From Freeze to Flow: The Hakomi Method, Embodiment + Psychedelics with Manuela Mischke-Reeds
52m | Oct 13, 2026Continuing our exploration of embodiment, healing, spirituality and wisdom, this week I’m joined by Manuela Mischke-Reeds, a somatic psychotherapist who is a senior trainer in the Hakomi Method and co-founder of the Hakomi Institute of California. Manuela has developed her own method as well, called Innate Somatic Trauma Therapy Approach (ISTTA). In this discussion you’ll learn about the Hakomi method and its principles; movement as a healing modality; the importance of embodiment in trauma processing; somatics and psychedelic therapy; deconstructing from our indoctrination in medical models; accessing Flow and tuning into our innate lifeforce while recovering from trauma, and so much more.
About this week’s guest:
Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, MFT, is a somatic trauma psychotherapist, author, international teacher of somatic psychology, and senior Hakomi trainer. She is the founder of Embodywise, an international learning community offering professional training in trauma therapy, somatic psychology, and the Hakomi Method, and is a co-founder of the Hakomi Institute of California. She is the developer of the Innate Somatic Intelligence Trauma Therapy Approach (ISITTA), an integrative somatic psychotherapy framework that supports trauma recovery through nervous system regulation, embodied awareness, movement-based integration, and relational therapeutic processes.
With over 25 years of clinical experience, Manuela has taught professional training programs internationally across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In the field of psychedelic therapy, she offers specialized somatic approaches, including somatic therapy techniques, movement-based integration, and ethical touch practices, to support psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy through a trauma-informed, relational lens.
She is the author of several books, including Embodied Psychedelic Therapy: A Somatic Guide (W. W. Norton, with Joshua Sylvae), Somatic Psychotherapy Toolbox (PESI), Trauma-Sensitive Movement (PESI), and 8 Keys to Practicing Mindfulness (W. W. Norton). She is also a contributing author to Hakomi Mindfulness-Centered Somatic Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice (W. W. Norton), The Complete Trauma Treatment Guide (PESI), and The Praeger Handbook of Community Mental Health Practice (Praeger), for which she authored the chapter "The Role of Trauma in Community Health: A Somatic Perspective."
Find Our Guest online:
Manuela Mischke-Reeds’s EmbodyWise website: www.embodywise.com
Manuela Mischke-Reeds’s website: www.manuelamischkereeds.com
Hakomi Method website: www.hakomi.org
Find Laura Online
https://therapychatpodcast.com
https://traumatherapistnetwork.com
Sign up to receive the Therapy Chat + TTN Newsletter
https://go.traumatherapistnetwork.com/updates
Socials
https://www.youtube.com/c/TherapyChatPodcast
https://www.facebook.com/therapychatpod
https://www.instagram.com/therapychatpod
Therapy Wisdom Video Course
My course on therapy skills for work with survivors of sexual violence is available on The Academy of Therapy Wisdom site. Watch a free video and access the course https://therapywisdom.com/what-to-do-when-a-client-discloses-sexual-trauma
2026-2027 Retreat Interest Form
We’re planning retreats in 2026 and 2027. Let me know which ones you are interested in - some of the locations we’ll visit include: Spain, North Carolina, Mexico, Portugal, Greece, France and more. Details are being added to the TTN website and sent out via e-mail as they’re finalized.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVOcuSAc9ehVzdcNXPydpjjciVjCfzoE2jRrVyGcOeZGhZEA/viewform
Check Out These Offers from Our Episode Sponsors:
Save $250 on Your First Year of Paubox when you use code HEALING at: paubox.com (link to) https://get.paubox.com/private-practice/therapy-chat
Get 2 Free Months of TherapyNotes using code CHAT at https://therapynotes.com
Save 15% Off An Annual Plan with Heard at joinheard.com/therapychat (link to this : https://affiliate.joinheard.com/laura
Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
