Somatic & Parts Pilgrimages

A Catholic Somatic approach to inner healing, giving you tools to retune your nervous system to safety, allowing you to become your most authentic self and build meaningful relationships with God and others.

Join us!

Somatic Pilgrimages are offered throughout the year! Scroll down to the BOTTOM of this PAGE for the schedule and more details.

Step 1 – Virtual Somatic Pilgrimage

This Somatic Pilgrimage is geared toward learning tools to reset your nervous system and bringing you to a place of serenity and calm. During the group online meetings we will guide you in somatic exercises that you will be able to easily practice throughout your life.

This course is also the foundation and prerequisite for the next, Somatic Parts Pilgrimage where we will address the thoughts and beliefs that we have about ourselves. And move toward living from our True Self.

  • Dates: November 4th – 28th
  • When: 4 days a week, Mondays – Thursdays **
  • Where: Zoom
  • Time: 3:30 PM PST (6:30 PM EST)
  • Length: 1 hour sessions
  • Video Replays Available
  • 1st week we meet Tues. – Fri. & Thanksgiving Day class is pushed to Nov. 28th.

Testimonials:

“Amazing class! I’d always doubted the idea that doing a little exercise could stir things up emotionally, but wow! I have been trying to deal with this stuff for literally 20 years, and this is the most progress I’ve ever made – I just can’t thank you enough!!!! “

“As a Physical Therapist and a Health Coach, I highly recommend this course to anyone living in these days! There are so many valuable approaches that are presented to help with anxiety, fear, anger (and more) using techniques that are easy and accessible. Sister Mary Stephen has such a gentle, loving and holy presence and presents material that is faithful to our Catholic faith.

“These classes have been LIFE-CHANGING for me! I’ve done a lot of healing work, and have made some progress. But wow – only a few weeks into class, and I am blown away by how I’ve been able to tap into my nervous system directly to accelerate the healing … so much positive change in such a short time!”

Coming back to Ventral Vagal!

Sympathetic
Threat, Anxiety, Hypervigilance, Activated, Anger/Aggression, Hamster Wheel, Ruminating, Restless, Insomnia

Ventral Vagal
Secure, Social Engagement, Curiosity, Connected, Compassion, Calm Aliveness, Heathy, Grounded, Present, Contemplation of God

Dorsal Vagal (too much too fast, too little for too long)
Exhausted, Heaviness, Chronic Pain, What’s the Point, Depression, Conserve Energy, Shut down

Catholic Somatic Start-Up Kit!

Sr. Mary Stephen is offering this free Catholic Somatic Start-Up Kit, featuring a series of guided videos to help you reconnect with your body through gentle, faith-aligned somatic exercises. These practices promote calm, body awareness, a felt sense of safety, and natural stress release—supporting your journey toward greater peace and wholeness.



Step 2 – Eight Month Program, Continuing your journey to greater wholeness!

Testimonials: Somatic PARTS Pilgrimage

“I’ve never seen parts work with a somatic approach before, and honestly this is the only way it makes sense! It is so encouraging to be able to begin to notice some of my parts and gently begin to talk to them. I  am so thankful for this opportunity, and look forward to the months ahead.


“I have done parts work before but struggle to access my parts and understand them or work with them. It is so much easier to be able to access my parts when I am in parasympathetic and because then I am in self, in my thinking compassionate, caring, curious self, how God created me.


“The Somatic Parts Pilgrimage has given me blazing new insights into my inner world that have truly changed the way I respond to stress and anxiety. And not only that – the somatic exercises and stretches we do each day have made a huge difference in my ability to get calm and stay calm, even throughout a super stressful day!”





“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Brain & Emotions:

Dr. Peter Levine—often called the grandfather of Somatic Experiencing—has done remarkable work in helping people understand how the brain and emotions interact to reset the nervous system from states of anxiety and overwhelm to calm and peace. While his approach is presented from a secular, evolutionary perspective, Catholics can recognize in it something profoundly familiar.

In truth, Somatic Experiencing aligns beautifully with a Catholic vision of the human person. While framed in scientific terms, the wisdom it draws upon ultimately reflects the loving design of our Creator. As Catholics, we can—and should—claim this somatic work as our own, grounded not just in biology but in theology. Through the Incarnation, Christ took on a human body, elevating it and revealing its sacred dignity. Our bodies are not obstacles to grace but instruments through which we encounter and respond to God.

The practice of listening to and working with the body to support healing is a powerful, if underappreciated, expression of the Theology of the Body. Far from being a fringe or foreign idea, somatic healing is deeply consonant with Catholic truth—and, when practiced with faith and intention, it can open up profound pathways for personal transformation and flourishing.

Learning more …

Check out the YouTube video featuring Dr. Peter Levine, which offers a valuable introduction to a bottom-up approach to inner healing. As human beings, we can gain insight from the natural world and observe how animals process trauma and stress.

This reflects God’s design, and since grace builds on nature, we begin with nature itself! We’re excited to share this through our Catholic Somatic approach in Step #1 – Somatic Pilgrimage. We invite you to join us!

Virtual Pilgrimages in 2025 – A Nine Month Program

We offer a series of workshops throughout the year called Pilgrimages. Step 1 is the introductory somatic course, Somatic Pilgrimage, followed by Step 2, the Somatic PARTS Pilgrimage. The full program spans 9 months, guiding you on a journey to bring to birth a connected, calm, compassionate, and empowered version of yourself.



Disclaimer: Any ministry or courses run by Restorative Catholic are not intended to replace medical or psychological care. In no way does a relationship with Restorative Catholic create a physician-patient or therapist-patient relationship.

Medical Disclosure: The information and programs presented by Restorative Catholic or listed on our website are made available for your own benefit and learning. All the programs on this website are educational and self-guided or coach-directed programs. The goal of this program is to help you through stressful situations in your life using somatic work, parts work or a change in lifestyle, diet and exercise. While natural supplements might be suggested in a session, I’m not a licensed physician, dietician or therapist. The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The information on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Always check with your doctor and/or therapist before making dramatic shifts in your diet and lifestyle.