William Schmidt Somatics

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

A beautiful example of somatic co-regulation in action from a recent episode of Ted Lasso:

When Coach Alice Chilton reaches her limit and walks off the field to process her anxiety in private, Ted Lasso steps in with grounded presence.

Instead of offering unwanted advice or trying to "fix" her feelings, he asks how he can help and gently sits beside her. He then focuses on regulating his own body first—taking calm, deep exhales.

Through nervous system co-regulation, Alice mirrors his breathing, deepens her own exhales, and grounds herself back into the present moment.

Holding space like this is a vital human skill. Imagine if we taught somatic awareness and nervous system regulation in schools right alongside math and science!

09/10/2026

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters" by Portia Nelson. ✨

A beautiful reminder of what shifting long-held nervous system patterns looks like. Awareness isn't about instant perfection—it's about slowly shortening the time between falling down and finding your footing again.

08/30/2026

Today on a podcast while at the gym I learned that Tony Robbins has partnered up with a film company called Straight Up Films and Viktor Frankl’s grandson (Alexander Vesely) to produce a movie of Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning”. Screenwriting and production are still happening with no official release date yet set.

I’ll be buying a ticket ✔️

08/24/2026

Looking up today, the contrast between the light hitting the top of this tree and the heavy, dark clouds behind it felt like such a vivid reminder of the duality within us.

Without that dark backdrop, the light wouldn’t look nearly as brilliant.

It made me think about the "shadow" parts of ourselves. We all have them—the unexpressed anger, the deep grief, the old survival patterns, or the experiences we’d rather push away.

When we don't know how to relate to our shadow, we often try to escape it. We might push it down, numb it, or overwhelm our nervous systems with work, food, shopping, or endless scrolling just to avoid feeling what's underneath. Other times, we seek external support or medication to manage the overwhelming weight when it becomes too heavy to carry alone.

In somatic work, the shadow isn't something to be fixed or eradicated—it’s something to be met with gentle curiosity. The body holds the parts of our story we haven't yet integrated. When we learn to safely track our physical sensations and listen to what our shadow is carrying, we stop fighting against ourselves.

The dark clouds don't ruin the scene; they give it depth. Your shadow isn't proof that you are broken—it’s often just a part of you waiting to be safely felt and brought into the light

08/12/2026

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“It's not how it should be."

Those five words can hold a lot of power over us.

Ever find yourself furious at a situation—not because of what’s actually happening, but because it’s not matching the picture in your head?

Was working on this classic human condition earlier today with a client in the office.

We get so hung up on “the way it should be”—whether “it” is a project rollout, a business partner, our team, or even our families—that we waste massive amounts of energy arguing with reality and we miss out on being present to what’s really happening.

When you’re stuck in “should,” you trade what’s real (the way it IS) for a fantasy (the way it SHOULD be).
And you can’t navigate a landscape if you’re using a map of a city that doesn't exist.

3 signs you’re caught in the "Should" trap:

1. Low-grade resentment: You’re constantly let down because people aren't following your unwritten rulebook.
2. Paralysis: You’re delaying a decision because the ideal scenario isn't presenting itself.
3. Looping: You’re spending more time complaining about why something happened than deciding what to do next.

The fix? Drop the map.

Catching ourselves wanting “it” to be a way other than what it actually is keeps us from being present and experiencing a person or a situation exactly the way that it is—and then responding to THAT, instead of what we wished it was—thus, giving us an outcome based in reality.

06/28/2026

There's a practice I return to every Sunday morning: just noticing what's already here.

The garden doesn't perform. The rain barrel just holds what falls. Nothing needs to be other than what it is.

Want what you have.

06/17/2026

It's been a while since I've posted here, and one notable thing has changed: my practice is now William Schmidt Somatics, formerly William Schmidt Counseling.

"Somatic" comes from the Greek word soma, meaning "body." The name change reflects what the work has always been: body-based, not just talk and thought. Sensation, breath, and movement carry direct information about what's happening beneath the surface, often before thought and language catch up.

In session, I use the body two ways: as a barometer, reading what's present in the nervous system before it turns into a story, and as a tool, using breath and movement to actually shift what's held there.

If you're curious how this differs from traditional talk therapy, I offer a free 30-minute intro call to talk through what you're looking to accomplish and whether this approach might be a fit. Email [email protected] to schedule

01/22/2026

We often talk about "finding our purpose" as a hurdle reserved for the young—the adolescent seeking a path or the young adult building a career. In those early years, purpose acts as a compass, guiding us toward who we might become.

But here is the truth: The search for purpose doesn’t vanish after 60; it simply matures.

While an adolescent’s purpose is about acquisition (gathering skills and status), purpose in our later years is about distillation. It’s the powerful process of taking a lifetime of experience and refining it into a new, intentional "Why."

🧬 The Science: Purpose is a Biological Necessity

Research shows that "purpose" isn't just a feel-good concept; it’s a biological protector. When you have a reason to get out of bed, your body responds:

🧠 A Shield for the Brain: High purpose is linked to greater cognitive resilience. It builds a "backup power supply" for your mind, protecting against memory loss and decline.

