Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Moore.
Barbara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
How did I become aware of and interested in somatics? Thank you for letting me share some moments that opened my awareness and peaked my interest in the mind/body connection.
When I was 10 years old I went to Washington D.C and saw the statue at the Lincoln Memorial. The sculptor, Daniel Chester French studied photos of Abraham Lincoln for several years. The statue depicts President Lincoln sitting in a chair with his left hand closed and his right hand opened. This portrayed both his strength and his compassion. A lightbulb went off in my head. How the body expresses our character, our values, our history and our vision. I tucked this into my psyche — how Leadership presence is visible in the body.
Also, remember those childhood books with 2 pictures — spot the changes between the 2 pictures? I realized that I loved those because I loved to notice the details.
I had a teacher in Horticulture, Mr. Robert (Bob) Fischer that taught me about the natural world. Through this remarkable teacher I deepened my understanding, knowledge and awareness that the world ‘speaks’ to us if we are open to listen. To this day, I am grateful to still be in touch with Mr. Fischer.
Another pivotal moment for me was when I was 21. A man pulled a 357 magnum to my head while I was coming from the beach. I ‘knew’ in that moment he would die and I would live. Yes, that is how the story ends. This moment of clarity in Malibu, California continues to be a grounding rod for me. Opening me to possibilities. Intuition has always been a guiding force in my life. There are times when you stare at death and are gifted to come out the other side. In those times, life becomes a privilege. Your horizon can either open or close.
Years later I worked as a script supervisor in Hollywood. You know, the person on the set who watches continuity. For instance, if the clock in one shot is set at noon and in the very next shot that clock is set at 10:30 am. The person in continuity did not catch the detail. The tough ones in continuity to notice are hair, facial expression, angles, movements. This work is partly being present to noticing, and noting on the fly and partly intuition. I recall driving home from a shoot thinking, ‘OK, so, this work is pretty cool, yet I am not really doing anything that helps people or the world writ large. And then I thought – so what do I want to do?
I began to study somatics, somatic psychology, laying on of hands and working through the body, the neuroscience of how the mind acts, reacts or responds. How we shape and have the ability and plasticity to re shape as humans. I started with the work of Barbara Brennan and Michael Harner. Then went on to study at the Strozzi Institute to study Leadership, and become a Certified Somatic Coach. Richard Strozzi Heckler was at the helm in those days. It was there I met and worked with Mark Mooney and Madeline Wade. I continue to work with the wise Madeline Wade. I acknowledge each of them with a heart and debt of gratitude for their teachings, commitment and wisdom — and, also their humor! Then I became Certified with Doug Silsbee and Presence Based Coaching. Later, I became a Certified Business Coach through NC State University.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In 2025 there is more understanding of somatics, the vagus nerve, and conditioned tendencies such as fight, flight, freeze, appease. 20 years ago the challenge was being a pilgrim on this path. At that time there was not a vernacular or relevant language that folks could readily understand somatics. For example, I had an acquaintance who said, ‘I don’t understand what you do for living, it seems ‘airy fairy.’ Those of us who were bringing somatics and somatic practices forward in coaching and somatic bodywork were faced with holding our commitments to this beautiful, important work and let the naysayers fuel our fire. We continued to make this work available and visible in a world that is losing the body. When French philosopher, Rene’ Descartes said, “I think therefore, I am”, we began to cut off the body and put great stock in the big smart head. Slowly our body, our feeling and intuitive self was not valued nearly as much as our brain. As that acquaintance stated – it seemed airy fairy to include these most essential human parts. Sociologically, we are flooded with so much input to our nervous systems from the news, and our electronic devices. Somatic coaching helps us deepen our competency to re group and re center under stress and move through with calm confidence.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What do I do? I coach clients one on one via Zoom and/or phone. I coach in person with groups or at retreats.
Most of my coaching sessions are one hour to 1.5 hours depending on what my client needs. First, there is an intake call to see if it is a good fit. I ask 2 questions for my clients to ponder prior to the first session. These questions help to frame the work around what my client cares about.
A sampling of what folks are seeking might be: I want more confidence, less anxiety, more focus with a sense of ease, better impulse control, I want that promotion and wonder why the boss does not see me, I want to deepen my intuition, calm my monkey mind. You get the idea. I work with clients in both their personal and professional domains.
What sets this work apart from other coaching methods? It allows the client to build a deeper literacy in how to identify what is happening in their body, their moods, how they generate and manage their energy. And, how they organize in their brains. Making more evident what they bring to their companies, countries or families.
Viktor E. Frankl said, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is the power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Working in this space that Viktor Frankl describes, allows a client to regroup or recenter at work or at home, affording them a greater freedom, with confidence and ease.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
What qualities are most important to my success?
Each day I am in my own practices. I give clients practices that help them develop the skilled action and changes they may seek. It is incumbent upon me and we as coaches to study and be engaged in our own practices. After all, practices are practical. I am a sum of what I practice.
I am grateful to stay the course over these years. I feel like I am just getting warmed up!
In these wild, changing times coaching that includes the body, mind and spirit is needed.
My wish for you today is that you too feel you can stay the course.
Don’t lose heart. The world needs you.
I don’t lose heart because I know you are in it with me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bmoorecoach.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/barbara.moore.7982780
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-moore-3b89543a
