The Embodied Therapist: Ease Through the Alexander Technique

As therapists, we spend hours attuning to clients and often take on their pain and struggles, impacting our bodies. We sit for hours without much movement, which may deteriorate a number of our body’s systems: our muscles stiffen, our voices fatigue, our breath may become shallow, we may feel physical pain due to decreased circulation. So much of our focus is on our clients that we forget to come back to ourselves.

This experiential workshop introduces a somatic approach to therapist sustainability through principles from the Alexander Technique (AmSAT, 2025). Participants will explore how increasing awareness of habitual tension patterns and cultivating embodied ease can support healthier posture, freer breathing, and more efficient movement throughout the workday.

In this 2-hour workshop, we will explore how your natural integration can support you to be the most effective therapist to support your clients while feeling light and poised. Through guided exploration and “non-doing” practices, therapists will learn practical ways to reduce strain, restore natural coordination, and access greater physical and emotional regulation during sessions.

By supporting the therapist’s body as an integral part of clinical work, these somatic practices can enhance therapeutic rapport, improve vocal and physical stamina, and create conditions for more grounded, responsive care. Participants will leave with concrete tools to integrate embodied awareness into their daily practice, supporting both therapist well-being and more effective therapeutic engagement with clients.

Leave poised and powerful, and allow joy and ease to flow while facilitating your sessions!

This workshop is for any therapist who:

• Notices physical pain or discomfort at the end of a day or week of work
• Wants to learn more about physical/mental health in a Cognitive Embodiment modality
• Wants to learn how to do less and be a better listener, communicator, and therapist
• Has an interest in cognitive embodiment/psychosomatic connection
• Wants to improve poise, vitality, and stamina for sitting for long hours

Learning Objectives

Participants will...

...identify and participate in 2 “Non-Doing” activities to support doing less and promoting regulation and overall health

...identify 2-3 habitual patterns they have become aware of in the workshop, that may contribute to compression and shortening the system

...identify 3 ideas of using intentional thinking in their practice to change habits (e.g. I wish for my neck to be free, I feel my feet on the floor, exhale before I inhale, etc.)

Tommy Swanson M.AmSAT, LPMT, MT-BC, is a Board-Certified and Licensed Professional Music Therapist in Illinois. Tommy specializes in working with children and adults with special needs, and works at Niles Township District for Special Education.

He completed his Alexander Technique training at Alexander Technique Training in Chicago (ATTiC) which is a 3-year 1600-hr training. Tommy has had the privilege of teaching a workshop for musicians in Lima and Cusco, Peru, for musicians at Arizona State University, the Chicago Flute Club, Niles Township District for Special Education, and National Louis University.

As a musician himself, Tommy has been recognized in numerous state competitions, as well as many international festivals for music. Tommy has the privilege of traveling across the United States, and to countries like Canada, Guatemala, Peru, Spain, France, and Ireland to teach and perform.

This course will provide 2 CEU credits for social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors through the Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation! If you don't need CEUs you can opt for a ticket that doesn't include them.

Info: We'll delve into the Alexander Technique, why it was created, and how it can be useful for therapists. Through thoughtful exploration, movement, "non-exercise", and discussion, we'll explore the idea of doing less and building self-awareness as a therapist.

Info: We'll learn the power of thinking to embrace ease, and how the startle response plays out in daily living and impacts our sense of self and movement, specifically in the context of therapy. We will explore awareness and expansive directions through a series of games.

Info: Learn how to change repetitive patterns of being that create tension through awareness, inhibition, and direction from the Alexander Technique.

Info: Body Schema and putting it all together. Through exploration of thinking and movement, we'll engage with the topics of faulty sensory awareness, poise, and staying free throughout the therapeutic process.

Info: We'll spend some time integrating and engaging in constructive rest before we get sent off into the rest of our days!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

For Real Therapy, 2464 North Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, United States

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