Natajsa Wagner Psychotherapy

26/01/2026

Holding the Unspoken The Art of Touch in Psychosomatic Work

This one is for the therapists!

I am excited to share that I will be hosting Dr Laia Jorba via the MHPN for a free 1 hour presentation on working with touch in trauma.

The presentation will be held:

📍 Online via zoom
📆Friday the 6th of February
9.30am AEST -Brisbane time.
Details with link to event and to RSVP below!

This one-hour online professional development presentation explores the clinical use of touch within trauma-informed and psychosomatic frameworks, with attention to nervous system regulation, relational safety, and therapeutic intention.

Hosted in collaboration with the Mental Health Professional Network (MHPN), the session brings together contemporary research and clinical reflection on touch as a therapeutic intervention in somatic and body-oriented practice.

Join Natajsa Wagner as she hosts Dr Laia Jorba (LPC, BC-DMT) for a live 1 hr online presentation examining how intentional touch can support regulation, connection, and healing when working with trauma.

Friday 6 February 2026, 9:30–10:30am AEST

Touch lies at the heart of human connection. It regulates, soothes, and reminds us that we belong. Touch can also be used as a therapeutic intervention when working with somatic healing frameworks.

Discover more about the art of touch in psychosomatic work and explore research and rationale for practicing foundational intentional touch with trauma and healing work.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about trauma and working with touch and hear more about the 2-day workshop on touch being held in Brisbane in 2026.

This presentation will run for approximately 60 minutes with 15- 20 minutes at the end for Q&A.

Click the link below to see the Soma Mind events page, and register to attend.

https://www.somamind.com.au/events

04/01/2026

Hello all! Soma Mind Pty Ltd is excited to be hosting Dr Laia Jorba this very special workshop on working with trauma & touch in 2026.

Holding the Unspoken | The Art of Touch in Psychosomatic work 2-Day In-Person Workshop Brisbane

📍 Red Hill, Brisbane
📅 Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September 2026
✨ We also have a special early bird rate until February 19th.

Soma Mind presents a rare opportunity to study with Laia Jorba, LPC, BC-DMT, international somatic psychotherapist and educator, in this immersive two-day embodied learning workshop on the clinical use of touch in psychosomatic and trauma-informed work.

About the Workshop Touch lies at the heart of human connection. It regulates, soothes, and communicates safety beyond words.

When used with skill and attunement, touch can support regulation, attachment repair, and trauma resolution. This introductory workshop explores the theoretical foundations, research rationale, and lived experience of therapeutic touch.

Through guided reflection and carefully structured experiential practice, participants will deepen their somatic awareness and reconnect with the body’s innate intelligence as a resource for healing.

Who This Workshop Is For? This training is suitable for: Psychotherapists and counsellors Somatic and body-based practitioners Trauma-informed clinicians Bodyworkers and healing practitioners It is designed for those seeking to integrate safe, ethical, and attuned touch into psychosomatic or relational practice.

Learning Outcomes Participants will be supported to:

Articulate the clinical and neurophysiological rationale for touch as a therapeutic intervention

Understand core foundations of safe touch, including therapist intention, client perception, and relational attunement

Develop foundational intentional touch skills within a trauma-informed framework

Gain clarity on how this introductory workshop fits within a broader pathway of ethical and clinical skill development in somatic touch work

About the Facilitator – Laia Jorba Laia Jorba has over eleven years’ experience teaching and practicing therapeutic touch in somatic psychotherapy. Her work is deeply informed by mentorship with Christine Caldwell (The Moving Cycle) and Kathy Kain (Touch Skills in Somatic Practice), integrating somatic, Gestalt, and regulation-based approaches.

Laia has taught at Naropa University and internationally, weaving together theory, embodiment, and relational presence. Her teaching invites practitioners to rediscover touch as a regulating, relational, and restorative force in healing.

Professional Development A Certificate of Attendance for 14 CPD hours will be provided. CPD recognition varies by professional association. Participants are encouraged to check with their own body.

Date, Time & Venue
🗓 Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September 2026
⏰ 9:00am – 5:30pm each day
📍 Broncos Leagues Club, Red Hill, Brisbane Workshop Fee

🔹 A discounted Super Early Bird rate is available until February 19th 2026✨Use code SOMA at checkout to get your super early-bird discount $50 off.

(Must use code SOMA at checkout for the discounted ticket) Standard Fee after 19th February: $395 incl GST Places are strictly limited to preserve learning quality and safety.

Early registration is strongly recommended.

🔗 Register here:

The Art of Touch in Psychosomatic Work | Join us for this special 2 day day embodied learning workshop with Laia Jorba, LPC, BC-DMT

29/05/2025

🌿 A Professional Update

I’m incredibly proud to share some meaningful news with you.

