The Grounding Circle
An Eco-Somatic Skills Group
for Stress & Trauma
When: Wednesdays, 4:30–6:00 PM, beginning October 7
Investment: 10 Week Group for $500
Where: Heart Stone Counseling, 963 Broadway South Portland, ME 04106
Soften the Grip.
Find Your Ground.
Stress has a way of tightening its hold in your shoulders, your jaw, the way you brace before you even know why. The Grounding Circle is a small group where you'll learn to loosen that grip, not by pushing through it, but by working with your body's own wisdom. Through somatic practice, nature metaphor, and group connection, you'll build real, felt-in-the-body skills for regulating stress and moving out of trauma responses. You’ll learn skills that help you come back to solid ground, again and again, alongside others doing the same work.
“These mountains you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb.”
― Najwa Zebian
Belonging, From the Ground Up.
The Grounding Circle is a small group that will meet for ten weeks. Together, we will learn about stress and trauma through neuroscience and the nervous system. We will approach the healing journey through nature metaphor and a felt sense of connection to the earth. We will practice body-based tools to shift out of a threat response and back into a sense of connection.
But the real work happens in what grows between people: a felt sense of safety that builds session by session, the kind that only comes from being witnessed and regulating alongside others who understand. By the time the circle ends, you'll leave with tools you can use on your own. But you'll also leave having remembered something the body knows instinctively: we were never meant to do this alone.
Tools for the Body. Support for the Journey.
A weekly community container to practice regulation tools on a consistent basis with accountability
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Grounding and orienting techniques you can reach for anywhere, anytime you feel stressed or overwhelmed
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Nervous system learning — recognizing your own patterns of activation and shutdown in a non-pathologizing way
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An online workbook with videos to continue practices in-between meetings and after the group ends
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Breathwork and movement practices to move out of a stress response and back into connection
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Finding Your People
This group is for adults who are:
Living with chronic stress, anxiety, or the effects of past trauma
Curious about body-based or nature-connection approaches
Currently in talk therapy (or have been) and would like additional somatic support
Ready to be part of a small, consistent group over time
Comfortable with gentle movement
This group is psychoeducational and skills-based. We will not be processing our trauma stories and it is not a substitute for individual therapy. Participants currently in acute crisis should reach out to an individual provider first.
“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
― Maya Angelou
The Details
Dates: Wednesdays starting October 7th
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 PM
Cost: $500 (for 10 weeks)
Facilitator: Jessica Wallner, LCPC, RYT200
Location: Heart Stone Counseling, 963 Broadway South Portland, ME 04106
Weekly Themes
10/7 – Earth as Home
10/14 – Ground Beneath Your Feet
10/21 – Watching the Weather Inside
10/28 – Meeting the Animal Body
11/4 – The Wisdom of Mobilization
11/11 – The Wisdom of Immobilization
11/18 – Finding Safe Connection
11/25 - Skip due to Holiday
12/2 – Flow Like a River
12/9 – Wise Like a Mother Tree
12/16 – Feeling the Fungal Threads
Ready to get grounded?
Schedule a free 15-minute online consultation.
Space in this circle is intentionally limited, to protect the safety and depth of the group. The first step is a free 15-minute online consultation. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, share your needs, and see if this circle feels like a good fit.
Questions? Reach out to jess@terrasomasoul.com
FAQ’s
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Eco-somatics brings together body-based practice and the natural world as partners in healing. "Somatic" work uses breath, movement, and the felt sense to regulate the nervous system from the inside out. "Eco" reflects how we are interconnected to the earth and how greater connection through our bodies and awareness can help ease hypervigilance and support the body's return to safety. In our sessions, nature will primarily be referenced through metaphor and visualization.
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While the impact of this group may be therapeutic, this is not a substitute for individual therapy. This group is mostly for people who are not in crisis, actively abusing substances, or currently navigating a traumatic event. We will not be processing trauma stories. But, participants may experience some resolution of trauma symptoms by learning tools and having new experiences.
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There will be both movement and talk, but the processing will be present-oriented and skill or learning-focused. It is not talk-based in a traditional talk therapy way. We will not be processing our trauma stories. But, we will be exploring how stress responses show up in the body in real time.
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We will begin each session with an arrival practice, check in with participants in a brief way, explore a lesson, engage in a practice, and reflect on our learnings together.
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Because the group connection is such an important part of this offering, it is highly encouraged that participants only join if they plan to attend all sessions. Special consideration will be made for those who know they will miss one meeting. If a participant must miss more than two sessions they may be asked to pause participation and a refund will be offered for any remaining sessions missed.
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During the first group meeting, participants will be guided to create a plan for if they are overwhelmed and how they would like to be supported. Participants are encouraged to do whatever they need including asking for support from the group, using certain tools in session, or taking a break.
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$500 includes $50 per group meeting for a total of 10 meetings. The fee also includes an online workbook and practice videos for in-between sessions and for a short time once the group ends.
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You may pay up front or in two installations - $250 up front and $250 half way through. Sliding scale is available upon request.
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You can begin the registration process by signing up for a free 15 minute online consultation to make sure this group is a good fit for you. You can sign up by following this link or emailing jess@terrasomasoul.com. Once the consultation meeting is done, a registration link will be sent to complete payment.
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Absolutely! Practices will accessible for beginners and are customizable to your individual needs. All that is required is presence and curiosity.
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Yes, each participant will have access to an online workbook and practice videos to use in-between sessions and for a short time after the group concludes.
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No, sessions will be indoors. Nature will be connected to by metaphor and visualization only.
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Great! Yes, participation in the group is a great supplement to individual talk therapy.
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Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes that you can move in and any other kind of prop or tool you need to support your body or create comfort. Participants may be encouraged to bring a small personal item to specific sessions, but instructions will be given before. A journal and pen is encouraged but not required.
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Because the group connection is such an important part of this offering, it is highly encouraged that participants only join if they plan to attend all sessions. Special consideration will be made for those who know they will miss one meeting. If a participant must miss more than two sessions they may be asked to pause participation. Refunds will only be offered in special circumstances of major life change or illness. Refunds will only be given at a rate of $50 per remaining session.
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The facilitator will be Jessica Wallner, LCPC, RYT200. You can learn moire about her here.
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I require a free 15 minute online consultation so we can discuss just that! You can sign up by following this link or emailing jess@terrasomasoul.com