We were lucky to catch up with Abby Auch recently and have shared our conversation below.
Abby, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I have always been drawn to helping others whether it was after school programs for kids, wilderness therapy for teens or outpatient therapy for adult women. Each different field, each new role gave me tools, insight, and skills that I could take with me no matter where I would go. What finally led me to my current work as a therapeutic bodyworker and pelvic health coach, was my own experience in dealing with a chronic pelvic condition. When I first received holistic, embodied, intuitive pelvic care 14 years ago, I knew that was the work I wanted to do. I knew then that I wanted to help others I the same way who have had to navigate a medical system that tells you that you are fine when your body clearly does not, who have had so many moments of despair and helplessness in looking for relief, and who fear they are “broken.” We possess the capacity to heal when we listen deeply and attend to all our parts and thereby heal our whole selves.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an intuitive, therapeutic bodyworker and pelvic health coach under the business name Attune Bodywork. I come from a background in the mental health field but realized that the body, and specifically the mind-body-soul connection is the realm that deep healing can occur. I traded in talk therapy for body-based work to help my clients feel more spacious within and thereby allow emotions/trauma/chronic stress to release from the physical system. While I see clients for all sorts of issues and areas of concern, I am passionate about pelvic health. So many folks born with female anatomy experience pain/discomfort/disconnection and are told by their doctors and gynecologists that they are either “fine” or “it’s in their head” or they need surgical/pharmacological intervention. Through my own experience of trial and error, finding doctors and health professionals that listened and looking at my WHOLE system-mind, body, diet, stress, family history, and more, I realized that I could be the support for others that I would have loved to have along this journey!
I currently see clients for pelvic issues as well as physical-emotional integration and am excited to be launching my pelvic health coaching services this spring! My coaching packages include attention to the key parts that influence our wellness, resources and roadmapping for how to get a answers within the medical model, and one-on-one bodywork sessions (for those in the Portland, OR area) to ground our work within the body.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) Trust your intuition: If you don’t even know what that is, spend some time learning! Spend some time asking questions and getting quiet for answers-they come in all forms. I have had a number of excellent job opportunities come my way but something in me was hesitant, once I even got the image of a ball and chain when I imagined taking the job. You may not be able to see or know what is next but that doesn’t mean what is right in front of you is the best/most aligned choice for YOU.
2) A mentor once told me that there is what you want to be doing in the world and what people seek you out for. It’s important to listen to both.
3) Set your ego down. Again. And again. You can be confident and successful but your most most impactful work, your most meaningful work will be when you do it for the love of something, for a larger cause, for humanity. We are all in this together.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
A challenge for me is always trying to balance who has access to my services while at the same time asking for what I am worth and standing confidently in that. I want my services to be accessible for anyone who is called to working with me. I want to be of service to not just cis-white female identifying people, but anyone who wants to feel more connected/whole/embodied. While I offer a portion of my services at a discounted rate, I grapple with if that is enough. At the same time, I have given so many discounts and reduced rates over the years, I still question at times if I am asking enough for my services. This is especially poignant now as I am preparing to launch my coaching services. I try my best to hold both with intention and integrity and am always open to hearing suggestions on how to it better.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.attunebodywork.com
- Instagram: attune_bodywork
Image Credits
Abby Auch Jared Votel