After years of deep engagement with Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, I’ve officially partnered with the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute (SPI) as the organiser of SP trainings here in Australia.

This means I’ll now be leading SP trainings nationally through a new platform I’ve launched: Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Australia (SPA).

And Yes, I will still be seeing clients and supervisees'. Although I will have much more limited capacity to take on any new clients in 2026!

For those of you in my professional community this new platform will be a hub for learning, connection, and growth.

SPA will offer high-quality SP trainings in both online and in-person formats (yes, finally in-person training is coming to Australia!).

If you’re a therapist seeking to deepen your somatic trauma work, or if you’ve been waiting for Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to be more accessible locally, I’d love to invite you to learn more and join the waitlist for Level I training beginning in June 2026:

👉 www.sensorimotorpsychotherapyaustralia.com

Thank you to everyone who has supported my work and vision in the field of trauma therapy.

This next chapter is about expanding access to effective, body-based approaches for healing complex trauma and I’m truly excited to be bringing this work to more clinicians across Australia.

I’m looking forward to walking this new chapter with you.

With courage and care,

Natajsa
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📬 Stay Connected with SPA

🌐 Sign up for training announcements via our website: sensorimotorpsychotherapyaustralia.com
📘 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sensorimotoraustralia
📸 Join us on Instagram:

12/01/2025

Hello everyone, I am inviting you to join me for a FREE webinar training where you can discover more about Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) and learn more about the Australian Level 1 Training beginning in March 2025.

I will be presenting a live webinar with Q&A hosted in collaboration with The Blue Knot Foundation on Friday the 24th of January at 9.30 AEDT time.

LINK TO REGISTER: https://blueknot.arlo.co/register?sgid=e5d795650d924f468baf458397a45513

* Please note this webinar will be capped at 100 people, and there are only a few spaces left ✨

This event will be especially beneficial for those clinicians considering taking the more comprehensive level 1 training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma Treatment.

In this training, you will learn more about SP through an excerpt of a client session and learn how Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can impact your therapeutic practice.

Learning outcomes:

• Learn about Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and its relevance for trauma clients

• Describe procedural learning and its significance in trauma and attachment-related issues

• Identify the body’s role in trauma treatment

• Watch video demonstrations of how physical action empowers patients and reduce PTSD symptoms

• Understand the importance of mindfulness in trauma therapy

Trauma first and foremost leaves its imprint on the body, yet for many reasons, the body has historically been omitted from therapeutic practice.

Join us for this free online workshop and learn how working with the body can revolutionize your practice! SP invites you to delve into a realm beyond verbal communication, exploring the somatic patterns that are the legacy of trauma to foster enduring transformation from within.

Rooted in neuroscience and attachment research, our SP training equips professionals with essential skills and principles, empowering them to integrate the body into psychotherapy.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about trauma and the body and hear more about the Level 1 training starting in 2025.

LINK TO REGISTER: https://blueknot.arlo.co/register?sgid=e5d795650d924f468baf458397a45513

21/12/2024

I am sharing the content of an email I sent out to my list this week and wanted to share it here as well. 👀⬆️ (read the carousel 😁) and 👇

Whether you are a past, current or future client, or we have made a connection elsewhere…I wanted to say thank you for placing some of your trust in me and allowing me to be a part of your journey in some small way. ♥️

I particularly want to share my thanks and gratitude with all of the clients I have worked with this year. I believe that therapy is not only a process of transformation when you are sitting in the client’s seat but also in the therapists seat.

As always, thank you for teaching me, inspiring me and helping me to grow as a human being. It is an honour and privilege to know you and work with you and I look forward to the unfolding journey of 2025. 🌻⁠
⁠
I am now taking a holiday break and returning on Wednesday the 8th of January for a few sessions before starting back to regular hours on Monday the 13th of January.🏖️⁠
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If you are looking to work with me in 2025, I currently have a waitlist and am not taking on new clients at this stage.

*Each year I open 1-2 spaces twice a year and the best way to be advised is to join my waitlist so you receive an email when spaces become available. If haven’t already you can join ➡️link in bio and on my website
⁠
I also wanted to share a personal practice from Yearlycompass.⁠ 🧭

At the end of each year I take some time to reflect on the year and plan for the next. ⁠📝
⁠
📙Yearlycompass is a free booklet that you can complete on your own or with a group of friends. It is a beautiful ritual that helps you to reflect on your achievements, learn from your experiences, celebrate your victories and set out a path for the new year. ⁠
⁠
If you would like to try this practice for yourself, all you need is a quiet few hours and the booklet which can be downloaded for free from the YearCompass website.

Sending much peace, love and joy your way, as much as your heart can hold ♥️ during this time that is often full of mixed feelings. May you also be free and supported to feel your grief, longing sadness and anything else that may be with you.

