mena grossmann
SOMATIC EXPERIENCING
and
MINDFULNESS
“Your body is your first home. Breathing in, I arrive in my body. Breathing out, I am home.”
–Thich Nhat Hanh
RATES
I offer in-person and online sessions (on request).
60min | CHF 150.-
90min | CHF 225.-
My sessions are not covered by Swiss health insurance. Sessions cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged in full.
THE WORK
“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”
Peter A. Levine
Somatic Experiencing® is a body-oriented approach that can support the integration of overwhelming and traumatic experiences. Rather than working only through thought and narrative, we gently include sensations, emotions, images, impulses and movement.
Our nervous system holds a natural capacity for regulation and healing. Yet when an experience has been too much, too fast or too soon, parts of it may remain unresolved. This can show up as anxiety, exhaustion, disconnection, physical or psychological symptoms, relationship difficulties or a sense of being stuck.
In our work together, I offer a space of presence, curiosity and compassion. We proceed at a pace that respects your boundaries and your nervous system's capacity. Instead of forcing change, we listen for what is already moving towards regulation, integration and greater wholeness.
When we feel safely held, it can become possible to soften, let go and trust the process. As experiences are gradually metabolised, more inner spaciousness may emerge - like a river meeting the sea. From this space, creativity, aliveness, connection and a renewed sense of embodiment can unfold.
I understand healing not only as an individual process, but as something inseparable from our relationships, communities and social realities. When we cultivate greater peace and kindness within ourselves, we also contribute to a more peaceful and compassionate world.
What I Can Support You With
I can support you if you are experiencing:
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Anxiety, fatigue or overwhelm
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The effects of challenging or traumatic experiences
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Relationship difficulties or recurring relational patterns
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Physical or psychological symptoms connected to stress
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A difficult transition or challenging period in your life
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Disconnection from your body, emotions or sense of self
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Questions around identity, belonging or life purpose
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A longing for greater clarity, connection and aliveness
TRAINING
My training and continuing education include:
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Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner training, currently in progress
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Foundations of Trauma-Informed Coaching and Consulting with Amy Elizabeth Fox and Thomas Hübl
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Decolonial Mental Health Practice with Dr. Samah Jabr
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Courses and mentoring in Non-violent Communication and Deep Democracy with Sinergia Comunicativa and Daniele Putnoki
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RESET Programme with Alex Howard
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Meditation retreats in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and in the Theravada tradition with Anne Michel, Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield
ABOUT ME
My path to this work has been shaped by a lifelong curiosity about what helps us feel at home - in ourselves, in our bodies and in the world.
Growing up in a multicultural Swiss-British family and moving between countries at formative moments in my childhood and adolescence brought up questions on identity and belonging: Who am I? Where do I belong? What does it mean to feel at home? These questions have accompanied me through many places and experiences, gradually becoming a journey of unexpected homecomings.
From Outer Change to Inner Transformation
The wish to contribute to a more peaceful, just and sustainable world has guided much of my life. An experience volunteering with girls in an orphanage in Argentina when I was 19 opened my eyes to profound social injustice and systemic violence, while also showing me the extraordinary resilience and vitality people can carry in the face of adversity.
This experience led me to study International Relations and Environmental Sustainability and, later, to work in environmental conservation, agroecology, biodiversity and climate resilience. I worked with smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples and marginalised rural communities, mostly in Latin America. There, I witnessed how systems of oppression and intergenerational trauma continue to shape people's lives - and how communities sustain creativity, dignity and connection despite enormous challenges.
After years of travelling and working internationally for international development organisations, my journey began to turn inward and brought me back to my roots in Switzerland. With an increased understanding that social transformation and personal healing are deeply connected, I started a training in Somatic Experiencing®, an approach that resonated with my understanding of both trauma and our innate capacity for resilience.
Coming Home to the Body
Alongside Somatic Experiencing®, I also practice different kinds of Buddhist meditation. An important homecoming has been discovering that home can be found in the present moment and within the body. The teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh touched me deeply: when we truly arrive in the present moment, we are home.
For me, this opened a new possibility - a sense of belonging that is not dependent on geography or external circumstances. Mindfulness, Buddhist psychology and spirituality continue to inform both my life and my work, supporting an approach rooted in presence, compassion and respect for each person's unique process.