New to the idea of Movement Coaching?

To be a Movement Coach at Ash and Birch Counseling, individuals must be a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer. This certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine ensures that coaches have a strong foundation in exercise science, program design, and client safety. It also reflects a commitment to evidence-based practices and professional standards that align with Ash and Birch’s trauma-informed, weight-neutral philosophy.

At Ash & Birch Counseling, this is how we differ from traditional personal training. 

Goal Focus: Traditional approaches often push limits for performance, while trauma-informed training prioritizes safety, control, and the client's overall well-being.

Client Expertise: Acknowledges that the client is the ultimate authority on their own body and internal experience. 

Flexibility: Adjusts the session based on the client's immediate needs and internal state, rather than rigidly adhering to a pre-set plan. 

At Ash & Birch, our approach to movement coaching is grounded in values that honor the whole person—body, mind, and nervous system. These guiding principles shape a practice that is trauma-informed, collaborative, and deeply attuned to each individual's autonomy and well-being. 

Safety: Establishing a secure and supportive training space, avoiding triggers, and ensuring clients feel comfortable and protected. 

Choice and Consent: Empowering the individual to make choices about their movements.

Collaboration: Treating the client as the expert of their own body and working with them as a partner, rather than dictating their experience.

Empowerment: Shifting the focus from prescribed goals to fostering control over one's body and promoting a sense of agency. 

Nervous System Regulation: Utilizing movement to help manage the stress, anxiety, and symptoms of trauma by promoting self-regulation and inner safety. 

Trauma-informed and embodied movement is a way of practicing movement that supports healing by combining safety, choice, and body awareness.

Trauma-informed: Creates a safe, non-coercive environment that respects each person’s limits, avoids triggers, and emphasizes choice and agency.

Embodied movement: Focuses on feeling present in the body, noticing sensations and emotions, and moving in ways that support nervous system regulation and release.

Together, this approach helps people rebuild trust with their bodies, calm and manage nervous system responses, and move with greater self-awareness and empowerment.

We offer two specialized Movement Coaching tracks:

Eating Disorder-Informed Movement Coaching: This track is designed for individuals who are in recovery or have a history of eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. Sessions focus on rebuilding a safe, trusting relationship with movement through trauma-informed practices that honor your lived experience and emotional needs.

Weight-Neutral Movement Coaching:  This track supports anyone looking to explore joyful movement or work toward personal movement goals—without focusing on weight, appearance, or performance. It’s a trauma-informed, inclusive approach that centers well-being, body trust, and sustainable movement practices.

 Movement coaching begins with an Intake Session, where we’ll talk through your goals, how you currently move, what you enjoy, and any challenges you’re facing. This sets the foundation for a personalized approach that supports your growth and confidence.

Sessions are tailored to your needs and may take one of the following forms:

• Insight Session: A conversation-based session focused on reflection, mindset, and personal patterns. We’ll explore how you feel about movement and your body, and uncover beliefs that may be holding you back or shaping your experience.
• Guided Session:  A movement-based session where you’ll be supported through intentional exercises designed to help you feel more connected, capable, and present. These sessions are about building trust in your body—not chasing performance.
• Fusion Session: A dynamic blend of movement and conversation. You’ll move and pause to reflect on what comes up, allowing space for both physical and emotional awareness. It’s a holistic experience that helps you process, grow, and move forward.

Each session lasts an hour and is designed to help you reconnect with your body in a way that builds resilience, clarity, and joy. This isn’t about working out—it’s about working with yourself.

Movement coaching is ideal if you're rebuilding strength, exploring joyful movement, recovering from an eating disorder, or navigating women’s health—and it’s all approached through a weight-neutral lens. That means no focus on body size or weight loss, just support for how you feel, move, and function. It’s a compassionate space to reconnect with your body, build resilience, and find sustainable movement that works for you. 

Not at all. Movement coaching is accessible to all bodies, all genders, and abilities. Sessions are tailored to your comfort level, and there’s no expectation of prior experience with exercise or movement practices. 

Unfortunately, Movement Coaching is not covered by insurance. However, if you have a letter of medical necessity from your primary care provider, you may be able to use your FSA or HSA to pay for sessions. You can check out the private pay fee here.

Movement coaching is designed to work with whatever you have—whether that’s nothing but open floor space and comfy clothes, or a fully equipped home gym. You can train in your living room, backyard, garage, or private dedicated workout space. The approach is completely adaptable: we build your sessions around your environment, using bodyweight movements when equipment is limited, and incorporating tools like dumbbells, resistance bands, or machines if you’ve got them. No matter your setup, movement coaching meets you where you are and helps you make the most of it.