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  • Home
  • About Kaitlin
  • Somatic Workbook [Pre-Order]
  • Podcast & Blog
  • Learn with Kaitlin
  • Contact
  • FREE STRESS RELIEF TRAINING

Healing doesn't just happen through thinking — it unfolds as you learn to be with your body.

If you're constantly anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted, your nervous system might be trying to tell you something.

The Somatic Workbook for Nervous System Regulation and Anxiety Management helps you move beyond just talking about your struggles—  and starts healing them in your body.

Review + Receive the Bonus Course Free
This is so much more than a workbook—it's a powerful toolkit that provides both immediate and long-term relief from anxiety. It’s an instant classic, a must-read for anyone who suffers with anxiety and trauma. Every page was vital—page after page of unique stories and personal examples, enlightening explanations based on medical science, actionable exercises that I truly wanted to do, and even visual aids that helped immediately clarify and simplify a very complex issue into a clear path forward. By the time I finished the workbook, I knew I was holding a resource that I would recommend again and again to every patient who suffers with anxiety. Thank you, Dr. Harkess, for the best book on anxiety I have ever read.
Laura Koniver MD
Laura Koniver, MD
Physician and author of The Earth Prescription
The Somatic Workbook offers an accessible, compassionate, and evidence-informed guide to understanding and regulating physiological state through body-based practices. Kaitlin Harkess integrates foundational principles of Polyvagal Theory with psychological flexibility and practical tools for healing, making this a valuable resource for those navigating anxiety and striving to reconnect with safety and self. This book will empower readers to explore the wisdom of their nervous system with clarity, kindness, and scientific grounding.
Dr Stephen Porges
Stephen W. Porges, PhD
Distinguished University Scientist, Originator of Polyvagal Theory
The Somatic Workbook for Nervous System Regulation and Anxiety Management

Using powerful approaches like ACT, IFS, polyvagal theory, and mindfulness, you'll learn to:

  • Soothe anxiety in the moment
  • Create a deep sense of internal safety
  • Release stress and stuck emotional energy
  • Stay grounded through life's ups and downs
  • Keep your inner parts from running the show
  • Build a body-centered self-care routine

Whether you're drowning in stress or just want to reconnect with your body, this workbook gives you the tools to feel better - for real.

Meet Dr. Kaitlin

Dr Kaitlin N. Harkess, PhD, is the author of The Somatic Workbook for Nervous System Regulation and Anxiety Management (PESI Publishing, October 2025), host of the Wisdom for Wellbeing podcast, and founder of holistic therapy practice Wisdom for Wellbeing. A Clinical Psychologist and long-time yoga and meditation teacher, Kaitlin has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing anxiety, overwhelm and burnout reconnect with their bodies and build resilience through integrative, evidence-informed practices. 

Kaitlin’s pioneering research was the first to examine how yoga impacts stress and mental health at an epigenetic level  (the science of how lifestyle affects gene expression), and she continues to advance the field as a Titleholder at the University of Adelaide’s School of Psychology. Kaitlin also convenes the Australian Psychological Society’s Yoga and Psychology Interest Group and regularly trains clinicians in somatic psychology. 

Based on Kaurna Land in Adelaide, Kaitlin balances her professional work with coastal walks, family life, and a love of the outdoors. Originally from the Canadian Rockies, hiking remains as essential to her wellbeing as her yoga practice.

Dr Kaitlin resting her head on a stack of psychology books while smiling

Leave a Review and Receive Exclusive Bonuses

When you take the time to leave a review for The Somatic Workbook, you’ll gain access to a collection of resources designed to help you put the practices into action right away:

  • 🎁 Free Video Course — Somatic Skills for Everyday Resilience
    In this short, practical course, I’ll guide you through simple, evidence-based practices to regulate your nervous system and bring your mind and body back into balance. 

  • 📝 Downloadable Reflection Journal
    Extra prompts to deepen your self-understanding.

  • 🎧 Audio Downloads
    Short guided practices you can listen to on the go — like having me in your pocket. 

First, order from your chosen retailer:

Amazon
PESI
Barnes & Noble
Amazon Australia

Next, have a read!

With her signature warmth, Dr. Kaitlin Harkess offers a rigorous, grounded path to lasting nervous system healing. This is not just another book of coping skills. It’s a rare integration of science and intervention specifically for those already well-versed in personal growth who are seeking depth, not just direction. Dr. Harkess translates complex psychological theory into actionable tools without watering down concepts, guides readers through poignant self-inquiry, and teaches strategies that truly work. This is a profound resource for anyone ready to stop managing anxiety and start transforming it. I’ll be recommending it to many of my clients!
Hayden Finch, PhD
Author of The Psychology of Procrastination and The Easy Habits Journal
Dr Kaitlin Holding The Somatic Workbook

Then, write a review on Amazon and/or GoodReads.

If you’ve never done a review on Amazon, simply scroll down until you see the section that says “Customer Reviews.” Then, click “Write a customer review.” It doesn’t need to be anything too fancy; it’s just a chance to let people know if you think this book might be helpful for them.

Amazon Review
GoodReads Review

Now it's time to get your bonuses:

This workbook helps readers build a compassionate relationship with their own bodies and emotions. Through simple, creative practices, it teaches people how to feel, reflect, and act with purpose—even when things get tough. Grounded in experiential wisdom and aligned with the processes of psychological flexibility, it’s a powerful tool for growth and resilience.
Steven Hayes
Steven C. Hayes, PhD
Foundation Professor of Psychology Emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno and Originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
The Somatic Workbook is a delight to read. This comprehensive yet practical guide will help you connect with your body and senses, soothe anxiety, and foster a sense of safeness and calm. Dr Harkess gently and skilfully guides her readers on a journey to self-compassion, weaving together personal stories with simple exercises and providing options to suit any reader. Wrap yourself up in this book. Your body and mind will thank you!
Jennifer Kemp
Jennifer Kemp, MPsych (Clinical)
Author of The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism and co-author of The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD

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This morning I tried something new… and wow, what This morning I tried something new… and wow, what a beautiful way to start a Sunday.