Tash 🌻

04/12/2024

Hello everyone, I am inviting you to join me for a FREE webinar training where you can discover more about Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) and learn more about the Australian Level 1 Training beginning in March 2025.

I will be presenting a live webinar, hosted in collaboration with The Blue Knot Foundation on Friday the 13th of December at 9.30am AEDT time.

LINK TO REGISTER: https://blueknot.arlo.co/register?sgid=2f18f5612e97407baec4d9eb283ea149

This event will be especially beneficial for those clinicians considering taking the more comprehensive level 1 training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma Treatment.

In this training, you will learn more about SP through an excerpt of a client session and learn how Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can impact your therapeutic practice.

Learning outcomes:

• Learn about Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and its relevance for trauma clients

• Describe procedural learning and its significance in trauma and attachment-related issues

• Identify the body’s role in trauma treatment

• Watch video demonstrations of how physical action empowers patients and reduce PTSD symptoms

• Understand the importance of mindfulness in trauma therapy

Trauma first and foremost leaves its imprint on the body, yet for many reasons, the body has historically been omitted from therapeutic practice.

Join us for this free online workshop and learn how working with the body can revolutionize your practice! SP invites you to delve into a realm beyond verbal communication, exploring the somatic patterns that are the legacy of trauma to foster enduring transformation from within.

Rooted in neuroscience and attachment research, our SP training equips professionals with essential skills and principles, empowering them to integrate the body into psychotherapy.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about trauma and the body and hear more about the Level 1 training starting in 2025.

LINK TO REGISTER: https://blueknot.arlo.co/register?sgid=2f18f5612e97407baec4d9eb283ea149

21/11/2024

Hello All! Its been a while since I've posted on Facebook, if you follow me you on socials you may have seen me a little more active on IG, however I am purposefully not on social media a lot!

I did want to jump online and do an update, as earlier this year I announced via email, that I have taken on the role of Australian Organizer for Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) in Australia!

And yes...I'm still seeing clients in my practice 3.5 days a week and teaching with the Blue Knot foundation however I currently still have a 6-12 month waitlist.

You can add your details here to stay in touch and be kept up to date on when spaces open up: https://www.natajsawagner.com/inner-circle

I've taken on the Role of supporting SP to bring their trainings back to Australia as SP is a Somatic modality that has had a profound impact on me personally & professionally.

I’m delighted to be supporting the amazing Pat Ogden (I cant believe I actually get to spend time talking to her *Fan girl crush right there*) & team in bringing SP training back to Australia both in person & online.

People often ask me what somatic trauma training I recommend & hands down this has been the best training experiences of my career. I’m excited about building the SP community in Australia & helping more clinicians get this amazing training.

Enrolments for the next Level 1 SP for the treatment of trauma training in Australia Beginning in March 2025 are now open! As we are wanting to make SP accessible to as many people as possible we are currently offering our level 1 Training | Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Trauma Training online.


If you would like to find out more you can head to the Sensorimotor Website and register your interest here: https://sensorimotor.powerappsportals.com/Trainings/Training-Details/?id=f0ec1b33-bb43-ef11-8409-0022483186e5

*Currently you can also access a early bird discount of 5% for enrolment before January.

25/08/2023

Wow, how lucky am I to get to plant some small seeds of change at one of the departments at Parliment house today!

Delivering training on Trauma informed leadership on behalf of

From little things, big things grow 🌱🌳
We don’t always get to see the impact we make from the seeds we plant, but I hope today I was able to plant a few seeds!

07/08/2023

A little note to let you know I’m taking some time away to have a holiday.

One of the things I wish for everyone, and especially those in the helping fields is adequate time for rest and rejuvenation.

Deep rest has been, and is one of my continuing growing edges. I’m 100 times better at it than I used to be AND I’m still practicing taking more time for ease, to feel satisfaction and completion.

I’ve been working with more ‘active rest’ aka rest that means I don’t have to be completely still, but can enjoy nature, a jigsaw puzzle, body movement or gentle activity paired with resting.

Holidays and rest are also part of my commitment to myself and my clients.

To ensure I take care of myself and that I can continue to do good work. For me good work means being able to show up nourished, gentle, compassionate, caring, with a brain and nervous system that is as well regulated as possible. It also means that I show up with as much peace as possible, so I can give my clients the honour, presence and respect for this work they deserve. I believe the ability to provide Co regulation is such an important piece as therapists.

So I’m off to India to slow down a little from the world and reconnect within. Well that’s my intention any way!

India is a place that I’ve found deep peace and stillness (believe it or not - with all its busyness, noise and smorgasbords for the senses). I’m headed to spend time at the temple Sri Narayani Peedam in Thirumalaikodi, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, with nothing on my agenda apart from ayervedic treatments at the centre, time for yoga, walking the temple grounds, connecting spending time waking the grounds and taking part in the poojas and ceremonies.

