Hakomi is sometimes referred to as "assisted self-study" because it emphasizes the client's active involvement in their own healing process. The term reflects the philosophy of Hakomi, which views the therapist's role as primarily supportive and facilitative rather than directive. In Hakomi, the therapy-client alliance is collaborative, client-led, and non-violent.

During a Hakomi session, you'll be encouraged to focus on your present experience for brief moments, typically lasting a minute or less. While prior experience with meditation or mindfulness isn't necessary, it's important to be able to cultivate a sense of calm and centeredness to observe your own reactions.

Throughout these moments, the therapist will closely observe your nonverbal cues, including your tone of voice, movements, gestures, posture, facial expressions, and micro-expressions. They will then share these observations with you, inviting you to explore them with openness and curiosity through self-reflection.

Hakomi relies on interoception, your capacity to perceive internal bodily signals like the flutter of butterflies in your stomach or subtle shifts in your breathing patterns. The therapist facilitates this by guiding you into mindfulness states, even if you have no prior meditation experience.

When sessions are in-person, the therapist might incorporate touch, such as placing a gentle hand on your shoulders, to aid in your self-study process. However, not all sessions will involve touch, and the therapist will always seek your consent before any physical contact. It's important to note that any touch from the therapist is purely for therapeutic purposes and it never carries sexual intention.

When we talk about traditional talk psychotherapy, we usually think about psychodynamic approaches rooted in psychoanalysis. We acknowledge the invaluable contributions of pioneers such as Freud and Jung, who laid the foundation for psychotherapy in the past century. However, experimental neuroscience has shown that we reinvent our memories every time we retrieve them, so focusing on memories is not the best way to heal. That explains why some people stay years in talk therapy without seeing much result.

Moreover, seminal research by Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, Stephen Porges, among others, has shown that, like other mammals, a lot of our trauma resides in the body. So staying in the autobiographical realm is not very effective – we need to listen to the body, too.

Lastly, in traditional talk psychotherapy, the therapist often assumes a leading role, interpreting the client's narratives and offering directions on how to proceed. In contrast, in Hakomi and other client-centered methods inspired by Carl Rogers, it is the client who guides the process. Similar to a doula, the therapist's role is to foster a safe container where the client can navigate their own journey of self-discovery and growth.

No. Somatic Experiencing is a method developed by Peter Levine that focuses on trauma healing. It helps people release stored trauma by tracking bodily sensations and movements, so they can alleviate trauma stored within the nervous system.

Hakomi and Somatic Experiencing practitioners share similar theoretical backgrounds, such as Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory and the work of Bessel Van der Kolk. Like Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing may employ gentle touch, movement, and embodied awareness.

However, Hakomi is not only employed in trauma healing; it is tailored to individuals navigating various life challenges.

Sensorimotor therapy was developed by clinician Pat Ogden. She studied Hakomi with Ron Kurtz. Sensorimotor therapy is the development of many years of clinical work by Dr Ogden. While it is based on Hakomi principles, it is its own method and it focuses on trauma.

Sessions can be held in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.