Frequently Asked Questions

I provide integrative somatic support for people who are carrying more than they were ever meant to hold - stress, grief, sustained pressure, unprocessed loss and life transitions.

My work blends thoughtful, grounded conversation with body‑based and nervous‑system support.  We work together to gently release what’s been weighing on you so steadiness, clarity and inner peace can return over time.

This is not surface‑level talk therapy or performance coaching.  It’s restorative work designed to help your whole system settle, recalibrate and reconnect.

My approach integrates:

• Mind‑Clearing Psychotherapy: dissolve confusion and bring immediate clarity
• Somatic Regulation: stabilize your nervous system so your mind can think with precision.
• Workplace Insight: decades inside complex organizations, applied to your real context.

Somatic simply means body‑based.

Stress, grief and trauma don’t just live in our thoughts - they live in the body and nervous system.  Somatic work pays attention to physical sensations, breath, posture, tension patterns and the body’s signals, alongside conversation.  

Nothing is forced.  There is no pushing, reliving or catharsis required.  The body is invited to soften and release at its own pace.

During your first session, Ann Marie will ask you questions to get to know you better and understand what brings you here.  You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the process and next steps.

Sessions are calm, grounded and paced to your nervous system.  You can expect:

• A safe, non‑judgmental space.
• Thoughtful conversation when helpful.
• Gentle nervous‑system support.
• No pressure to share more than feels right.
• Support that meets you where you are.

People often leave feeling steadier, clearer and less burdened — sometimes subtly, sometimes profoundly.

I offer integrative somatic support that combines thoughtful conversation with body-based and nervous-system-informed approaches to help release stress, grief and emotional weight.

This work meets you where you are and unfolds at a pace that respects safety, readiness and lived experience.

People work with me in a few different ways, depending on what feels most supportive:

Professional 1:1 Support: Private 1:1 somatic and strategic support for professionals who carry consequence, complexity and pressure. 

Personal 1:1 Support: Individualized sessions for ongoing somatic care, nervous-system regulation and support through stress, grief or major life transitions.

Group Programs: Facilitated somatic programs for those drawn to healing and restoration in community, while still working at a gentle, grounded pace.  This includes Grief and Loss programs.

Organizational Support for leaders, teams and workplaces seeking grounded, trauma-informed well-being support.

Each offering is grounded in the same restorative approach — supporting steadiness, clarity and resilience from the inside out.

I offer both online and in‑person sessions.  

Sessions are available virtually worldwide or in-person in Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. 

Onsite options in other locations available by arrangement. 

Somatic work is highly effective online and many clients appreciate the comfort of their own space.

Both in-person and online sessions follow the same calm, grounded, nervous-system-informed approach.

I work with people of all ages and backgrounds who are carrying more than they were ever meant to hold.

I work with adults of all genders navigating:

• Grief and loss (including ambiguous, unspoken or disenfranchised grief).
• Chronic stress and nervous-system overwhelm. 
• Burnout and sustained pressure.
• Major life transitions. 
• Emotional heaviness that doesn’t yet have words.
   

I also work with children and teens, with parent or guardian consent.
I especially love working with young people, supporting them as they navigate big feelings, stress, loss, identity shifts and the challenges of growing up in an increasingly demanding world.

My work also includes support around sensitive and often unspoken life experiences, including:

• Family transitions and rupture. 
• Early life stress and emotional overwhelm.
• Adoption and identity-related questions. 
• Post-abortion support. 
• Questions of meaning, values and life direction.
• Spiritual exploration.
• Reconnection with the body through gentle somatic and movement-informed practices.
   

In addition, I work 1:1 with executives, leaders and professionals and provide organizational and EAP-aligned support for workplaces navigating stress, grief, trauma or transition.

Yes.  All sessions are held with strict confidentiality and professional boundaries, in accordance with my scope of practice and ethical standards.

Coaching is often future‑focused and goal‑driven.  My work is restorative and therapeutic in nature.  We focus on safety, regulation and release so that clarity and resilience arise naturally rather than being forced through willpower. 

This is about helping your system return to balance, not pushing you to be better or more.

Traditional talk therapy focuses primarily on thoughts, insight and narrative.  Somatic work includes conversation but also works directly with the nervous system and body.  Many people find this approach gentler and more effective when stress or grief feels stuck beyond words.

Conversation is part of the work but it’s not the whole of it.  We talk when it’s helpful and we also work directly with the nervous system through gentle body‑based approaches.  Many people come to me because talking alone hasn’t created lasting change.  This work supports both understanding and regulation - mind and body together.

If you’re new to somatic work or simply unsure where to begin, I offer a Ground & Orient Session.  This is a gentle, 60-minute place to land.

Many people choose this session when they’re feeling overwhelmed, uncertain or simply need a safe first step.

For those who already know they’re ready for deeper, more spacious work, the Clarity & Reset Session is also available.  This is a 90-minute extended session designed for unhurried, nervous-system-informed support and deeper exploration.

