Gemma Higginbotham is a registered somatic movement therapist (RSME/T) based near Kendal, Cumbria, UK. With over thirty years of body-based practice as a dance artist and somatic therapist, she works with adults and children using a body-focused, creative, and intuitive approach that draws on movement, touch, and embodied awareness.
Her sessions create a space for being rather than doing — for listening deeply to the body as a living, knowing presence. Using gentle verbal prompts and consented hands-on touch, Gemma works with whatever is present: chronic pain, anxiety, grief, trauma, disconnection, or a longing to come home to oneself. She holds ISMETA accreditation at masters level and is trauma-informed.
Gemma's background is unusually wide — she has also trained as a birth practitioner and doula, and has accompanied the dying alongside palliative care teams. She continues to create and perform as a dance artist, and her practice is nourished by her own ongoing artistic, somatic, and spiritual life. She offers sessions in her Cumbrian studio and online via Zoom.
Background & Training
MA Dance and Somatic Wellbeing: Connections to the Living Body (distinction) / Masters — ISMETA certified program, 2019
RSME/T — Registered Somatic Movement Educator/Therapist / ISMETA accreditation
ISMETA Professional Development: The Moving Child — Developmental and Dynamic Movement (with Hana Kamea Kemble, RSMT) / Professional Development
Foundation Course — Brainchild Developmental Program: Identifying Neuro-developmental Issues / Foundation
PARTS (Performing Arts Research and Training Studios), Brussels, Belgium / Postgraduate 3-year full-time training, 1997
HND — Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds / 2-year full-time, 1995
Foundation Course (distinction) — Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds / 1-year full-time, 1994
60 min (longer sessions may be available) / In person & virtual
A dedicated session exploring embodied awareness through verbal prompts, movement, and consented hands-on touch. Sessions support life transitions, trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, grief, and more.
Midlife & Menopause Sessions
60 min / In person & virtual
Somatic therapy specifically tailored to the transitions and challenges of midlife and menopause.
Children's Somatic Sessions
60 min / In person
Body-based, creative sessions for children and young people.
Outdoor Sessions (Earth Body)
Varies / In person
Somatic movement sessions held outdoors, connecting body awareness with the natural world.
1-1 Retreat
Half-day / Full-day / 2-day / In person
Half-day, full-day, or two-day immersive somatic retreat on an individual basis. Beneficial for deeper enquiry.
Workshops
Varies / In person
Group somatic movement workshops facilitated by Gemma where appropriate.
I Can Help If You're Navigating
Nervous System Dysregulation
Childhood Trauma
Anxiety & Overwhelm
Grief & Loss
Feeling Stuck or Lost
Depression & Low Energy
Chronic Illness & Pain
PTSD & Complex Trauma
Midlife Crisis / Awakening
Shadow Work & Inner Child
Self-Worth & Confidence
Hormonal & Reproductive Health
Loneliness & Social Connection
Body Image & Eating
Burnout & Exhaustion
Birth Trauma
Deepening Spiritual Practice
Stress Management
Reviews & Testimonials
“Gemma brings decades of skill and experience and has a great sensitivity to seeing and sensing the body.”
ClientFrom website
“She's either a magical being, or the most fully human person I've ever met. I wouldn't be surprised by either…”
ClientFrom website
“Gemma is an incredibly compassionate therapist, deeply attuned to the body, touch, and movement in a way I haven't experienced before. Her presence and expertise made my sessions with her profoundly impactful at times, offering new and transformative insights into both my body an...” “Gemma is an incredibly compassionate therapist, deeply attuned to the body, touch, and movement in a way I haven't experienced before. Her presence and expertise made my sessions with her profoundly impactful at times, offering new and transformative insights into both my body and my sense of self. Gemma also has the sensitivity to recognise when a more subtle approach is needed, creating space for deep relaxation in a loving, supportive environment. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to explore deeper layers of healing through somatic work.”
ClientFrom website
“My experience of working with Gemma has been a complete resetting of my experience of myself. I didn't know what to expect before I came to the first session. Gemma seems to innately know what's needed, however I show up and whatever's arising for me in the moment. I've never fel...” “My experience of working with Gemma has been a complete resetting of my experience of myself. I didn't know what to expect before I came to the first session. Gemma seems to innately know what's needed, however I show up and whatever's arising for me in the moment. I've never felt so safe and held and able to explore the darkest parts of myself than I have in these sessions. Gemma's approach brought me into a fundamental acceptance of what is, not what I hoped or wished was the case. From there I could start to change. I've had other therapy before, including the retreat-style Hoffman Process, and at this point in my life I really needed the body-centered approach that Gemma offers. If there's ever a living example of 'The Body Knows the Score' it's Gemma and this approach.”
ClientFrom website
“Truly powerful somatic work! I came to Gemma feeling emotional, disconnected and exhausted. I'm now in a far better place thanks to Gemma's intuitive skill, professionalism and support. This process has enabled me to feel grounded, regulated and allowed a great inner peace. Thank...” “Truly powerful somatic work! I came to Gemma feeling emotional, disconnected and exhausted. I'm now in a far better place thanks to Gemma's intuitive skill, professionalism and support. This process has enabled me to feel grounded, regulated and allowed a great inner peace. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
ClientFrom website
“I couldn't do anything other than recommend Gemma in the highest way possible, whilst simultaneously knowing that this approach isn't for everyone. It's for people genuinely open and willing to address what is truly there, as Gemma won't let you hide from yourself.”
ClientFrom website
“I could not have gone through this to such depth without Gemma's sensitive, intuitive and highly knowledgeable accompaniment.”
