrinsic movement techniques for healing.
• incorporate Somatic techniques into everyday life.

Presenter(s)

About the presenter(s)

Simone Fischer
Simone is a Registered Psychologist with more than 25 years of experience across private practice, supervision, academia, and community mental health. An AHPRA-approved supervisor, private practitioner at Ramsay Psychology, and former Lecturer at James Cook University for 17 years, she integrates neuroscience, mindfulness, and somatic therapies through both scientific and embodied perspectives.

Her work has been shaped by the teachings of Peter Levine, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Pat Ogden, Alan Wallace, and Thich Nhất Hạnh, alongside training in Polyvagal Theory, Somatic EMDR, Compassionate Inquiry, and developmental movement studies. Simone’s exploration of Somatic Intelligence focuses on how awareness of bodily responses can support regulation, resilience, and therapeutic change.

Simone has presented widely on mindfulness, ACT, trauma, the teenage brain, and embodied regulation across community, clinical, and educational settings. She currently coordinates the FNQ division of the Mental Health Practitioner Network, curating themes exploring Somatic Therapies and Altered States of Consciousness. Participants consistently describe her facilitation style as grounded, engaging, and balanced between scientific insight and experiential practice.

Jenell Wilkie
Jenell is an experienced Psychologist who has worked on the Atherton Tablelands since 1996, currently practising at Brighton Clinic in Cairns and in private practice in Atherton. Her work focuses on trauma therapy, supporting clients to safely process and integrate overwhelming experiences through approaches engaging both mind and body.

An early adopter of mindfulness-based therapies, Jenell trained with leading developers of contemporary mindfulness approaches, including Jon Kabat-Zinn, Marsha Linehan, Steven Hayes, Alan Marlatt, Mark Williams, and Bruno Cayoun. Since 2014, she has specialised in EMDR, completing advanced trainings in complex trauma and structural dissociation.

As an accredited EMDRAA Practitioner, Facilitator, and Consultant, Jenell integrates mindfulness, EMDR, and somatic awareness to support regulation, resilience, and embodied healing.

Notes

Registration includes light refreshments, lunch and a workshop manual.

Target Audience

This event is targeted to all psychologists and holistic health practitioners. 

Please note:

• This is a Member Groups event. All communication will be sent to the registrants’ registered email address. This includes event reminders with details (such as the Venue details) and any pre-event or post-event resources, if provided by the facilitators.
• A post-event email will be sent within two weeks of the event’s completion to each registrant’s registered email address. This email will include the CPD certificate,  and any additional resources shared during the session.

Duration of Access

This event will not be recorded.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.