Selene Wellbeing Psychotherapy and Therapeutic YogaShotts, Lanarkshire

What happens at an assessment appointment?

Our first meeting is an opportunity for both of us to get to know each other and ask questions. We will discuss confidentiality of sessions and documents and you will have the opportunity to share your personal circumstances, identify and prioritise key issues to work on.

No previous experience of yoga is needed as we will take note of physical range of movement including any pain, injury and restriction, postural alignment and breathing pattern to be able to practice within your capabilities. We will discuss the frequency of your appointments, home practice, regular reviews and overall duration of sessions.

What is Involved in Therapeutic Yoga?

Start where you are. Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, this work meets you with compassion, not perfection. Reconnect with your body, regulate your emotions, and reclaim your inner calm, one breath at a time. Whether you're managing chronic stress or seeking a deeper understanding of yourself, this approach offers a compassionate, embodied path to wellness.

It’s Not About “Doing It Right”

There’s no such thing as a “perfect” pose in yoga therapy. Each session is a co-creative process, honouring your pace, needs, and boundaries. Props, variations, and rest are always welcomed. This is not a workout, it’s a way in.

Psychoeducation

Yoga Therapy Psychoeducation integrates the ancient wisdom of yoga with modern psychological insights. This holistic approach helps individuals understand how thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations interact—and teaches practical tools for healing and growth. 

Unlike general yoga classes or traditional psychotherapy alone, Yoga Therapy Psychoeducation bridges both worlds:

•    Grounded in neuroscience, trauma theory, and somatics
•    Rooted in the therapeutic application of yoga (not fitness-focused)
•    Tailored to your unique psychological, physical and emotional needs

We offer research evidence-based mind-body practices to support mental health, emotional regulation, and nervous system resilience. This isn’t just about learning to stretch, it’s about learning to feel, process, and transform.

Yoga Therapy Psychoeducation is ideal for individuals who:

• Experience anxiety, depression, or trauma-related symptoms
• Feel disconnected from their body or emotions
• Want to complement traditional therapy with body-based approaches
• Are curious about how yoga can support psychological healing
• Prefer experiential learning over talk-based therapy alone

Grounding

Come home to your body and anchor to the present.

Grounding is the practice of reconnecting with your body, your breath, and the present moment. In Yoga Therapy, grounding isn’t just a metaphor, it’s a practical, somatic experience that helps stabilize: the nervous system, soothe the mind, and create a sense of safety within.

In today’s fast-paced, overstimulating world, it’s easy to become disconnected—from our bodies, from the moment, and from ourselves. This disconnection is often amplified by trauma, chronic stress, or mental health challenges like anxiety and dissociation.

Grounding through yoga therapy helps to:

• Reduce anxiety and panic symptoms
• Manage emotional overwhelm
• Decrease dissociation and increase embodiment
• Create a felt sense of safety and stability
• Rebuild trust in your body and inner experience

Sessions are gentle, trauma-informed, and completely tailored to your needs. You don’t need to be flexible or experienced in yoga. You just need to show up exactly as you are.

Grounding practices may include:

• Breathwork (pranayama) to regulate and anchor attention
• Supportive physical postures that create steadiness and containment
• Mindful movement to reconnect with bodily sensation
• Seated or lying-down practices for calming the nervous system
• Guided awareness to reconnect with the body and environment
• Use of props, blankets, or weighted tools for safety and stability

Grounding practices activate the parasympathetic nervous system, your body’s natural “rest and digest” mode. They increase: vagal tone, improve emotional regulation, and reduce cortisol (the stress hormone). When practiced consistently, grounding helps rewire the nervous system toward balance and safety.

Asana - Yoga Postures

More than movement, a path to healing and wholeness

In yoga therapy, asana (the physical postures of yoga) is not about flexibility, fitness, or perfect form. It’s about creating a compassionate relationship with your body, your breath, and your nervous system. Each posture is offered with intention, tailored to your unique needs, and practiced in a way that supports healing—not performance.

