Home
Somatic Energy Healing with Soo, horses & nature
“Return to the truth of who you are. No fixing. Just remembering.”
Somatic Energy Healing With Horses in the NSW Southern Highlands
Sometimes life pulls us away from ourselves.
We cope.
We push through.
We feel wired. Or flat. Or exhausted.
We carry things the body remembers even when the mind tries to move on.
And over time, something begins to feel out of alignment.
The work here is not about fixing you.
It is about creating a space where your nervous system can settle, where the body can begin to release what it has been holding, and where you can remember the deeper truth of who you are.
At Highlands Centre for Healing, this unfolds with the quiet presence of horses, the intelligence of the land, and gentle attunement to your body’s own wisdom.
When you are ready, the herd and Soo will be here.
“I’m passionate about helping you reclaim your authentic self.
Somatic Energy Healing with the herd is a tremendously powerful and beautiful way to help you do this.”
Soo Woods
HEALING WITH HORSES - A DIFFERENT APPROACH
We work on the ground.
No riding.
No agenda to “fix.”
No expectation to share more than feels right.
Our horses live as a herd. They are relational, sensitive, attuned.
They respond to breath, tension, and intention — often before we consciously register it ourselves.
When we slow down enough, their responses become information.
Sometimes subtle.
Sometimes unexpectedly clear.
This is body-led work.
You are not required to perform or relive your story.
We move at the pace of your nervous system.
Often, the first shift is simply this: your body realises it does not have to brace.
Your system remembers its own coherence.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A SESSION
Every session begins by listening.
To your story.
To your body.
To what is present for you in that moment.
From there, the experience unfolds organically.
Unlike structured equine assisted therapy programs, these sessions are client-led and guided by what your nervous system is ready for.
Sometimes the horses come close, offering quiet reflection or co-regulation through their presence.
Sometimes they stay nearby, observing.
Sometimes the land itself becomes the teacher.
And sometimes the awareness arises quietly within your own body.
Energy that has been held for years may begin to release spontaneously. Or we may track it, glean information from it and then release it. Leaving space for clarity, freedom and deeper embodiment.
Each session is unique.
Because each person arrives carrying a different story in their body.
We offer you the ability to step into a lighter and more authentic next version of yourself.
"This exquisite experience will forever remain in my heart"
Even with an understanding of the deep, transformational energy horses embody, my session with Soo and her herd surpassed my expectations in the most profound way.
After experiencing devastating loss, I arrived open and profoundly grateful. I left the session in awe of the vibrant lifeforce of the land and the horses – it was palpable.
Throughout the session Soo was deeply aware, responsive, supportive and in sacred communion with me, the horses and the land.
This exquisite experience will forever remain in my heart.
KIM – Personalised Retreat, Mar 2026
HOW SOMATIC HEALING SUPPORTS NERVOUS SYSTEM HEALING
Trauma sits in the body.
Not as a disorder.
But as energy that never had the chance to fully complete its movement.
The nervous system learns to protect us. Over time this protection can appear as anxiety, emotional shutdown, chronic stress, or patterns that seem impossible to think our way out of.
You cannot talk your way out of what the body is holding.
But the body does know how to release it when the right conditions of safety and attunement are present.
Horses are deeply attuned animals. Their nervous systems naturally respond to the emotional and energetic state of the humans around them.
When we spend time with them in a safe environment, our own nervous system begins to regulate.
The body remembers what calm feels like.
And from there healing becomes possible.
Let’s talk
Who This Work Is For
Many people who arrive here say something similar.
They feel there is a more coherent way of living available to them.
More clarity.
More aliveness.
More truth.
But they cannot quite reach it.
Often they have tried many things already.
Talking.
Analysing.
Working through the story.
And yet something still feels stuck.
This work often resonates with people who:
- Feel drawn to horses or animals
- Feel grounded in nature
- Are seeking a Somatic or body-based healing approach
- Have tried traditional talking therapies but still feel something unresolved
You do not need experience with horses.
You only need a willingness to listen to your body.
How This Differs From Traditional Equine Assisted Therapy
Many People discover this work while searching for equine therapy or equine assisted therapy.
And that is understandable.
But the work here sits in a slightly different space.
Traditional equine assisted therapy often follows structured exercises or therapeutic programs.
Somatic healing with horses and nature is a more intuitive experience.
The horses are not tools in a process. There is no riding.
The horses are intelligent sentient beings who participate willingly and naturally in the session.
The land, the herd, and the wider natural environment become part of the healing space.
For many people this creates a deeper sense of connection, clarity and release.
What This Work Is – And What It Isn’t
People often seek this work when they want:
- Nervous system regulation
- Emotional clarity
- Boundary awareness
- Reconnection to instinct and body
- A felt experience rather than another conversation
- A return to self
Each session is client-led — meaning your body’s capacity and consent guide the experience.
It is not clinical psychotherapy.
It does not diagnose.
It does not replace medical or psychological care.
It does not promise guaranteed outcomes.
It can complement counselling or therapeutic support.
From People Who Have Visited
My healing today with these horses was really profound, and in thinking back about it, the most beautiful thing is the love that they give. I just felt so much love from them, and their willingness to share it and step into my field and help me heal and release whatever I’ve got to release was just a beautiful experience. I’m so grateful to them and to you and to the beautiful energy that they and this place holds. So thank you so very much.
