My approach

M.SC. PSYCHOLOGIST | SPIRITUAL SOMATIC COACHING

I combine psychology, somatic (body-based) coaching and parts work with the spiritual path of being guided and in divine connection.

My work is about gently turning toward what needs to be seen and felt in every moment so that you naturally come to a place of embodied clarity and a deeper sense of home within. When we tend to the parts of you that are confused or afraid without pushing them away, your truth, essence and wisdom naturally come through — showing you the way.

The deeper we are rooted in our bodies, the more we can surrender to a greater plan, to our true purpose, to what God/ the universe has in store for us. I support you in following your deepest calling while honoring your body, resistance and emotions on the way.

A glimpse into my journeyWhy I do what I do

I used to feel completely disconnected from my body without even being aware of it. I didn’t know what I felt because I suppressed it by keeping me busy: studying, working, friends – just to avoid any time to be alone and feel.
I wasn’t intuitive, I followed what made sense.
I wasn’t aware of my boundaries, I pushed through.
I wasn’t aware of my needs or true desires, I often adapted to those around me.
I was in no connection to my body, ignoring any signs it tried to send me. I believed in God or something higher, but I had absolutely no connection.

I always wanted to become a psychologist, support others and follow the “traditional path” of becoming a psychotherapist, but life had other plans for me.

In 2018, I started having anxiety and panic attacks “out of nowhere”. I didn’t know what to do, I was desperate, so for the first time ever, I meditated and allowed myself to be guided. This was the beginning of my journey back to myself, my emotions and my body – but also of my spiritual path.

2018
Tessa Joy Garrelts before beginning her journey in spiritual somatic coaching and embodiment
2025
Tessa Joy Garrelts, spiritual somatic coach for women, offering guidance and support

I got into meditation and energy work, slowly reconnecting to my inner world and my spiritual connection to the universe. Over time, I realized how much of my life was out of alignment with me: my relationship, some friendships, my habit of always pushing myself, my busy schedule, my career plan…

I slowly learned what it meant to follow my inner guidance – facing all the emotions, resistance and parts of me that were so afraid to follow it. After finishing my master’s degree in psychology, I took a leap: broke up with my boyfriend of 7 years, moved to Portugal and followed my dream of creating my own business.

I intuitively started including more embodiment into my practice and felt drawn to learn more about the somatic approach, our nervous system and parts work. I fully immersed myself in deeply landing in my body, reclaiming the fullness of my emotions, rediscovering my truth and my voice, and learning how to express – rather than swallow everything. I learned to slow down and thereby felt that my worth is not tied to my productivity.

Within this journey of being fully rooted and alive in my body, God re-entered my life. It was the missing puzzle piece. I had felt guided by something higher before. I knew my heart was deeply connected to the universe but by calling it God again, I was able to build a more personal and direct relationship and connection. For me, the guidance of my heart, the universe, life, God — it’s all the same. So choose whatever works best for you to call it. For me, I can access that unconditional love, wisdom and guidance most fully, when I call it God.

My path taught me the importance of honoring all that we are — all parts of us: emotions, body, resistance, mind, … and learning how to navigate being with these parts in our busy daily lives, while following a higher guidance.

Now I hold space for other women on their path back to themselves and their divine connection

focusing on embodiment over performance
focusing on feeling over analyzing
focusing on what feels right over what makes rational sense
focusing on your heart - the part of you that always knows.

more about the 1:1 Coaching

Qualifications + Training

2025 Integrative Somatic Parts Work | Dr. Fran Booth – The Embody Lab

2024 Fundamentals of Coaching Experience | Hornick School of Coaching | ICF accredited program

2023 Trauma-informed Somatic Toolkit for a Resilient Nervous System | 50-hour accredited certification training in Lisbon

2021 Master of Science in Clinical Psychology at the Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt | Major: Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy | Master Thesis on Efficacy of Psychodynamic Interventions in Psychotherapy

2020 Training in Meditation and Energy Work | Elevation training by Bahar Yilmaz | Certified Spiritual Coach

2018 Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Trier | Focus on Applied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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