As clients, we want to know if we can “like, know and trust” the businesses we buy from and the people whose services we use, so in this series we talk to the Changemakers who are making a difference in the world and ask them to step out into the spotlight to tell us their story.
It’s the turn of Laura Starky from Somatic Wellness
Tell us about yourself and what you do?
I’m a somatic sober coach passionate about helping others break free from the alcohol trap and reconnect with their true selves. At 54, I’m living life with a renewed sense of energy and purpose, thanks to sober living, yoga, and holistic practices like Reiki and Bach Flower Remedies. I know firsthand that healing isn’t just about quitting alcohol or nicotine —it’s about addressing the deeper reasons why we smoke, drink, overwork, or people-please, and finding new ways to cope that actually nourish us.
How did you get started?
After years of using alcohol to cope with stress and anxiety, I made the decision to step away from the drinking cycle and focus on healing from the inside out.
With 24 years of experience as a registered social worker, including the last 18 years specialising in mental health and substance misuse, I bring a wealth of knowledge and empathy to my practice. I’m now a certified vinyasa yoga teacher and Yoga Nidra Teacher registered with Yoga Alliance Professionals and a certified life coach. I’m also a senior member of the ACCPH (Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists, and Hypnotherapists). Currently, I’m furthering my expertise by studying to be a somatic therapist with the International School of Holistic Healing, aiming to qualify in early 2025.
Why Holistic? What sets you apart from your competitors?
My work focuses on healing the whole person, from the physical body to the emotional and energetic self, addressing the deeper reasons why we smoke, drink, overwork, or people-please etc.
I believe in helping people rediscover their true selves by calming their nervous system, understanding the root of their struggles, and creating a life that feels balanced and free. This is what I call holistic somatic wellness.
What’s the next big thing for you?
I recently launched Sober & Soul Aligned, a 12-week, 1-1 personalised coaching programme that combines somatic practices, mindset, and energetics to help clients step into a vibrant, alcohol-free life. This programme isn’t just about sobriety—it’s about reclaiming your life and stepping fully into alignment with who you truly are.
It includes weekly personalised coaching sessions, tailored somatic exercises to help you stay grounded, manage stress, and reconnect with your body, tools and techniques to help you break free from limiting beliefs and create a sober mindset that aligns with your higher self, and ongoing support between sessions with real-time voice and text messaging, so you have guidance and encouragement when you need it most.
How is your work different from other sobriety programmes?
Sober & Soul Aligned is more than just a method for quitting alcohol—it’s a holistic journey designed to reconnect you with your true self. Unlike programmes that focus solely on abstinence, we integrate somatic practices, emotional healing, and mindset mastery to address the underlying causes of alcohol reliance. You’ll leave with not just sobriety, but a renewed sense of purpose, balance, and fulfilment.
Where can we find your services?
Website: www.somatic-wellness.com
Follow us on: Facebook | Instagram