PRACTICAL DETAILS:
- Session type: 1:1, client-led, somatic energy healing with horses
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Cost: A$395
- Location: Highlands Centre For Healing, Moss Vale, NSW Southern Highlands (approximately 90 minutes from Sydney, 60 minutes from Canberra)
- Booking options: Standalone session or as part of a retreat stay
- What to bring: An open mind and heart, comfortable clothing suited to variable weather, enclosed footwear for time with the horses
- Additional notes: No prior experience with horses is required. All sessions are ground-based, ie no there is no riding.
Let’s talk
A Note From Soo
My earliest sense of safety and belonging did not come from people. It came from nature and animals. They offered a kind of presence and truth that felt steady, non-judging, and real.
Like many, I spent years navigating life in survival mode. Coping, pushing through, and unconsciously carrying the imprint of experiences I didn’t yet understand.
What I came to learn is that the body remembers everything — not just the big moments, but also the subtle, seemingly insignificant ones that quietly shape how we live, feel, and relate.
Over the past decade and more, I have immersed myself in understanding trauma, emotions, the nervous system, and holistic healing — not as theory, but as lived experience. Through this journey, what became clear is that healing is not about fixing what is broken, but about releasing what no longer belongs and remembering what is already whole.
Working with horses, land, and the living field of nature is not something I chose so much as something I returned to. This work reflects a way of being — attuned, embodied, and deeply respectful of each person’s unique path back to coherence and truth.
Soo Woods
If you know deep down there is more to life than your current reality and you’re ready to explore what somatic energy healing with horses can release for you, let’s begin this journey together.
Whether you’re travelling from Sydney, Canberra, the Illawarra or the Southern Highlands, and whether you’re looking to recharge, reconnect, or rediscover your inner balance, the herd and I are here to guide you.
I'd love to help you find your Authentic Self : An Invitation
Nothing gives me more joy than supporting others on their journey to wholeness, of remembering who they authentically are.
- Discover why you are who you are
- Heal the root-cause of underlying distress and dis-ease
- Learn how to support yourself moving forward.
- Step into a life that you love; one that you thought was out of your reach
- Experience private sessions or a wellness retreat that makes you buzz with aliveness and gratitude
If something in you feels called to this work, trust that. Simply reach out when the time feels right.
SOMATIC ENERGY HEALING WITH HORSES IN NSW
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is somatic energy healing with horses for?
Somatic energy healing with horses is for high functioning adults, 18yo+, who are seeking and open to change.
Who can benefit from somatic energy healing with horses?
Anyone experiencing emotional dysregulation – stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, burnout, feeling stuck, life transitions or overwhelm can benefit. It’s also really powerful for personal growth, leadership development and nervous system regulation.
Is somatic energy healing with horses effective for PTSD?
In a word, yes. Somatic energy healing starts with grounding and regulating the nervous system. This is widely recognised as supportive for PTSD. Horses are highly attuned to nervous system states and provide immediate, non-verbal feedback that helps rebuild safety, regulation and trust.
How long is a somatic energy healing with horses session?
Sessions at Highlands Centre For Healing run for approximately 60 minutes. Longer immersive experiences and retreat formats are also available.
How does a somatic energy healing session with horses differ to equine therapy?
Equine therapy usually follows procedures and structured approaches, with outcome goals in mind. There are mounted approaches (which involve riding), and ground-based approaches (working alongside the horse).
Somatic energy healing with the horses works with your body, your nervous system. It is ground-based only, and outcomes are undefined.
Is somatic energy healing with horses good for depression?
Yes. Time with horses in nature can reduce isolation, increase connection and gently support mood regulation. The experiential nature of the work often helps when talk-based approaches feel difficult. Somatic energy healing with horses is great for anyone experiencing emotional dysregulation.
What happens during somatic energy healing with horses sessions?
At Highlands Centre For Healing, sessions are ground-based and may include somatic awareness, observation, mindful interaction, and reflective conversation. There is no riding. Our focus is safety, presence, relational awareness and coherence.
How does somatic energy healing help with trauma?
Trauma is held in the nervous system and body. Horses are exquisitely sensitive to subtle shifts in energy and regulation, offering immediate, non-verbal feedback that brings unconscious patterns into awareness.
In this grounded relational space, clients can practise safety, boundaries and co-regulation in real time. Our horses also support the release of held or stagnant energy, offering healing and a restoration to flow, balance and a renewed sense of vitality.
Don’t therapy horses burn out?
Yes — they absolutely can if they are overworked, overhandled, or given no choice. At Highlands Centre for Healing, the wellbeing of our herd comes first. We have 15 horses who live as a herd with ample space to move, rest, graze, roll, and regulate naturally. Sessions are held at liberty — the horses are not haltered or required to participate. They are free to approach, stay, or walk away at any time. Sometimes one horse engages in a session, sometimes several, and sometimes very little happens externally at all. Their involvement is always voluntary.
Because they have choice, space, social connection, bodywork treatments, and time between sessions, they are able to restore themselves and remain balanced. Their autonomy is not just respected — it is foundational to how we work.