Unlike general yoga classes, asana in yoga therapy is slow, mindful, and personalised, making it accessible for all bodies, abilities, and emotional states.

Physical Benefits of Asana Practice:

• Improves posture, balance, and alignment
• Increases mobility, flexibility, and joint health
• Builds functional strength and stability
• Supports chronic pain management
• Aids in digestion, circulation, and sleep quality
• Boosts immune system function and energy levels

Asanas are used to restore balance in the body by addressing areas of tension, weakness, or stagnation gently and safely.

Mental & Emotional Benefits:

• Calms the mind and reduces anxiety
• Supports emotional regulation and resilience
• Releases held tension or stress stored in the body
• Improves focus, concentration, and presence
• Increases self-awareness and self-compassion
• Builds a sense of agency and empowerment
• Over time can build confidence

When practiced mindfully, each posture becomes a tool for emotional healing, helping you process stress, reconnect with your body, and feel more at ease in yourself.

Nervous System & Trauma-Sensitive Benefits:

• Regulates the autonomic nervous system
• Activates the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) response
• Creates a felt sense of safety and grounding
• Supports trauma recovery without re-traumatization
• Helps integrate body and mind for a deeper sense of wholeness

In trauma-informed yoga therapy, we use asana as a gentle access point to reconnect with the body in safe, supported ways. You’ll always have choice, voice, and control in the process.

Asanas are most effective when combined with breath, mindfulness, and intention. In yoga therapy, you’ll learn how to tune in, notice subtle shifts, and carry these insights off the mat into daily life.

Asana + Awareness = Transformation

Savasana - Relaxation

Experience Therapeutic Rest

Savasana, or Corpse Pose, is a resting posture typically practiced at the end of a yoga session. In yoga therapy, however, Savasana is far more than just lying down—it’s a powerful tool for healing, regulation, and integration.

In this posture, the body is fully supported, the breath softens, and the nervous system is gently invited into a state of deep rest. Savasana offers a space for everything to settle—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In our fast-paced, high-stress world, rest is often undervalued. Yet intentional rest is essential for healing and nervous system balance. Savasana creates a structured opportunity for deep rest and recovery—not just from movement, but from mental tension, emotional overload, and daily stress. In yoga therapy savasana is used for:

• Grounding and integrating practice
• Supporting nervous system regulation
• Explore stillness, safety, and internal awareness
• A trauma-sensitive doorway to embodiment

Physical Benefits:

• Relaxes the entire muscular system
• Lowers heart rate and blood pressure
• Supports digestion and circulation
• Enhances recovery after physical exertion
• Reduces chronic tension and fatigue

Savasana can be especially helpful for those experiencing chronic pain, illness, or exhaustion, allowing the body to reset and heal.

Mental & Emotional Benefits:

• Quiets the mind and reduces mental chatter
• Lowers cortisol (stress hormone) levels
• Increases emotional regulation and resilience
• Offers a space for emotional processing and release
• Builds tolerance for stillness and rest—especially in trauma recovery

In therapeutic sessions, we use Savasana to help clients practice safe stillness, develop interoception (awareness of internal states), and build trust in the body’s natural rhythms.

Nervous System Support

Savasana helps shift the nervous system from sympathetic activation ("fight or flight") to parasympathetic dominance ("rest and digest"). Over time, this promotes:

• A more resilient stress response
• Greater access to calm and clarity
• Deep integration of the benefits of prior movement or breathwork
• Observation and quieten the mind

For clients with trauma, anxiety, or burnout, Savasana can be one of the most supportive postures in the therapeutic process—when facilitated with sensitivity and care.

It’s Not Just “Lying Down”

In yoga therapy, Savasana is carefully adapted to each person’s comfort and needs. We may use:

• Props like bolsters, blankets, or weighted items for grounding
• Guided breath or body awareness
• Eyes open or closed options based on safety and preference
• Shortened or extended durations based on tolerance
• Alternatives to supine positioning if lying flat isn’t accessible or comfortable

This is your space, there’s no right or wrong, only what feels safe, supportive, and nourishing.