Many of you may know I spend very little time on social media apart from showing up on I Instagram for fun and educational posts I don’t post a lot, so it’s probably going to be even less while I’m away, but I might document a few things from my travels in my stories if I feel inspired.

So excuse me while I take some time away for rest, rejuvenation and maybe even a little connection to the divine. ✨

I’ll be back before you know it.

24/07/2023

The medical model often labels trauma survivors behaviours as 'maladaptive coping strategies' instead of understanding them as survival adaptations.

💡The challenging truth about survival adaptions is that at one time they helped a person survive & manage overwhelming pain.

💡 We also cannot effectively process vehement emotions by ourselves terror, rage, grief and shame need support. Children need another adult to co regulate with, in the absence of this we look to survive any way we know how

💡Survival adaptations are always about - I would do anything, not to feel this pain.

💡In the absence of a developed and flexible nervous system we have to find creative ways to cope

💡Survival adaptations can look like: Self-harm, dissociation, avoidance, disordered eating, rage, avoidance, drug & substance abuse, suicidal ideation &more

💡Changing a person’s survival adaptions first requires validation. We don't change anything, with shame, blame or guilt

We influence change when we come from a place of respect, when some level of equality and trustworthiness is present
Not an easy task when we may be experiencing these behaviours.

Please note that this post is not recommending you tolerate abuse, your safety is paramount and everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

Some things to remember when we are working with survival adaptations:

Change is complex, it takes time, support and effort. We forget that change feels scary & unfamiliar

Certain behaviours are often linked with survival...not having them feels like life or death. Many of us struggle to giving up coffee or chocolate in a week, yet many of our programs expect survivors to change lifelong survival behaviours in a period of 12 weeks or less…

We don't validate, that for trauma survivors, relying on things feels familiar and safer... than reaching out and relying on people.

We under estimate the emotional pain & the real relief these survival adaptations have

cont in comments

Follow for more complex trauma related education and content

23/07/2023

The set-up of social media that can often over simplifying what it means to process complex trauma through somatic therapies & exercises.

I am told some of my posts have a lot of text & information linked to them.. I agree, I like words & oversimplification of something that is complex & individual to each person is not always helpful.

Here's some thoughts

1. Somatic movement practices and resources are not on their own what processing trauma is. Some of the somatic videos on IG over simplify what is means to process & heal.

Many complex trauma survivors struggle to get in touch with, notice & stay with their body. Dissociation also means we need to work gently and slowly as we reconnect.

You can do all the somatic & vagus nerve exercises & this wont heal all your trauma.

Yes somatic exercises and resources can be a helpful & part of phase 1 work where we teach psycho-education, & safety and stabilisation skills, however they are only 1 piece of the work.

Big 'cathartic' expressions will also not release or resolve all the impacts of complex trauma. Catharsis often results in short term not long-term change because it comes out of a prescribed/forced process rather than following the bodies instinctual movements.

Catharsis often happen with the frontal lobes offline, meaning that a person is not fully connected to all elements of the experience with no ability to maintain dual awareness of the past & present or to be in the window of tolerance =
No ability to integrate the experience & transformation effectively.

2. Self-regulation is often emphasised over & above co-regulation and relationship

Despite many survivors needing the support of another human brain, nervous system & heart. complex trauma is harm that happened in relationship, therapy holds an opportunity for an experience of healing in relationship.

Its extremely difficulty to heal in isolation and missing co-regulation...

cont in comments...

Follow for more complex trauma related education

13/07/2023

✨But that was in the past....⁠
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What we learn from brain scans 🧠 is that traumatic memories are not encoded as explicit narratives. Translation: Trauma memories and primarily encoded as SENSORY and EMOTIONAL states.⁠
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Because the pre-frontal cortex is inhibited in trauma, we remember trauma with the FEELINGS in our bodies instead of the words. This means we don't experience it as a memory or in the past.⁠
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The emotions and feeling states we have when we are triggered, don't come with a label where can say - Oh this belongs in the past, Im remembering something from long ago...or this sadness comes from when I was 8 years old. We just experience the strong emotions and sensations. ⁠
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This means we are act, feel and respond without recognition of the influence of the past, without understanding we are triggered. This is how your past influences our present. ⚡️It feels like we are in danger now vs having a memory of the past.⁠💭⚠️
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As Dr Dan Siegel says - without being able to connect these implicit sensations & feelings and emotions to the past - they will continue to shape the subjective feelings and beliefs we have about who we are. ⁠
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This is an important piece to understand and work with as we being to understand the influence of past trauma on our present.⁠
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