top of page

Because Insight Alone Isn't Enough

Writer's picture: HallHall

How Hakomi Helps You Break Free from Stuck Patterns


Have you ever had a moment of deep insight—one where you suddenly see a pattern in your life with perfect clarity? Maybe it’s the way you hold yourself back in relationships, the fears that keep you stuck, or the same old emotional triggers that seem to surface no matter how much you try to work through them.


And yet… nothing changes.


You know the pattern is here. You might even understand what it's doing and why it's here. And even though you told yourself "never again," here it is, happening again. Frustrating, right?


That’s because insight alone isn’t enough to create lasting change. This is where Hakomi comes in.


 

a flower held gently by two people's hands

What Is Hakomi?


Hakomi is a mindfulness-based, body-centered approach to therapy that helps you go beyond insight and into deep, embodied transformation. Instead of just understanding your patterns, you actually experience the shift in real time—so that your body, emotions, and unconscious mind all recognize new possibilities.


The core idea behind Hakomi is that many of our struggles stem from unconscious beliefs and early conditioning—patterns so deeply ingrained that they live not just in our thoughts, but in our nervous system, our body, and the way we move through the world. These patterns helped us adapt to life at one time, but now, they may be keeping us stuck.


Hakomi offers a way to gently bring these patterns into awareness and shift them, not just intellectually, but in a felt, experiential way.


 

Why the Body Matters in Transformation


We often think of healing as a mental process—changing the way we think about things. But transformation isn’t just about the mind.


In Hakomi, we recognize that lasting change always includes the body. Why? Because every belief, every emotional habit, every reaction you have isn’t just stored in your mind—it has a physical expression too. It lives in your breath, your posture, your muscle tension, the way you hold yourself in space.


Through mindful exploration, we slow things down and notice these unconscious expressions as they happen. In that space of awareness, something new becomes possible: you begin to feel and experience an alternative, not just think about one. And when your body experiences something new as safe and real, it opens the door for true transformation.


 

Who Is Hakomi For?


You don’t need to be a master meditator or have any prior experience with mindfulness to benefit from Hakomi. All you need is a willingness to turn toward your present experience with curiosity—and to receive support in staying with it.


Our minds are wired to avoid discomfort. They’re experts at steering us away from pain and toward pleasure—because that’s what they believe we need to survive. But in Hakomi, we gently cultivate your capacity to be with discomfort: whether it’s a painful sensation, a difficult emotion, or an old belief that’s been running in the background for years. This is never about forcing—it’s about learning to stay with your experience in a way that feels manageable and supportive.


Because Hakomi is a trauma-informed approach, I am always tracking for when something feels like too much. Together, we titrate your experience so that you can stay engaged without becoming overwhelmed, allowing for deep transformation without retraumatization.


You don’t have to be a saint either. Along the way, we’ll meet your inner critic and hear some of the judgmental things you say (consciously or unconsciously) about yourself and others. That’s part of the process. Our goal isn’t to eliminate these voices, but to help you cultivate the capacity to observe them with curiosity, rather than believing you are those voices.


If you can bring a willingness to explore—even when it feels unfamiliar—Hakomi can help you experience yourself in a new way and open doors to transformation you never thought possible.


 

Breaking Free From Old Patterns


So how does Hakomi actually help you shift from being stuck to experiencing real choice in your life?


1️⃣ We slow down and notice – In a Hakomi session, we work in mindfulness, meaning we create space to observe what's happening inside you, right now. This helps us uncover patterns that usually run on autopilot.


2️⃣ We explore, not force – Instead of pushing for a solution, we stay curious about how patterns show up in your body, thoughts, and emotions. This allows the unconscious to surface naturally—not through effort, but through gentle awareness.


3️⃣ We experiment with new possibilities – In Hakomi, we don’t just talk about change. We actually try out new ways of feeling, sensing, and responding—right in the session. This creates real, embodied experiences of self-trust, ease, and freedom.


4️⃣ We integrate change into daily life – Once your system has experienced a new way of being, we explore how to carry that into real-world situations, helping you live with more choice, trust, and authenticity.


 

How This Fits Into My Work


As a Hakomi-trained somatic counselor, I'm devoted to gently guiding people home to trusting themselves and living with ease the life they long for.


Hakomi is one of the most powerful tools I use in this work, because it allows you to go beyond talking and into real, felt change. My role isn’t to give you advice or tell you what to do—it’s to create a space where you can explore your own experience, gently uncover unconscious patterns, and find your own way home to self-trust.


If you're longing for a different way of being—one where you don’t just understand yourself better but actually feel the shift—Hakomi might be exactly what you’re looking for.


 

Curious to Explore?

If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out. Whether you’re new to somatic work or have been on this journey for a while, I’d love to explore how this approach might support you. Schedule a free initial connection with me or learn more about my work here.



 

Alec Nicholson Headshot

Hall Nicholson is a Somatic Counselor devoted to gently guiding people through feeling stuck into feeling at home in themselves and in their relationships. Through body-centered exploration, deep presence, and a warm, steady guiding hand, Hall supports clients in softening struggle, deepening self-trust, and cultivating intimacy in their lives.

Rustic Beach Path

STAY IN THE KNOW

Thanks! Seal the deal by clicking Confirm in the email headed your way

© 2024 Hall Nicholson

devoted to gently guiding people through feeling stuck into feeling at home in themselves and in their relationships

bottom of page