In today's insightful conversation, we're thrilled to introduce Tana J Cohen, a beacon of hope and transformation in the realm of somatic coaching. Tana's journey from navigating the turbulent waters of complex trauma, anxiety, and burnout to becoming a guiding light for others is nothing short of inspiring.
With a deep commitment to fostering positive social change and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing, Tana's approach to healing is rooted in the profound connection between the body and mind. As we delve into this interview, Tana shares her personal revelations that led her to the path of somatic coaching and how her experiences have shaped a unique approach to supporting compassionate entrepreneurs and professionals.
Join us as Tana opens up about the power of somatic healing and how she tailors her support to meet the needs of those driven to make a difference.
Prepare to be inspired by Tana's wisdom, resilience, and the compassionate world she envisions through the lens of somatic coaching.
Tana J Cohen, Somatic Coach & Embodied Mindfulness Mentor
Tana, you help people with ADHD and residual stress from complex trauma create a loving and compassionate relationship with themselves. Can you share more about how that supports them to have the clarity and emotional stability they so often desire?
The complexity of ADHD and C-PTSD, or complex trauma, combined can create a lot of confusion and uncertainty within. It’s like your thoughts and emotions become tangled, like a ball of yarn. You want clarity, energy, and emotional stability, yet it often feels like the harder you push, the more the knots tighten. I believe we each have the capacity for peace, calm, and stability within. What I observe in others and experience personally is that the most healing power comes from offering loving presence, curiosity, and kindness to all that emerges from within—even that tangled ball of yarn.
What makes somatic healing so effective, especially for those with ADHD who are healing from trauma?
Often, the mind wants to dissect, analyse, problem-solve, or even criticise and give up. Those of us with ADHD, PTSD, and “all the things,” as I say, have so much mental data reinforcing why we’re broken, unable to move forward, lack discipline, struggle with relationships, or focus at work—and on and on. Many of us have felt ostracised, hurt, or criticised in childhood, so the self-beliefs we’ve developed over time can obstruct real healing. Therapeutic Somatic Coaching enables you to drop into the body, slow down, rest in the quiet of the present moment, and from there, the magic unfolds—naturally and without force. Being guided by awareness, compassion, and non-judgment brings a quiet strength to those I work with and offers a foundation that supports them far beyond our time together.
Somatic Healing is becoming increasingly recognised. For those of us who don’t know what it is, can you explain what it means and how it differs from traditional therapy?
Somatic Therapy and Somatic Healing view the body as a key part of healing and transformation, especially for stress, trauma, and anxiety. Unlike traditional therapy, which tends to focus on talking through issues and analysing thoughts and emotions, somatic work recognises that our bodies hold onto stress and trauma physically.
Somatic healing centres around creating awareness of body sensations—often referred to as the “felt sense”—allowing people to gently access, process, and release stored tension, stress, or unresolved emotions. By focusing on what’s happening in the body, clients can feel shifts in a natural, grounded way, often noticing more ease and clarity emerging without needing to “think their way out” of a problem.
This approach is unique because it helps people move beyond old habits and mental loops by tapping into the body's wisdom, inviting curiosity and exploration. It’s especially helpful for those who feel that talking alone hasn’t fully resolved their challenges or who experience persistent physical symptoms of stress, like tightness in the chest or brain fog when trying to be productive. Somatic Healing provides a dynamic, integrated pathway for change that includes the mind, body, and nervous system. It’s about creating real, felt experiences of calm, clarity, and safety in a way that feels embodied, gentle, and lasting.
It seems like your own journey has greatly shaped the way you work with clients. How did your personal experiences influence your approach?
I've been through my own share of struggles. Losing my brother at a young age, dealing with years of bullying, turning to the validation of men and the comfort of food—I’ve carried those emotional burdens deeply. My body created protective layers to keep me safe, but those layers also hid away my creativity, my wildness, and my confidence. I felt so different from everyone else, and the only conclusion that made sense was that I was broken and didn’t belong. I had to put in a lot of time and healing to start peeling those layers back, and somatic healing allowed the spirit of who I truly am to shine through. Self-awareness, self-love (which isn’t always sparkly, but my gosh is it empowering), and understanding my nervous system have become my compass. They bring me back to myself, and every new level of strength and softness I uncover leaves me more inspired to share this work.
Because I know what it’s like to feel broken, to lose all sense of stability, and even to question if I wanted to be here, I offer a safe space where my clients can share anything and everything without fear of judgment. That kind of safety—to be fully yourself in all your complexity with someone who can hold space and light the way forward—is deeply healing in itself. It’s about finding a place where you can finally feel okay to just be, with someone who gets it.
For someone considering somatic healing, what should they look for in a practitioner?
I always say, trust your gut. Find a practitioner who creates a safe and nurturing environment, one where you feel comfortable enough to explore your emotions and stay true to what feels right for you. A trauma-informed coach is important, as well as someone who is patient and compassionate in their approach. If you feel like you could be friends with the practitioner, that’s a sign you feel safe and comfortable, which is a good indicator. Ensure they’re professional enough to hold a transformative space for you, but laid-back enough in their manner that you feel relaxed and able to enjoy the experience. Joy is such an underrated remedy in life.
How can someone begin their journey with you if they’re feeling aligned with your approach?
If my approach resonates with you and you’re ready to take a small but powerful first step, I invite you to download the Calm The Chaos Somatic Journaling Prompts. This gentle evening practice only takes about five minutes, but it’s designed to help you unwind the layers of stress that build up throughout the day. By simply putting pen to paper, you’ll begin to shift from the overwhelm that ADHD and PTSD can bring, tapping into a sense of calm and clarity.
Or, if you’re ready to dive deeper, you can explore the full experience of somatic serenity and see if this approach feels right for you. Visit my page to learn more about a journey that invites ease, self-connection, and a way of moving through life that truly honours who you are.
