What a Healing Session With Me Actually Looks Like
A gentle, trauma-informed guide by Monica Munson — Restorative Healing Haven
If you’ve ever wondered what really happens in one of my sessions, you’re not alone. Many people feel curious, nervous, hopeful, or unsure — especially if they’ve never tried mind-body trauma healing, trauma-informed life coaching, Reiki, or sound healing before.
So let’s take away the mystery.
Here is what a real hour together truly looks like: no pressure, no performance, just grounding, compassionate presence, nervous-system awareness, and deeply human support.
When You Arrive
You come in, breathe, and give your body a moment to land.
We greet each other, check in gently, and honor whatever you’re bringing into the room. You don’t need perfect words. You don’t need to know what to say. You simply get to arrive as you are.
Then you get comfortable in the way that best supports your body:
✨ Mind-Body Trauma Healing Sessions
Most clients like to lie on the couch with blankets or pillows for support. Sitting is always welcome too — your comfort always guides us.
✨ Reiki Sessions
You’ll rest fully clothed on the massage table, supported, warm, and safe.
✨ Sound Healing
Comfort is the priority — whether private or group, I help you settle in so your body can soften.
There is never pressure to “push through.” If something hurts or overwhelms, we adjust. Your experience matters.
We Always Begin With Grounding
Before we go anywhere deeper, we create safety.
We start with grounding so your nervous system can exhale. This often includes:
slow nervous system settling
gentle breath awareness
orienting to the space
simple body awareness (without forcing anything)
This helps shift your system out of survival mode and into a place where healing and clarity can happen.
The Middle of the Session: Where the Healing Happens
From here, what we do depends on your needs, your nervous system capacity, and your real life. There is no rigid script. No pressure to “be productive.” No forcing breakthroughs.
Just compassionate, collaborative care.
Mind-Body Trauma Healing
This is where we gently support your nervous system, emotions, and body responses. This may include:
somatic awareness
nervous-system regulation
honoring feelings without overwhelming you
supporting the body as it releases stress responses safely
If deeper experiences arise, we move slowly and with care. You are always in control.
Trauma-Informed Life Coaching
Many sessions naturally include coaching — because healing affects your life, relationships, choices, identity, and self-worth.
And unlike traditional coaching, this work honors trauma, neurodivergence, disability, nervous-system realities, and lived experience.
We can talk about things like:
relationships & boundaries
recovering from abuse
parenting stress & emotional load
chronic illness, burnout, overwhelm
identity, worth, grief, and rebuilding your life
life direction, meaning, and trusting yourself again
You are allowed to be raw, real, emotional, reflective, quiet, loud, hopeful, uncertain… however you are, you are welcome here.
Reiki & Energy Healing
When Reiki is part of the session, you simply rest while your nervous system receives calming, balancing support. Clients often describe:
deep peace
warmth and softening
emotional release
feeling lighter or grounded
finally being able to relax
Your only job is to exist and breathe.
Sound Healing
Sound supports emotional release and deep nervous-system regulation in a safe, soothing way. Many people experience it as peaceful, grounding, emotional, dreamlike, nurturing, and deeply calming — especially helpful for trauma, overwhelm, anxiety, autism, and chronic illness.
We Always End With Grounding & Integration
Before you leave, we bring you gently back into the present. We never rush or send you out feeling raw.
We take time to:
ground again
reflect gently (if helpful)
ensure your body feels steady and safe
Sometimes I suggest hydration, rest, or simple grounding practices for after you leave.
You leave supported. Not shaken. Not overwhelmed. Just held.
What Sessions Are Not
They are NOT:
❌ digging for trauma
❌ forced emotional release
❌ bypassing your nervous system
❌ mindset-only “fix yourself” coaching
❌ overwhelming or rushed
They ARE:
✔ compassionate
✔ safe
✔ nervous-system aware
✔ trauma-informed
✔ collaborative
✔ deeply human
Want to Experience This Work?
If your nervous system is tired of surviving…
If your body is ready to feel supported…
If you want healing that honors trauma, neurodivergence, disability, and real-life capacity…
You’re welcome here.
Book a Session
You can explore services and schedule here:
www.restorativehealinghaven.com
Free 30-Minute Consults
If you’d like to meet first or ask questions, I offer free 30-minute consults — in person or virtual.
Just text to book:
📲 269-767-8920
No pressure. Just connection, clarity, and support.
Want to Learn More?
If you’d like to understand why this kind of work helps, a beautiful companion read is:
📚 “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
A powerful exploration of how trauma lives in the body — and why body-based healing matters.