Pranayama - Breath Practices

Breath is the bridge between the body and the mind.

Pranayama is the yogic practice of conscious breath regulation. In yoga therapy, pranayama is more than just breathwork, it’s a powerful tool to influence the nervous system, balance emotions, and create a deep sense of inner stability.

“Prana” means life force, and “ayama” means to extend or regulate. Through intentional breathing, we can shift how we feel physically, mentally, and emotionally—sometimes within minutes.

Whether you're struggling with anxiety, fatigue, emotional overwhelm, or chronic stress, breath is a reliable and accessible starting point for healing.

It's one of the few functions in the body that's both automatic and under our control. This means we can use the breath to communicate safety to the nervous system—especially when talking or thinking isn’t enough.

In yoga therapy, pranayama is:

• Gentle – Adapted to your capacity and comfort level
• Trauma-informed – Offered with choice, control, and attunement
• Integrative – Used alongside movement, mindfulness, and rest
• Targeted – Designed to support your specific mental and physical health goals

Physical Benefits:

• Improves lung capacity and respiratory function
• Regulates blood pressure and heart rate
• Boosts energy and vitality
• Supports immune system function
• Aids digestion and circulation
• Reduces physical symptoms of stress (tension, fatigue, headaches)

Mental & Emotional Benefits:

• Reduces anxiety, panic, and emotional overwhelm
• Increases focus, clarity, and mental stillness
• Helps regulate mood and emotional reactivity
• Builds tolerance for discomfort and stress
• Cultivates a sense of presence, ease, and self-awareness

Many clients find that learning to manage their breath helps them respond—not react—to life's challenges, building long-term emotional resilience.

Nervous System & Trauma-Informed Benefits

• Shifts the body out of “fight, flight, or freeze” and into “rest and restore”
• Increases vagal tone and resilience of the parasympathetic nervous system
• Provides a non-verbal tool for grounding and self-regulation
• Can support healing from trauma without requiring verbal processing

In trauma-sensitive yoga therapy, we introduce breath practices gradually and with full permission to modify, skip, or adjust based on your needs.

Breath Practices May Include:

• Diaphragmatic (belly) breathing for grounding and calming
• Square breathing for emotional steadiness
• Nadi Shodana - Alternate nostril breathing to balance body and mind
• Sama Vritti -equal count of inhale and exhale
• Kapala Bhati - stimulating
• Coherent breathing to regulate heart rate and anxiety
• Ocean breath (ujjayi) for focus and inner warmth
• 1:2 Extended exhales to downshift the nervous system

Each technique is chosen and adapted based on your personal goals, comfort level, and health needs.

You don’t need any yoga experience to benefit from pranayama. You don’t need to sit cross-legged or “do it perfectly.” All you need is the willingness to slow down and breathe with awareness following guidance and care.

Meditation

In Yoga Therapy, meditation isn’t about clearing your mind or sitting still for hours. It’s about creating a safe and supportive space to gently explore your inner world—with curiosity, compassion, and breath.

Meditation in this context is therapeutic, personalized, and accessible, helping clients reconnect with themselves, manage stress, and cultivate calm no experience required.

Meditation is one of the most researched mind-body tools in modern health and psychology. In Yoga Therapy, we use meditation to support mental clarity, emotional regulation, and nervous system balance—especially for those navigating:

• Anxiety or depression
• Chronic stress or burnout
• Trauma and PTSD
• Grief or emotional pain
• Overthinking or emotional overwhelm
• Disconnection from the body or self

Meditation becomes a practice of presence, offering clients a reliable pathway to ground themselves in the here and now.

