somatic coaching & bodywork | Transformation Embodied

SOMA (Greek)

the living body in its wholeness—sensing, feeling, relating, thinking, acting, and beliefs

welcome, dear! i'm glad you're here.

i'm Joelle Marcelle Antson (she/her), an Autistic ADHD trans woman from Estonia. i'm a Strozzi Institute for Somatics-trained somatic coach and bodyworker.

by coming home to my body, i've been growing into the fullness of my femininity and neurodivergence. i'm learning to unmask, soften, and take up space. that's why i long to hold space for other Autistic and ADHD, queer and trans people, and for anyone yearning to feel more liberated in their body and expression.

in our work together, you'll be invited to connect with your deepest longings and move toward them in actionable, embodied ways.

let's explore what that will look like for you. please book a free initial session below.

with care and curiosity,
Joelle Marcelle 🖤✨

my approach

somatics is about engaging the whole living body in a process of transformation—not just thinking and talking, but the interweaving of sensing, feeling, relating, and believing.
through somatic coaching and bodywork, we can shift the automatic patterns held in our bodies. we can develop new ways of being that align with our values and desires, not just in our minds, but in our posture, actions, and relationships.

work with me

three pathways for embodied transformation

somatic coaching

somatic coaching supports embodied transformation through somatic awareness, practices, and opening—all grounded in social context.

we recognize that transformation isn't individual—our bodies have been shaped by social norms.

we weave together conversation with body-based awareness and somatic practices (from aikido and meditation) to create new embodied, sustainable competencies.

somatic transformation is the ability to act aligned with our values even under old pressures.

sessions can support you with:

✓ feeling and tolerating more
✓ acting aligned with your values
✓ staying centered under pressure
✓ setting boundaries while staying connected
✓ knowing who you are and what matters to you

all practices are adaptable for online sessions.

somatic bodywork

somatic bodywork uses skilled touch (pressure points, holds, movements, etc.), breath patterns, and supportive conversation to invite somatic opening by working through (not just on) the body.

while massage temporarily loosens muscle tension, in somatic bodywork we explore what needs these tensions have been serving—such as safety, belonging, and dignity. we ask: what might it be taking care of?

when we disorganize habitual protective reactions and tensions, new possibilities become available. somatic opening often manifests as expression of stuck emotions (crying, laughing, shouting, etc.) and softening of tissues.

sessions happen on a massage table, clothed.

somatic workshops

somatic workshops bring somatics to more than just 1:1 sessions, inviting groups, organizers, and organizations to practice embodied skills in mutual connection.

we look at how to craft and embody collective values, ally with each other, consent (say "yes," "no," or "maybe"), make and respond to requests, build collective power, and much more.

if you'd like to work on the culture of or cultivate new skills in your organization, contact me for a workshop. →

complex challenges

i have particular experience and training in working with:

gender expression and transition(un)masking Autism and ADHDsupporting trans loved oneschronic illnesses and painsdepression and anxiety

view pricing and packages

in our work we may explore

feeling and tolerating more

expanding your capacity to be with difficult emotions and sensations

acting aligned with your values

the ability to act in accordance with what matters to you, even under pressure

staying centered under pressure

maintaining groundedness when stress or conflict arises

setting boundaries while staying connected

learning to say no without closing off or losing relationship

knowing who you are and what matters to you

discovering your deepest priorities and building a life aligned with them

ready to begin your transformation?

book a free session

testimonials

what clients say about working together

processing grief - Anna

somatic bodywork client

massage vs bodywork - Anna

somatic bodywork client

the essentiality of embodiment - Hilary

somatic bodywork client

unblocking creativity - Hilary

somatic bodywork client

softening tension - Monika

somatic bodywork client

"Joelle embodies a very calm presence, which makes it almost effortless to be vulnerable. her listening and open heart were notable. I felt as comfortable as one could sharing about deep emotional experiences, particularly, being trans. as a therapist, it's been challenging to be vulnerable throughout my life, in therapy or with coaches. it was easy with her."

— S. (he/him)

"Joelle was not unnerved by emotionally intense moments. she stayed focused and knew her methods well. she always offered more than one option which was humanizing. no matter what I was saying or experiencing, it was human, it was normal. others had been there before and there were techniques that could help. "

— L. (they/them)

"Joelle helped me feel safe and held. she offered practices that were always just the right thing. It was very intuitive of her. Joelle showed me how to work at a low intensity, allowing me to access some really deep things in a gentle manner. the whole process was, in some ways, not gentle, as I feel my 'shape' changed a lot. each step was gentle, and yet the process, while rewarding, was also hard. but I felt supported in that."

— I. (she/her)

"Joelle listens without pushing her own interpretations. it's the most basic thing, but many therapists aren't that great at listening and connecting. she is very good at making a genuine connection. I feel I can really trust her. "

— E. (she/her)

"Joelle was able to bring me back into my body if I was getting focused on the language more than the embodied experience. I appreciated the safe and non-judgemental container that she created for me."

— R. (they/them)