“The human body is not an instrument to be used, but a realm of one’s being to be experienced, explored, enriched, and thereby, educated.“
—Thomas Hanna, founder of Hanna Somatics
“The human body is not an instrument to be used, but a realm of one’s being to be experienced, explored, enriched, and thereby, educated.“
—Thomas Hanna, founder of Hanna Somatics
Meet Patricia Sprenger
Somatic-Educational Integration Consultant
I have had two career passions in life: one was healing human bodies through somatic movement, and the other has been exploring education, particularly how people learn. So, how did these seemingly different passions converge? I’ve spent nearly 30 years learning the human body—anatomy, kinesiology, proprioception, brain balancing, psychology, trauma response. The last 15 years I’ve researched how the brain functions when interpreting information to create knowledge. As I homeschooled my own children I was consistently defining what education really meant and these modalities collided for me: you can not learn if the body is not balanced. The interdisciplinary overlapping of somatic movement and learning became my passion. The mind follows the body, not the other way around. In order to create the joyful, innate life-long learner, you have to understand the complexity of interrelationships within the body systems and align them to open up neural pathways in the brain. As I started to teach classes from this perspective I watched students go from struggling and disconnected to curious, confident and self-assured in their decision making. Working with families and coaching students, both locally and internationally on everything from stress and anxiety to alternative education options, to college readiness and personal essays for applications, I can truly say this is the most rewarding career path I could ever imagine.
Certifications and trainings include:
Movement: Pilates (1998) Somatic Dance, Movement Meditations (2000) Gyrotonic (2010) Gyrokinesis (2011) Jumping Stretch Board (2012), Archway (2015)
Bodywork: Cranial Sacral Therapy (1999), Lymphatic Drainage (2000) Trauma Centered Somatic Awareness (2010), Bal-A-Vis-X, (Brain Dominance and Balancing (2015)
Nature and Forest Therapy (2020)
Education: BA English and Art Therapy (1998), MLS present, specializing in Dysregulated Nervous Systems in Education.
What is Swivel?
Swivel was designed to help teens/young adults (and their parents) regulate their nervous systems through somatic movement techniques, guided conversation (verbal or artistic) and a solid education on how the nervous system, brain neural pathways and emotions all connect. The combination of movement, connection and knowledge will bring the body into an affirmative state, in which clear processing of feeling, understandings, intuition, and intelligences can be achieved.
The body can not learn, reason, produce or express reasonably if the nervous system is overactive, constantly stimulated or outright ignored.
Knowledge is power, and knowing how their brains function with their body chemistry layered with their own nature brings instant awareness to behaviors. They can find calmness even in the stressful chaos of any given moment.
Why Swivel?
Swivel is a safe space for teens/young adults (and their parents) to do deep self-exploration; to cultivate self-understanding and feel what it is to be truly supported physically, mentally, emotionally and academically. I listen deeply so they can hear themselves, and I will ask thoughtful questions that bring about personal insight and strong, self-assured confidence. They will learn techniques and skills to ask and answer their own questions, to make affirmative decisions based on clear thought, and heal their bodies creating a toolbox of techniques for overall health they can return to for a lifetime.
Who can benefit from somatic/education mentorship coaching:
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Any family that feels academics and life are not in balance
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Students so exhausted their emotions explode
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Students experiencing anxiety on a regular basis
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Students struggling to keep up with too much school work
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Strong academic students who don't appear to be struggling, but are internally
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Students who are constantly numbing themselves with devices
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Students apathetic about everything
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Students who believe they are not smart enough
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Students that think school is stupid
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Students who struggle with Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation
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Students that are so scheduled they have zero downtime
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Student with big goals, but no forward motion
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Students who do not communicate with parents or peers
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Students doing activities they don't enjoy for better college applications
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Students who can not find calmness
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Students unsure of what direction they want to choose after high school
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Students obsessed with one college choice
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Students who don't want to discuss college at all
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Students who are struggling with self-esteem and comparison ideology
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Parents that want clear understanding on how to set their children up for academic success while maintaining mental health
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Parents who are afraid that their kids are not doing enough
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Parents unsure about all the college prep rhetoric they are told
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Parents who would like a strong advocate to help them step off the "Should Wagon"
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Parents who deeply care about whole body wellness for their teens
Swivel is an umbrella formula: Every single mentorship package comes with expertise in life coaching, body regulations for strengthening the mind, and self exploration in artistic form. This can be layered with any educational offering of your choice. You and I will design this for your family's individual needs.