ClientFrom website
“As a practising GP I sought out Gemma to help me with a chronically painful neck. I know that a lot of chronic pain has an emotional aspect and I don't believe we should separate mental and physical health — Gemma works with both aspects to bring healing. I would encourage anyone...” “As a practising GP I sought out Gemma to help me with a chronically painful neck. I know that a lot of chronic pain has an emotional aspect and I don't believe we should separate mental and physical health — Gemma works with both aspects to bring healing. I would encourage anyone with chronic pain to seek out a somatic practitioner before taking strong and addictive painkillers. Gemma has also helped me thrive by working with emotion and body to increase my confidence to take on a leadership role within healthcare that involves public speaking. I would recommend trying her if there is something you really want to do but you feel held back in some way from achieving it.”
Client (GP)From website
“Going to somatics therapy with Gemma enabled me to identify blocks and barriers within myself. I found the practice profound, a very powerful tool to work through unhelpful thoughts and narratives. I found including movement and the body in the therapeutic practices very progress...” “Going to somatics therapy with Gemma enabled me to identify blocks and barriers within myself. I found the practice profound, a very powerful tool to work through unhelpful thoughts and narratives. I found including movement and the body in the therapeutic practices very progressive — I believe it enabled me to work through my problems a lot faster than if I had been to a talking based therapy. Gemma's empathy, presence and openness made me feel very safe and held. I would highly recommend Gemma's somatics therapy to anyone wanting to work through trauma, to deepen their relationship with themselves or increase their awareness, presence and openness.”
ClientFrom website
“Working with Gemma has been immeasurably helpful, challenging, interesting and ultimately enlightening and empowering. She has an intuitive, light, deeply rooted and compassionate gift and process of witnessing and helping you to discover where the root of dis-ease may be found i...” “Working with Gemma has been immeasurably helpful, challenging, interesting and ultimately enlightening and empowering. She has an intuitive, light, deeply rooted and compassionate gift and process of witnessing and helping you to discover where the root of dis-ease may be found in the body; and then through working with her be released and resolved. Cannot recommend reaching out to her enough when you feel you are ready to do the work.”
ClientFrom website
“Regularly sharing time and space with Gemma has given me the opportunity to observe and become more aware of the thoughts, emotions and deeper felt sense that I am experiencing. This has really helped me and my own class students. Gemma is a skilled, compassionate and joyous soul...” “Regularly sharing time and space with Gemma has given me the opportunity to observe and become more aware of the thoughts, emotions and deeper felt sense that I am experiencing. This has really helped me and my own class students. Gemma is a skilled, compassionate and joyous soul; she listens and observes with patience and shares her wisdom in a way that doesn't impose on my own sense of self. Our sessions are always very sensitive to my needs and I always come away feeling renewed, settled in my self and at ease.”
Lou C.From website
“I have worked with Gemma both in person and online over Zoom and found the experience nourishing and supportive at a very challenging time in my life. She was able to track my experience and offer me helpful prompts to engage with or not as I chose. This offered a great freedom f...” “I have worked with Gemma both in person and online over Zoom and found the experience nourishing and supportive at a very challenging time in my life. She was able to track my experience and offer me helpful prompts to engage with or not as I chose. This offered a great freedom for me to come more deeply into my own body. Together with mark-making and journaling and Gemma responding with her own movement I found the sessions to be rich and surprising and I felt more alive by the end of each session. I was somewhat sceptical about working in this way on Zoom and I have to say that it was remarkably powerful and Gemma's presence was very evident.”
ClientFrom website
“I came to Gemma after years of talking therapy and with very little idea of what somatic work involved but knowing there was 'something else' I needed. It might sound like a cliché, but I feel that I have 'come home to myself'. I move more freely, intuitively knowing what my body...” “I came to Gemma after years of talking therapy and with very little idea of what somatic work involved but knowing there was 'something else' I needed. It might sound like a cliché, but I feel that I have 'come home to myself'. I move more freely, intuitively knowing what my body is asking for. I am less anxious and more present in the moment, more content with 'what is' and who I am right now. Gemma is kind, gentle and intuitively knows when and how touch or when words are needed. For anyone interested in Somatic Therapy but still not sure I would say take that leap of faith with Gemma and you won't be disappointed.”
ClientFrom website
“I've had the pleasure of working with Gemma on a number of occasions over the last couple of years. Every session with Gemma has been magic! I recommend her to anyone who is drawn to the work she does.”
ClientFrom website
“I lost my partner to suicide, almost 3 years ago. When I felt ready to deal with some very complex and difficult feelings, I found Gemma. She provided a welcoming safe space for me to gently explore deep inner wounds. She followed my lead and gave me confidence to really face som...” “I lost my partner to suicide, almost 3 years ago. When I felt ready to deal with some very complex and difficult feelings, I found Gemma. She provided a welcoming safe space for me to gently explore deep inner wounds. She followed my lead and gave me confidence to really face some hard feelings. The feeling of safety, acceptance and care from Gemma allowed me to deal with things that more conventional counselling never could, and I am a very private person so I have been really surprised with how comfortable I have become, and that is testament to Gemma.”
ClientFrom website
“I'm very impressed. The night after the session I woke up with no shoulder pain whatsoever — even on rolling over. This hasn't happened for months and months! Even though I have had a couple of twinges at work I find I can relax, using what I have learnt during our sessions, and ...” “I'm very impressed. The night after the session I woke up with no shoulder pain whatsoever — even on rolling over. This hasn't happened for months and months! Even though I have had a couple of twinges at work I find I can relax, using what I have learnt during our sessions, and it goes.”
ClientFrom website
“Gemma made me feel safe and at ease, the space was wonderfully calm and I felt held and supported emotionally. By the end of my sessions, I felt a huge sense of self love.”
ClientFrom website
“I felt met and witnessed in my body in such a profound way… the first time I haven't felt alone and hiding with these energies held in my body. I am deeply moved by my sessions and am booking more.”