Both options are supportive entry points - we simply begin where you are.

https://annmariemackey.com/

Most services can be booked and paid for directly through this website.

I use Calendly to allow clients to view availability and schedule a time that works best for them.  Payment is securely handled at the time of booking.

If this creates a constraint or you require an alternative arrangement, please feel free to reach out to me directly and I’ll be happy to discuss options.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

Relief can begin as the nervous system starts to settle and orient.  Deeper, more lasting change unfolds through consistency, safety and time.

People choose different levels of support depending on what they’re carrying, how long they’ve been carrying it and what their nervous system needs to restore steadiness and capacity - especially when working with grief, trauma or sustained stress.

During the initial session, we’ll gently explore what you’re experiencing and discuss what level of support may be most helpful going forward.

We move at a pace that respects your system and your life.

Your session time is reserved specifically for you.

To honour both your time and mine, the following policy applies:

• Appointments may be cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours’ notice.
• Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice or missed appointments, are charged at the full session fee.
• Late arrivals may result in a shortened session, as sessions must end at the scheduled time.

I understand that life happens and emergencies arise.  If something truly unexpected occurs, please reach out as soon as possible and I will always do my best to respond with fairness and care.

This policy helps maintain consistency, availability and respect for all clients.

Thank you for understanding and honouring this commitment.

My work is shaped by both professional training, profound lived experience and years of facilitating deep, reflective processes with individuals and groups.

I am a Registered Naturopath with advanced training in trauma-informed somatic and nervous-system–focused support.  I also bring 25+ years of executive and organizational leadership experience across diverse, high-responsibility corporate environments.

This combination allows me to support people with care, discernment and steadiness - particularly those navigating grief, sustained stress, overwhelm and major life transitions.

My approach is grounded, scope-appropriate and guided by respect for the nervous system, readiness and the realities of real life.

Session options and current pricing are listed throughout the website.  If you have questions or require an alternative arrangement, you’re welcome to reach out directly. 

Naturopath insurance receipts are available for select services, including private 1:1 sessions.

Coverage varies by provider and plan so it’s your responsibility to confirm eligibility and reimbursement details directly with your insurer.

If you’re unsure whether a specific service is eligible for coverage, you’re welcome to reach out before booking and I can clarify.

Payment plans are available for multi-session packages.

To reserve your first session, payment for the initial session is required at the time of booking.  The remaining balance of your selected package may be paid in two or three equal payments, according to the option you choose at checkout.  The remaining payments will be automatically charged to the card on file on the agreed schedule.

By selecting a multi-session package and payment plan, you are agreeing to the full cost of the package, regardless of whether all sessions are completed.  This allows me to reserve time, prepare appropriately and offer consistent, ongoing support within a clear and respectful container.

I no longer offer mind clearing as a standalone modality or named service.

However, the years I spent working with structured mind-clearing and reflective inquiry approaches continue to inform how I listen, ask questions and support people in identifying and resolving what they’re carrying.

That work has since been fully integrated into my current somatic, nervous-system-informed approach.  Today, the focus is on restoring safety in the body and nervous system so clarity, insight and resolution can emerge naturally - without force, analysis or pressure.

The tools evolved but the capacity for clarity and resolution remains central to the work.

Physical touch is not required and is never the focus of the work.

Most somatic support is offered through guided awareness, breath, gentle movement and nervous-system–informed practices.

At times, brief and appropriate touch may be offered, for example, to support somatic release or gentle pose or movement correction - only when relevant, clearly explained and with your explicit consent.  Touch is always optional and never required.  You may decline or pause at any time.

You remain fully clothed and in control at all times, with clear boundaries and respect for your comfort and safety.

No.  All practices offered in sessions, including somatic exercises, gentle movement, reflection or guided exploration, etc., are invitations, not requirements.

You are always encouraged to listen to your body, participate only in what feels safe and appropriate for you and to pause or decline anything at any time.

You are welcome to communicate openly about discomfort, overwhelm or concerns as they arise.

This work supports self-awareness and nervous-system regulation and you remain responsible for your own care.  If you have medical or mental health concerns, you are encouraged to consult an appropriate healthcare provider.

No.  Meditation and spirituality are not required.  

Some practices may involve gentle awareness, breath or slowing the pace of the body but these are practical, body-based supports. 

While my work is spiritually grounded, it is inclusive and practical.  There is no belief system required and no spiritual language imposed.  

Yes, very much so.  

Many of my clients are capable, responsible and outwardly “fine.”  They are used to pushing through, managing and performing - while their nervous system quietly carries the cost. This work is especially supportive for people who are tired of holding it all together alone. 

That’s okay.  Many people come feeling uncertain, especially if they’re used to handling things on their own.  

You don’t need to have the right words or be sure of anything.  

If something here resonates, trust that as a starting point.        

https://calendly.com/annmarie_mackey/ground_orient