What is Somatic Coaching?
Somatic coaching is an innovative approach that integrates body-focused techniques, mindfulness, and coaching principles to facilitate personal growth and transformation. Somatics views the body, mind and emotions as inseparable. Unlike traditional coaching methods that primarily focus on cognitive processes and goal-setting, somatic coaching emphasizes the importance of bodily sensations, movements, and the felt sense as sources of valuable information and insights.
Through somatic coaching we will explore how your body holds patterns, beliefs, and emotions, and how these can influence your thoughts, behaviors, and overall life experiences. Sometimes these emotions, belief systems, and patterns may be limiting your personal growth and getting in the way of what you really care about. Working together we can unwind these held patterns and beliefs in order to bring you more aliveness, wholeness and put you in touch with what matters most to you.
I use a variety of techniques in somatic coaching, including, breathwork, body awareness, physical practices, bodywork, and mindful exploration. All of these approaches are designed to help you access and understand the wisdom stored within your body.
Through somatic coaching you will experience enhanced self-awareness and an increase in your overall holistic well-being. You will also experience deep, lasting personal transformation and change as you develop a heightened sense of self-awareness, release emotional blockages, transform limiting beliefs, and create new, empowering patterns. Somatic coaching is truly transformational and as a result of our work together you will experience greater alignment in your thoughts and actions, increased resilience and and a greater sense of well-being.
J Sikes, Ed.D
J is a queer, non-binary coach, consultant, and educator with 29 years of experience in public education, 13 years of coaching, and 12 years studying somatics, J holds a deep understanding of the mind-body connection and the transformative power of somatics. J weaves this knowledge and experience into their coaching and has a passion for empowering individuals on their transformative journeys.
Educators, non-profit executives, and LGBTQIA+ individuals seek J’s coaching to address challenges in education and leadership, and for personal development. J became an International Coaches Federation Professional Certified Coach in 2021, a certified somatic coach through the Strozzi Institute for Somatics in 2016, and a certified school leadership coach through the New Teacher Center and the Association of California School Administrators in 2013.
J holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UC Davis and a Masters in Education from Nazareth University. A former nationally ranked fencer and skilled educator, J has taught for the Strozzi Institute for Somatics and continues to teach somatic courses across the US. J is committed to decolonizing education, celebrating queer joy, and supporting others to grow into the teachers, leaders—and humans—they long to be. They reside in Woodland, California on Patwin land, and enjoy art, crossfit, and listening to their cats purr.
Complete the coach interest survey to schedule an introductory phone call !
Come Find out what somatic coaching is all about at the next Sacramento ICF chapter Lunch and Learn!
Lunch & Learn: Somatic Coaching
Speaker: J Sikes, Ed.D, PCC
Date: March 18, 2026
Time: Noon Pacific Time
Location: Zoom
When guiding clients through transformation, an often overlooked component is the wisdom of the body. Somatic coaching which integrates intellectual, emotional, and physical ways of knowing can help clients achieve lasting change.