EMBODIED CULTURES
Embodying cultures of care with music, creativity and somatics
EMBODIED:
To bring to life.
CULTURES:
The conditions required to support growth.
AH WELCOME.
I’m so glad you’re here.
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You’ll get to know that Embodied Cultures is the place where all of you is welcome. Just. As. You. Are.
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Embodied Cultures is the place where we discover what it takes to actually experience (not just talk about) cultures of care - in ourselves, our relationships, families, work and communities.
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It is a place where we focus on creating the conditions required for ourselves, our families, our work and our communities to thrive.
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Not by shaming ourselves or others into do something we think we should be doing - or by forcing ourselves or others to be anything other than what we already are.
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But by tending to the culture we live in.
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The culture that is etched into our brains and bodies.
The culture that is woven into the fabric of our relationships, our workplaces, our healthcare and education services.
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Embodied Cultures is a living experiment of bringing all of the things we know intellectually into play.
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Not a ‘do this’ perfectly and you will be forever healed.
Not a tick box approach of all the things you should master to ‘get there’ (wherever there is).
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But the knowing that sustainable change rooted in compassion is a slow and creative process. It’s a process that takes a combination of gentle, soft, gritty, rebellious and playful actions while being tugged back into a culture of shame again and again.
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Embodied Cultures is about application to real world experiences.
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We acknowledge the impact of stress, loss, crisis, illness, difference, injury, isolation, adversity, trauma and marginalisation - without denying the deep potential available when we move away from an individualist lens and into a cultural lens.
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Embodied Cultures is about bringing culture back.
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Not about cutting it off for the elite or those from specific indigenous roots (although please can we keep these cultures alive and strong and make them accessible for the folks they belong to).
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It’s about bringing culture back to its rightful place - as the conditions required for care and connection to grow.
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Centering trauma-informed, music, creativity, somatic, body and brain based approaches - Embodied Cultures aims to embody the latest in research (which often happens to be ancient wisdom) from the inside out.
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Embodied Cultures aims to provide inclusive services - and is able to cater across the spectrums of illness-health, neurodiversity, ability-disability, gender, race and sexuality.
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From the outside-in, it currently looks like a one person show (Hi!! I'm Claire). But behind the scenes, Embodied Cultures is is supported by many teachers, colleagues, mentors, friends and family.
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The people who should be front and centre, however - are the diverse humans I've shared thousands of moments and conversations with over the 15 years of working in hospitals, communities, homes and clinics. It is these people who are the absolute heart and core of Embodied Cultures - the people who have sometimes quietly asked, suggested and other times loudly demanded that things change.
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I'm here for it. Are you too?
Come join me :)
ABOUT ME
My name is Claire (she/her).
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I am an imperfect human who has a thirst for connection, creativity and aliveness. I live and work in Jagera country (Brisbane, Australia) and am a 5th generation Australian with Celtic and European roots.
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I am a Registered Music Therapist and have further training in Neurologic Music Therapy, Neuropsychotherapy and Feminine Embodiment Coaching. With 15 years of experience across a range of fields - I weave practice wisdom and theoretical knowledge, conversations with folks of diverse backgrounds and rich personal lived experience into a body of work that is rooted in integrity.
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I have one foot caught in a culture of shame and another experimenting with what life is like when I cultivate a culture of care, connection and creativity. Passionate about social and systemic change - I also breathe this work into my own world. The way I imperfectly work, parent, relate to those around me and build connected communities for us to thrive and grow in.
THE CULTUREÂ OF CARE FRAMEWORK
The Culture of Care framework is what brings all of my work together. It's what I use in my work, self-care, relationships, family and community.
It is not a prescribed approach because every individual comes with different identities, histories, trauma, abilities, race, skin colour and body shape - and subsequently different neurological and physical capacities. Rather, it is a collaborative approach that honours the unique and diverse needs each person has.
MUSIC, CREATIVITY AND SOMATICS
Many people wonder, why music, creativity or somatics might be useful in therapeutic approaches. In a culture of shame these things are not valued - so why is it helpful to place value on them?
From a culture of care, we have come to know that elements of music and creativity serve a greater purpose than simply unnecessary fluff, distraction or entertainment. These elements have been researched in neuroscience, social sciences, psychology and creative arts therapies.
Music and creativity move from being unnecessary - to becoming useful tools for emotional safety, sensory and emotional processing, communication, connection, integration, motor planning, awareness and so much more.
In my work, music and creativity are always used from a somatic approach - whereby, we are bringing awareness to thoughts, feelings, sensory experience, physiological responses and how we relate to the world around us.Â
No music or creative skills are required - and we can introduce music and creativity at a pace that suits the individual or group.
SERVICES
1:1 OR FAMILY CENTRED MUSIC THERAPY HOME VISITS
I am currently taking expressions of interest for home visit music therapy sessions in Cashmere, Warner, Eatons Hill, Strathpine, Mt Samson and Clear Mountain. Please send me an email claire.embodiedcultures@gmail.com to express your interest and ask any questions!
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I collaborate with parents, carers, children, young people, adults and older adults who require social, emotional and communication supports. Sessions can be claimed under NDIS for those who self-manage or are plan managed. I work in the world of disability, dementia, neurodiversity and mental health.
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My approach is individualised and I also aim to work towards creating groups of connected communities where all individuals feel a genuine sense of belonging to self, family, community and place.
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Read more about music therapy here.
SOMATIC CREATIVE ARTS WORK
I work every Wednesday at Vera Women's Wellness in Mt Samson for girls, women and those assigned female at birth.
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Bookings available for 1:1 sessions
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This is the place where I weave all of my skills together into one place. For those who are ready to move beyond thinking and talking and into learning the language of their feelings, emotions and sensations. Here, we use creative expression (music, art, movement) from an embodied and somatic lens.
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This work is suitable for teens and adults who are ready to disentangle themselves from a culture of shame and move towards embodying a culture of care within themselves, their relationships, families, work and/or communities.
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Sessions are accompanied with practices, learning and resources to support home learning and play.
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In person sessions coming soon to Vera Women's Wellness in Mt Samson.
PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION AND MENTORING
Through my signature blend of somatic creative processes - I am able to provide support for those who require additional emotional support in the context of their work. This might include (but not limited to) frontline healthcare workers, educators and those who experience vicarious trauma through their work.
Expressions of interest for online sessions now open.
GROUPS AND WORKSHOPS
If you have an interest in any workshops or group programs, reach out!
COLLABORATIONS
I love to collaborate with other folks, businesses and organisations. Let’s chat :)
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Are you interested in exploring how this work my support yourself, your community or a loved one? I'm currently taking expressions of interest for 1:1 music therapy home visits and somatic creative arts work. Send an email and let's chat :)