Therapeutic Movement & Mindfulness

A somatics, mindfulness and psycho-education program for those experiencing chronic stress and/or trauma.

Drawing on over 7 years of service delivery experience across hospital, mental health and survivor-oriented sectors, our Therapeutic Movement and Mindfulness Program (TMM) uses an evidence-informed, modified approach that supports individuals in reconnecting with their bodies in a safe, empowering way.

For adults aged 18 years and over who have experienced trauma, TMM is an adjunctive to clinical or therapeutic treatment.

Our Program Model

TMM typically runs as an 8 week program with a maximum capacity of 12 people. Adapted to meet the needs of specific groups and settings, each week focuses on a different theme:

  • Week 1  : arriving together

  • Week 2 : resourcing and safety

  • Week 3 : curiosity and compassion

  • Week 4 : taking effective action

  • Week 5 : exploring your breath

  • Week 6 : balance and stability

  • Week 7 : moving towards comfort

  • Week 8 : acknowledging your efforts

Participants in our program also receive additional support through pre-recorded video content and a handbook of movement and mindfulness practices to use at home.

Where This Program is Offered

In Partnership

We run this program in partnership with key community health services including Western Health, Eastern Health, St Vincent’s Hospital, Maroondah Hospital and Broadmeadows Community Care Unit. If you are a service provider who would like to partner with us, get in touch.

Community Offerings

If you are not connected to a service provider, we also offer this program in-person and online for the public; check out What’s On for future dates.

What People Say

  • “Beautiful team and a nourishing space to be in even when I couldn’t feel safe in my body or mind. It was welcoming and autism/ADHD welcoming…I am very grateful.”

  • “This has been exactly what I needed. I felt supported and safer to practice in this space. I’ve learnt so much too – I’ve already taken some practices into my everyday life.”

  • “This program has had a significant and positive influence on how I feel, how I relate to myself and others, and manage the ups and downs through the rest of the week.”

Interested in this Program?

If you are a service provider, complete our enquiry form to explore bringing TMM to your community.

If you are not connected to a service provider, see What’s On for upcoming community offerings.

TMM FAQs

  • Our TMM sessions look and feel quite different to a standard yoga or mindfulness session. Informed by a rigorous evidence-base regarding trauma-informed care and mental health awareness, our sessions focus on choice, interoception, shared authentic experience, and present-moment experience. 

    Each session shares psycho-education and tools to help participants reconnect with a sense of internal balance. Practices are invitational in nature; participants are welcome to opt in or out, and move at their own pace.

  • Yes, depending on the site. We can discuss options and tailor the program to meet your needs and timeline. We also offer this program in-person and online for people who are not connected with a service provider; check out What’s On for future dates.

  • Groups who we have delivered TMM for include:

    • Psychiatric in-patients 

    • Imprisoned women

    • Survivors of family violence

    • Adults from refugee backgrounds

    We have run TMM in partnership with Western Health, Eastern Health, St Vincent’s Hospital, Maroondah Hospital, Broadmeadows Community Care Unit, North Fitzroy Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) and Cohealth Sunshine.

  • Research shows there can be a fine line between supportive embodiment practices and their potential to be re-traumatising. Adapting practices to be trauma-informed and mental health aware is how we begin to access embodiment practices as supportive resources.

    Research shows that a trauma-informed approach to movement and mindfulness can:

    • reduce autonomic sympathetic activation and blood pressure;

    • improve neuro-endocrine activity and vagal tone;

    • increase heart rate variability;

    • reduce reported symptoms of PTSD (Emerson & West, 2015, Rhodes et al., 2016; Tyagi & Cohen, 2016; van der Kolk et al., 2014).

  • We run this program in partnership with service providers. If you are not connected to one, we also offer this program in-person and online for people; check out What’s On for future dates.

  • In addition to the facilitator who will guide each session, there will be a support facilitator assigned to this course.

    The support facilitator will practice alongside you and is available to support you throughout the session.

  • Yes, depending on your plan. Please get in touch with us directly to discuss, or have a chat with your case manager or allied health support worker to confirm.

  • Yes, we do. Typically, the program fee is divided into 3 payments received before the first session. However we can offer more regular payments if that is more supportive for you. Connect with our team at hello@collectivebeing.org to request a payment plan for an upcoming program.

    Subsidised places are also available for those experiencing financial duress. All Collective Being programs are free for First Nations people and communities. Please get in touch for more information.

  • Please email our Programs Coordinator Alexia directly at alexia@collectivebeing.org

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