Mental & Emotional Benefits:

• Reduces anxiety and rumination
• Improves mood, focus, and mental clarity
• Enhances emotional resilience and response flexibility
• Increases self-awareness and emotional insight
• Supports healing from trauma in a gentle, non-verbal way

Nervous System Benefits:

• Activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest)
• Regulates stress hormones and heart rate variability
• Builds tolerance for stillness and internal sensation (key in trauma work)
• Helps integrate other yoga therapy tools like movement and breath

Yoga Therapy offers a wide range of meditation techniques. Sessions are always tailored to your individual needs, and nervous system capacity. All practices are trauma-informed and designed for real life, not perfection. Here

• Mindfulness Meditation: Observing thoughts, breath and sensations without judgment
• Body Scan Meditation: Gently guiding awareness through the body for grounding
• Trataka – candle gazing
• Yantra – using an image with single point focus
• Mantra Meditation: Repeating a word or sound to anchor the mind
• Breath Awareness Meditation: Using the breath as a focus for calming and centering
• Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta): Cultivating compassion for self and others
• Yoga Nidra (Guided Deep Relaxation): A restful, meditative state between sleep and wake
• Walking Meditaion

All meditations are adapted to your comfort level. Eyes can be open or closed. You are always in control of the process.

In Yoga Therapy, meditation is always connected to the body and breath. This somatic approach supports deeper healing by:

• Helping you reconnect with bodily sensations safely
• Teaching the nervous system to tolerate stillness gradually
• Creating a felt sense of safety and grounding
• Allowing emotions to rise and pass without overwhelm

This is especially important for those with trauma, anxiety, or chronic stress who may find traditional meditation challenging or triggering.

Meditation doesn’t have to be intimidating. With support, intention, and a therapeutic approach, it can become a life-changing tool for inner peace and nervous system healing.

Home Practice

Healing and progress happens between sessions.

When working with a yoga therapist, your sessions are a powerful starting point, but true transformation happens through consistency, integration, and embodiment in daily life.

In Yoga Therapy, home practice isn’t “homework” it’s an invitation. A chance to connect and return to yourself in small, manageable ways. It helps you apply what you’ve learned in-session to real-life moments, so the effects don’t just stay on the mat, but ripple out into your body, mind, and everyday experiences.

Working with a yoga therapist is a collaborative journey. Your participation between sessions plays a vital role in your progress. Home practice helps:

• Reinforce what you experience during sessions
• Bring awareness to how your body and mind respond over time
• Empower you to become an active participant in your own healing
• Builds confidence and self esteem

We’ll work together to:

• Choose practices that feel accessible and realistic
• Modify or simplify based on your energy, mood or schedule
• Create tools you can use when you need them most
• Adjust your practice as your needs evolve

Your home practice is always:

• Tailored to your specific needs, goals, and capacity
• Respectful of your time and availability
• Supportive in addressing your symptoms
• Adaptable as your life or healing process changes

It might include:

• A few mindful breaths before bed
• A grounding posture in the morning
• A short body scan to reset during the day
• A calming breath practice
• Asana to reduce stress and anxiety

At times life can be busy and sometimes overwhelming, home practice is designed to fit into your life, not compete with it. Even if brief, consistent practice creates meaningful change here are some physical, psychological, physiological and emotional benefits you can experience with regular practice.

• Deepens Nervous System Regulation - Repetition helps your nervous system learn what safety, rest, and balance feel like, so they become easier to access in stressful moments.
• Builds Inner Strength & Resilience - The more you return to your practice, the more you build trust in your own ability to manage discomfort, emotions, or triggers.
• Supports Long-Term Healing - Yoga therapy is not just about symptom relief, it’s about creating sustainable well-being. Home practice reinforces and accelerates the healing process.
• Encourages Self-Connection - In a busy world, home practice offers a moment each day to slow down, check in, and care for yourself.

This is not about perfection, it’s about showing up with kindness and curiosity again and again. Even five minutes a day can shift your nervous system, support emotional balance, and reconnect you with your body. Over time, these small moments add up to real, sustainable change.

I can support clients experiencing difficulty with: