About Federica

SAFE. HELD. CONNECTED.

Hi I’m Federica

BIODYNAMIC CRANIOSACRAL THERAPIST +
PRENATAL & BIRTH THERAPIST

I work with adults, parents and children, and mums-to-be in 1-1 sessions in Bristol and online via video.

I help you to uncover how your earliest experiences and wounding - going as far back as conception, the time in the womb and the birth process - have shaped your life and may still be playing out in the present, preventing you from feeling fully alive in the here and now and holding you back in your life, relationships and parenting.

My intention is to hold a space for you to meet yourself, your early history and your trauma - deeply, safely and gently - so that you can step back from overwhelm and find new possibilities of moving through life, relationships and parenting with more ease, calm, connection and joy.

My journey to becoming a therapist

I am originally from Italy but have lived in Bristol since 1998. After completing a PhD in Mathematics Education, I worked at the University of Bristol for ten years as Lecturer in Education. My experience in such a demanding and fast-paced academic environment made me recognise the importance of finding ways to support our bodies when leading stressful lives and eventually led me to craniosacral therapy as a client.

The craniosacral work had a profound effect on me both on a physical and emotional level. It opened my awareness towards my body, showing me how to listen to it in a way I didn't know it was possible. And it helped me to uncover how my prenatal and birth experiences had shaped my life and were still playing out in the present, holding me back in my life, work and relationships - and were at the root of my migraines. I then decided to train as biodynamic craniosacral therapist myself, beginning what proved to be a life changing journey into deeper presence and awareness.

For over 10 years now I have been enjoying a full time therapy practice, where I am touched every day by the courage of people showing up to themselves and their vulnerability, and reconnecting with their health and aliveness.

Training and experience

I qualified as a biodynamic craniosacral therapist from the Karuna Institute in 2012 with Franklyn Sills , the founder of Craniosacral Biodynamics and subsequently studied Prenatal and Birth Therapy with Cherionna Menzam-Sills and Franklyn Sills, as well as attending a number of workshops with other experts in the field (William Emerson, Ray Castellino, Karlton Terry).

The depth of enquiry and verbal skills I bring to my work with clients is also informed by my trainings in Core Process Psychotherapy and Relational Mindfulness, as well as the Inner Child Journey Process.

I continue deepening my practice by regularly attending postgraduate courses and working with a supervisor. My ongoing long term personal therapy journey also informs how I hold and relate to my clients’ journeys.

I am registered with the Craniosacral Therapy Association of the UK (CSTA) and I am a member of the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH).

I am an assistant on a number of postgraduate craniosacral and pre- and perinatal trainings with Cherionna Menzam-Sills.

I am also trained as a supervisor.

  • The Prenatal Person Training Certificate (Franklyn Sills & Cherionna Menzam-Sills, Karuna Institute, 2016-18)

    Diploma in Relational Mindfulness (Maura Sills, Karuna Institute, 2015)

    Diploma in Craniosacral Biodynamics (Franklyn Sills, Karuna Institute, 2010-12)

    Core Process Psychotherapy Foundation Certificate (Karuna Institute, 2010)

  • Prenatal and Birth

    Spirit into Form - Being with the Book (Cherionna Menzam-Sills) - assistant

    Our Journey Here (Cherionna Menzam-Sills), one year pre and perinatal training - assistant

    Our Early Experiences (Cherionna Menzam-Sills) - assistant

    Inner Child Journeys (Robin Grille)

    Womb Surround Workshop (Ray Castellino)

    The Teachings of Ray Castellino: Dropping into Pre and Perinatal Memories with Ease (Ray Castellino)

    Resolving Early Developmental Trauma with Spiritual and Psychological Approaches (William Emerson)

    Embodiment and Embryology (Franklyn Sills and Cherionna Menzam-Sills)

    From Source to Incarnation, the Preconception-Conception Journey (William Emerson)

    The Embodiment Journey – Sperm Journey and Egg Journey (Karlton Terry)

    Birth Process workshops (Claire Dolby)

    Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy

    Verbal Trauma Skills for Craniosacral Therapists (Cherionna Menzam-Sills) - assistant

    Awakening the Heart (Franklyn Sills and Cherionna Menzam-Sills) - assistant

    Deepening into Biodynamics (Franklyn Sills and Cherionna Menzam-Sills) - assistant

    Children & Babies in Craniosacral Practice (Claire Dolby & Satya Shepherd)

    Hands on Stress (Katherine Ukleja)

My approach

 

BIODYNAMIC CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle but powerful body centred therapy, which aims to support the resolution of unresolved experiences and trauma that are held in the body and may be at the root of your present issues. It works with the person as a whole - body, mind,
heart and soul.

Read more about BCST.

 

PRENATAL AND BIRTH THERAPY

Prenatal & Birth Therapy is informed by Birth Psychology, a field of scientific research and observation that explores the impact of our earliest experiences – in the womb, during birth and throughout infancy. We learn how these early experiences affect our current lives as adults, impacting our physical health, our emotional capacity, our mental beliefs and our social lives.
We come to recognize our early adaptive patterns and explore various modalities to re-integrate and heal any traumas or disruptions that might be influencing our foundation of health.

Read more about PPN.

baby resting while being held

“There is a primordial longing wired into us as infants to be seen, for our experience to be held, mirrored and validated by another. In an environment of embodied attunement, we are able to rest into the mystery of being”.

— Matt Licata