Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to:
- Obtain written and verbal informed consent at intake, and practice "ongoing consent" for each somatic invitation.
- Recognize subtle signs that consent may not be freely given, including automatic agreement and appeasing.
- Create a safe physical and online container for sessions.
- Open and close a session using a predictable GGN structure.
Lesson
Informed consent has two layers
Layer one: consent to the relationship. At intake, the client receives, in writing and explained aloud, a description of: what the practitioner offers and does not offer (the scope statement from Module 2); fees and cancellation policy; confidentiality and its limits; how records are kept; how to reach emergency help; the client's right to stop at any time; and how to raise a concern or complaint, including with GGN. The client signs or electronically acknowledges this agreement. GGN provides the template for this agreement in the GGN Legal and Policies set: the Somatic Client Informed Consent and Release (L07), available as a fillable PDF. Have it reviewed for your location before use.
Layer two: consent to each practice. Signing an agreement does not mean someone has agreed to every practice. Before each somatic invitation, the practitioner briefly explains what it involves and asks whether the person would like to try it. Consent can change minute to minute.
The language of invitation
Compare:
- "Close your eyes and breathe into your belly." (directive)
- "If you'd like, you could let your eyes close or rest them on the floor, and notice your breathing, without changing it. Or we can skip this." (invitational)
Useful invitational phrases: "If you're willing…", "You might notice…", "Would you like to…", "Only if it feels okay…", "You're welcome to…", "Another option is…".
When "yes" may not mean yes
Some people agree to everything because saying no feels impossible. This can come from cultural norms, gender socialization, a history of trauma, or the shock of new grief. Some people learned long ago that keeping others pleased was the safest thing to do, and they may appease you without realizing it. Signs that consent may not be freely given include automatic agreement before you finish explaining, looking to you for the "right" answer, apologizing often, or agreeing verbally while the body pulls away.
Helpful practices:
- Normalize "no" early: "Many people skip some practices. That's useful information for me, not a problem."
- Offer a practice run of saying pause: "Let's try it. Can you say 'pause' now, just so it's been said once?"
- Watch for nonverbal cues and check in: "I noticed you leaned back a little. Would you like to stop or change something?"
- Give equal weight to every option, including doing nothing.
Touch-free practice
GGN somatic support is touch-free. Practitioners do not touch clients during GGN sessions, including hugs initiated as part of a practice. Self-touch is offered only as a choice ("you might place a hand wherever feels comforting, or leave your hands where they are"). If a client initiates a hug at the end of a session, practitioners use judgment, local norms, and their organization's policy; they never initiate one. Practitioners licensed for touch (for example, licensed massage professionals) must keep that work clearly separate, under their own license.
Building a safe container
In person: a private, quiet space; seating with choices (chair, cushion, standing); the practitioner not positioned between the client and the door; tissues and water within reach; a visible clock so time feels predictable; a plan for interruptions.
Online: confirm the client's location at the start of each session (essential for emergency response); confirm they are in a private space; agree on what to do if the connection drops ("I'll call you at this number"); use a secure, privacy-respecting platform; ensure the client knows how to reach crisis services where they are.
The GGN session arc
Predictability is calming. Every GGN session follows a five-part arc:
- Arrive (Arrival practice, Module 1; brief check-in).
- Agree (What would you like from today? What would you like to avoid?).
- Attend (listening, education, and invitational practices, paced carefully).
- Anchor (return to steadiness and supports before ending; never end in the middle of intense material).
- Close (Closing Settle practice; summary; self-care plan; next steps).
Guided practiceGGN Core Practice: The Closing Settle (about 4 minutes)
Use at the end of every session, after you have spent at least the final ten minutes moving toward steadiness. "We're coming toward the end of our time today. Let's take a few moments to settle before you go back to your day." (pause) "Let yourself notice where you are. You might look around and name, silently or out loud, a few things you can see. Maybe the color of a wall, a window, an object nearby." (pause) "Notice what's supporting you right now. Your feet, the chair, the floor." (pause) "Is there one thing from today, even something small, you'd like to take with you? It might be a word, an image, a sensation, or a practice." (pause) "And is there anything you'd like to set down here for now, knowing it will still be safe to come back to?" (pause) "As you get ready to leave, what's one kind thing you can do for yourself in the next hour? A glass of water, a walk, calling a friend, resting." (pause) "Thank you for the care you brought today." Facilitator notes: Check that the person feels ready to drive or travel. If they still seem very shaken, extend the settle, offer water, and, if needed, help them contact a support person. Confirm their next appointment and their crisis plan.
Fictional vignetteFictional Vignette 5.1: Lin
Lin, 26, whose mother died by suicide a year ago, signs the intake agreement without reading it and says "Sure, whatever you think" to every suggestion. When the practitioner offers a gentle breath practice, Lin says "Okay" but crosses her arms and turns her face away. Discussion questions:
- What might be happening with Lin's consent?
- How would you revisit the intake agreement without making her feel at fault?
- How might you offer the next practice differently?
- Given the nature of her mother's death, what else should be part of your care plan?
Facilitator guidance: Lin's verbal "okay" and her body's withdrawal do not match. Pause, name the observation kindly, and offer to skip. Review key parts of the agreement aloud, especially her right to stop and how to reach crisis help. Loss of a parent to suicide is associated with increased risk, so the practitioner should ask directly about suicidal thoughts (Module 11), provide 988 information, and discuss connecting her with a licensed clinician and a suicide loss survivor group.
Reflection Prompts
- When in your life has your "yes" not really meant yes? What made it hard to say no?
- Write three invitational phrases in your own voice that you will use regularly.
- How will you set up your physical or online space? Make a checklist.
- Why might the Anchor step be the most important part of a session?