I went to a Lagree class at @corebrew_lagree here on Kaurna Land in the Adelaide CBD, and the moment I stepped inside I could feel my whole system exhale. The studio was open and bright, sunlight streaming in, that soft morning glow filling the space.

There’s something special about moving your body in a way it’s not used to - waking up deep stabilisers, slowing things down enough to truly feel the effort, the tremble, the strength building from the inside out. Lagree is such an interesting blend of slow, mindful resistance and controlled challenge… which, in many ways, is exactly what somatic work invites too. Not pushing through. Not dominating the body. But meeting sensation with awareness, curiosity, and breath.

Trying something new can be a little nerve-wracking… that flutter of activation we all feel stepping into the unfamiliar. Yet, it can also be such a gift! Today it reminded me how aliveness often sits just on the other side of “I’m not sure about this.”

And the best part? The community feel. People smiling, chatting, supporting each other. I even ran into someone I studied with many years ago, which made the world feel suddenly smaller in such a connecting way. I finished the class to have my coffee ready, perfection.

Tell me, have you tried Lagree? If not, lean into your curiosity ✨
You can ONLY understand your life backwards! In m You can ONLY understand your life backwards!

In my case it was very important that in my 20s I took a scholarship to do a clinical psychology PhD and stay in Australia… because it allowed me to research yoga, the mind–body connection, and put me on the path to writing The Somatic Workbook for Nervous System Regulation and Anxiety Management with @pesipublishing, supporting thousands of people to heal.

But the real truth is this:
So many of the choices that felt uncertain, stressful, or even “wrong” at the time were quietly pointing me exactly where I needed to go.

And if we look back further than my 20s, we might even say that some of the suffering earlier in life is what nudged me toward yoga in the first place. Yoga opened the door to psychology. Psychology opened the door to understanding the nervous system. And that journey is what allowed me to weave everything together into this book.

The Somatic Workbook is built on the idea that our emotional and behavioural patterns aren’t failures. They’re protective adaptations, shaped by the challenges we’ve lived through. Sometimes even the hardest experiences lay the foundations for our future clarity, meaning, and purpose.

If you’re curious about your own protective patterns or the schemas (those deep-down beliefs about ourselves and the world) that might still be influencing how you move through life, this book will help you understand and gently unwind them so they don’t hold you back from what’s next.

✨ The Somatic Workbook for Nervous System Regulation and Anxiety Management
Link in bio if you’d like to dive deeper into your own healing ❤️‍🩹 maybe it’s just the tool you need under the tree to support you in starting 2026 with a little more clarity.
Sure… a bath, a book and candles feel okay in the Sure… a bath, a book and candles feel okay in the moment. But this is NOT self care.
This is self soothing.

Self soothing helps you ground and allows your body soften just enough to catch its breath. It has a place and it matters.
But it doesn’t change the deeper truth that life has been full and your nervous system has been carrying a lot.

Real self care is different.
It’s the lifestyle medicine. The boundaries you set, the rest you protect, the food that nourishes you, the relationships that steady you, the sunlight and movement that help your system regulate.
It’s the choices that shift the conditions your nervous system lives in, not just the way you feel for a few minutes.

Both are important, but they’re not the same.

If you want gentle, research-informed practices to support daily regulation, The Somatic Workbook for Nervous System Regulation and Anxiety Management is linked in my bio.

Now tell me… what are your thoughts on whatever we call ‘manifesting’ - I’m so curious! ✨
Is the holiday season feeling more overwhelming th Is the holiday season feeling more overwhelming than “joyful and bright”? You’re not alone!

I’m honoured to have been part of an amazing @bodyandsoul_au piece by @adavies234 that explored how you can navigate stress and stay connected to yourself through the festivities ahead. Some amazing wellness experts have shared their favourite strategies, and The Somatic Workbook is referenced in it too, Yey!

Grap a copy of the Sunday paper if you want a few grounded reminders as we move through December.

Curious about The Somatic Workbook for Nervous System Regulation and Anxiety Management? It’s my practical, research-informed guide for working with your nervous system. There’s more info in the link in my bio🔗 Maybe it will even find its home under a few Christmas trees and set the tone for a more regulated nervous system in the year ahead 💝
What if the holidays were less about buying and mo What if the holidays were less about buying and more about creating together?

Tonight @made_and_nurtured_art gathered us for a wreath making evening with eucalyptus, banksia, twine and the simple pleasure of being surrounded by nature and lovely humans. 🌿✨

There was something so calming about it all. The smell of fresh greenery, the delightful conversations, the quiet focus of creating something with our own hands. No rush. No pressure. Just connection, creativity and community in the beautiful @ourboyroy_adl space 💜

It reminded me how lovely the holiday season can be when it invites us to slow down and make something beautiful instead of endlessly consuming.

Here’s to more gentle nights like this. 🌙💛
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Dr. Kaitlin pays her respects to the Kaurna peoples as the Traditional Owner’s of the land on which she works and lives. Dr Kaitlin acknowledges that the Kaurna people have social, spiritual and historical connections to this land and their connections are as strong today as they have always been. She would like to extend this acknowledgment out to the Traditional Owners of the land on which you are based, and to acknowledge the Ktunaxa and Kinbasket Peoples of what is now called Canada, as she was born and gratefully raised on their traditional unceded territory.

Mandala Artwork by Scarlet Barnett
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Psychological Therapy Clinic in Adelaide