❤️ Heart Health: Adults with a strong sense of meaning have lower levels of cortisol (stress hormone) and systemic inflammation, leading to a lower risk of heart attack and stroke.

⏳ The Longevity Hack: Simply put, people with a clear sense of purpose tend to live longer, more vibrant lives.

🔍 Which "Purpose Archetype" Are You?

Purpose doesn't have to be a grand, world-changing mission. It often looks like one of these four roles:

The Sage (The Mentor): You find meaning in passing down wisdom to the next generation.

The Late Bloomer (The Creator): You are finally picking up the paintbrush, the instrument, or the garden tools you deferred for decades.

The Custodian (The Steward): You find purpose in preservation—whether it’s family genealogy, community history, or the environment.

The Bridge-Builder (The Connector): You are the "social glue" that brings people together to fight isolation.

🌱 Your Story Isn't Finished

Transitioning into this new season of life doesn’t come with a manual. It is perfectly normal to feel "untethered" when the roles of the first half of life—like full-time career or active parenting—begin to change.

You don't have to navigate this transition alone. Whether you feel like a "Late Bloomer" ready to explode into a new hobby, or you’re currently struggling with the "Retirement Void," counseling can provide the structured space you need to recalibrate. Let’s work together to turn your lifetime of experience into a focused, meaningful future.

Direct Message me or click the link in my bio to schedule a discovery session. Let's find your "Why" for this next great chapter.

12/23/2025

This time of year can be challenging for many folks for a number of reasons. There is an expectation of a celebration of Hallmark Movie Channel quality, families that actually like each other and get along, meals that come out of the kitchen perfect, and the presents exchanged that people actually want.

But it isn't always like that. In fact, the Holiday Season is often not like that at all for many of us.

But there IS something in the air this time of year; something that can challenge us to broaden our perspectives a little bit.

Here's a list of activities that as a Therapist I've put together that people have found helpful to do over the Holidays (and any day, really):

1) Connection. Connecting with a non-profit local to you and helping out during the Holidays (and ANY day) is a wonderful way to remember purpose. Purpose is necessary. We all need purpose. Helping someone else is a magnificent way to remember that we're all in this together. I like to be outside; but because I live in Suburban Detroit and its chilly this time of year, I'm outdoors less so I go to my local Planet Fitness and use their machines and enjoy just being around other people while listening to a podcast while I'm doing #2, which is

2) Break a little sweat every day. We used to be a lot more physically active a couple of generations ago. We're not so much any longer, and this needs to change. Exercise can improve mental health by releasing mood-lifting endorphins, reducing stress hormones, improving sleep, increasing self-esteem, and promoting brain health through new cell growth and better connections, helping to fight depression, anxiety, and stress while enhancing focus and resilience.

3) Let sunlight (even if it's cloudy outside) hit your face in the morning hours for 10-15 minutes. This helps to reset your Circadian Rhythm to help you sleep better at night, which is next: Just get outside and do a little walk (or a dance if it's your thing) in the AM. It's good for ya.

4) SLEEP. Quality sleep can't be discussed enough; it's when your body repairs itself and gives your nervous system a break. See #2; move your body, and be tired when you go to bed. Get to bed before midnight and wake up in the morning.

And 5), Food. I know, I know. This is the indulgence time of year. Fine, do it. But also learn to pay attention to your body after you eat something. An hour or two after you eat something, just practice seeing how your body feels. This is awareness in action.

Speaking of awareness, here's a basic breathwork practice that you can do to help settle yourself after a busy day:

Sit in a chair, or on the ground if you wish and can. As long as your spine is straight and supported if need be.

With back straight, let your hands rest in your lap, palms open and facing up.
Close your eyes, or if you're not comfortable closing your eyes, find something that is level to your gaze and let your eyes rest on it. Don’t focus hard, we're not trying to DO anything here. We're just trying to get back in touch with our bodies is all.

Take in a deep breath, and let it come out loudly. Like a sigh. Sigh that breath out. Repeat. Let that exhale and sigh come out like you're hitting the couch after doing a bunch of yard-work outside and it feels SO good. One more deep inhale and sloppy, sighing exhale. Let this exhale go all the way through your body and leave via your toes. Sit with that for a few seconds and just notice if you feel any different. Not trying to, just notice if is all.
Now, breathe in through your nose. Practice feeling that air coming in through your nose, expanding your lungs. Now part your lips slightly and exhale through your mouth. Don't exaggerate it, but do let your exhale be slightly longer than your inhale.

Again, in through your nose - just a natural length inhale, and let your exhale come naturally out of your mouth, slightly longer than your inhale.
Try this for 3-4 minutes if you can. In the evening, before bedtime. If you like, you can also do this in the morning, first thing before leaving your bedroom when you wake up. And anytime in between as well if it suits you.

You might find that you're a little bit more relaxed after just watching your breath a little bit. This kind of practice helps bring down the Sympathetic Nervous System, responsible for our "Fight of Flight" response that is hard wired in our bodies. Once upon a time it had a purpose, but these days we require it less and less. Emotional condition can easily put us into fight or flight, so practicing breath awareness is really great for grounding.

Hope this all helps. Happy Holidays!
✨🎄