Your can customize your coaching packages with any combination of offerings
Somatic Movement and Systematic Rebalancing Modalities
Nervous System Rebalancing
I help teens/young adults manage stress, anxiety, apathy and mood disturbances by teaching them how the brain, nervous systems and hormones are linked. So often we believe that these are not systems in our control, but we have sensory inputs that allow us early recognition that help us readjust in any situation. In our sessions we will be building a toolbox of techniques to regulate nervous systems and increase resilience.
System Fatigue
The body misfires in every way when it is mentally and physically exhausted. The prefrontal cortex (controlling decision making, problem solving, impulses) becomes disrregulated. Neurotransmitters (serotonin & dopamine) are altered as is mood and motivation. Hormones are thrown into chaos. Purposefully learning how to sleep sounds funny, but less than 15% of teens/adults get the physical sleep and mental rest required for stabilizing mental health.
Body Integration
I have 30 years experience teaching somatic movement through mind-body modalities to create connection between proprioception and the vestibular system, which integrates
sensory input to the brain for feedback to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and organs. Complete body awareness benefits balance, rejuvenates cellular function, integrates vision patterns, reduces inflammation to brings a sense of calmness to the entire system.
Educational Coaching and Academic Performance
College/Career Planning
Essay Coaching
Education consulting helps students become more aware of their strengths, interests, personal nature, and values, which guide them in making informed decisions about college choices and career paths. This alone can save huge amounts of time and money during the application process. Included is essay coaching, application guidance, and brilliant letters of recommendations, as I will truly know students at their core. Qualified to work with public, private and homeschool families.
Homeschool Consulting & Personalized Curriculum
I use interest based, integrated learning techniques to customize curriculum for your child's needs, and still meet all the state standards of each year. I have written curriculum for families nationally and internationally, teaming up with parents who long to create a calm, love for learning educational experience for their children. (Yes, they will be college ready or ready for whatever path they choose).
Academic Performance
My somatic approach enables clients to develop skills that improve academic performance such as focus, concentration, and memory. Understanding how one learns best from books to environments can be a game changer in academic success. In addition, learning about educational choice can truly empower both high achieving over-scheduled students and struggling learners alike.
Nature & Forest Therapy
Forest Bathing or Shinrin-yoku (as it was traditionally known) means to "bathe" your senses in the forest. It is a full immersion of oneself into the quiet rumblings of nature, and has scientific backing to the abundant medical benefits: equalizes blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, releases stress hormones, builds NK cells, speeds up recovery time, increases focus and enhances emotional intelligence. Your physical, mental, emotional and social health will improve.
Art Journaling
Guided art journaling brings self-awareness through creative expression. This non-verbal approach to exploring thoughts, emotions, memories and daily life through art mediums offers insight to the unconscious in a relaxing playful way.
While engaged in any form of art making (even the most basic) the brain is stimulated on three level: kinesthetic, perceptual and cognitive. Stimulating the sensory and visual inputs with
cerebration creates a carthartic release.
Nature and Art Therapy
Life Coaching
Personalized Mentorship
You will be deeply supported while being challenged to look inward at your own thoughts and feelings to define what is truly important to your wellbeing outside of societal expectations. Introspection is a gift that serves as a guidepost throughout life.
The Nine Types of Intelligences and personal nature will be explored in a soft container until you feel confident and self-assured in your own personal decision making. And bold enough to live your life your way.
Testimonials
Throughout my year with Patty, my love and passion for learning grew exponentially. She tailored this year to my hands on learning style as well as taught me crucial skills on how to better myself and my learning experiences. I am positive I will continue to use all of the skills and techniques she taught me for years to come.
— Jaylen H., student
Homeschool & Personalized Curriculum/Mentorship Package
Gathering Information Starts Here
Contact Info
Phone
Address
847-624-1420
Grayslake, IL 60030