Women's Work - Sheila Chacko

Women’s Work

While I work with both men and women, I am a woman and have come to realize how important my female-ness is to my human-spiritual journey. I am passionate about supporting other women in exploring this foundational perspective.

While we are all human beings, the experience of being a human being in a woman’s body is fundamentally different than that of being in a mans’ body.

On the physical level, our anatomy, our capacity to give birth and nourish another human with our bodies, the menstrual cycle mysteries, as well as many other physiological differences all inform our experience enormously. Add to this the social-cultural-familial meanings and implications of being a woman on Planet Earth today and over the last 5000 years and the gap widens between the experience of being a human in woman’s or man’s body.

There is no judgment in this, not better or worse, simply the fact that if we don’t take into account our female-ness on our psycho-spiritual journey we can only get so far.

We can begin to really look at what it means to each of us to be a woman and discover the true potential that it holds.

Let’s begin with some basics. As you read these questions, simply notice what you feel on a physical and emotional level.

What is your personal experience of being in a woman’s body?

How do you live your femininity or how do you push it away?

Are there feelings of ambiguity about being a woman?

How do (did) you live your menstrual cycle? Have you ever deeply looked into how your cycle works?

What is your relationship to your body? Your breasts? Your yoni (vagina-vulva-uterus)?

Are you in conscious relationship with your womb?

Do you know the power in the menstrual cycle? Are you aware that the 4 weeks of the cycle are related to the 4 seasons, and 4 female archetypes?

Are you going through perimenopause or menopause? Do you feel supported in navigating these changes in your body and being?

Do you know how to source power and guidance from your womb center?

What is your experience of intimate relationships? Trust? Mistrust? Fear? Love? Dependence? Manipulation?

What is your relationship to sex? To pleasure?

What is your relationship to other women? Do you feel fear? Competition? Sisterhood? Friendship?

If you are a mother what was your experience to your pregnancy and childbirth?

What is your experience of being a mother?

If you are not a mother, what is your experience with this?

Have you fully processed abortions and/or miscarriages?

I could go on and on...

If you are like most women, these questions will touch you in different ways.

Can you allow yourself to be touched?

Many women feel a longing deep down and know that there is a part of their being that is calling to be seen, received, understood and honored.

It may be mixed with fear and uneasiness as well, and this is normal.

If you feel a longing and want to explore further, reach out to me and we can find a way that works for you.

I’m here for you.

Ready to book a free 30 minute discovery session to meet me and see if this is the right path for you?

My therapeutic approach

My therapeutic approach is strongly based a Sufi map of the essential aspects of being combined with western depth psychology. I draw upon the tools and techniques of breathwork, somatic awareness exercises, and embodiment practices such as yoga and conscious movement. The foundation of my work, however, is the therapeutic relationship based on trust, respect, and empathy.