Meet Jasmine Peterson | Artist & Somatic + Spiritual Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmine Peterson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine, is there something you believe many others might not?
The most common conventional advice I hear in response to someone’s emotional reaction to life’s disruptions is, “just let it go.” Similar phrases with the same meaning include, “It’s no big deal,” “just forget about it,” or “just move on.”

In my experience as an emotionally-present human being, as well as in my coaching practice working with clients, this advice is far from helpful. In fact, it neglects the reality that emotion is inevitable and necessary. It suggests bypassing the emotional process entirely – a process that is vital to human growth and fulfillment. It’s not that “moving on” isn’t important – in fact, it can be a really helpful goal! But the path towards moving on cannot be bypassed.

Imagine you call a neighbor to tell them that you’re stuck in your house because there is a giant pile of snow outside your front door. The neighbor responds, “just forget about it,” or “it’s no big deal!” Not only are they denying your experience of reality, they are not offering any actual path towards a solution. You can only clear the path forward (“moving on”) by shoveling the snow away, one scoop at a time. Similarly, you don’t expect to simply show up at your destination without first driving, walking or flying to get there. The stages along the road of the emotional process cannot be bypassed if you want to get to the destination of truly feeling better. And the best part is – you don’t need anyone else’s help to do it. Once you’ve received guidance on how to do it, you have all the tools you need accessible within you.

I’ve created a model for those seeking to truly “let go” of their emotional pain. The basic format of this process includes:
1) Acknowledging, 2) Validating, 3) Processing (through creativity, somatic expression, mindfulness, and/or words), and 4) Releasing (AKA “letting go”).

Bypassing the emotional process requires suppressing your own emotional matter, and all that suppressed matter piles up within you and expresses itself in other ways. Imagine a pile of dirty dishes that gets so high it eventually grows mold, tips over, and makes an even bigger mess. This conventional approach to emotional bypassing is something that inspired me to guide others in learning how to process their emotions in a way that truly liberates them from the heavy weight they bear. The coaching I provide allows people to practice these processes in their own life, with ease. Whether in my one-on-one sessions or group workshops, we work together towards a deep and accessible process of emotional release and liberation.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a Coach (think: “Life Coach,” but deeper) specializing in Somatic + Spiritual approaches to growth. Rather than only focusing on the human experience on a mental-level, I incorporate the body and the spirit (sub “spirit” for “creativity,” or “inner wisdom”) for a more holistic, integrative approach to healing. I offer sessions via Phone, Zoom, and In-Person. I also offer private group workshops, both virtual and in-person.

Having been a recipient of coaching and therapy myself, I noticed something that many of these professionals were lacking in their offerings: variation in session lengths. That’s why I offer a vast array of session types, spanning from 20-minute phone calls to 2 hour walk-and-talk sessions.

My in-person sessions take place outside, in Nature, walking/hiking while talking, processing, and taking pauses to engage in mindfulness and somatic techniques. I am currently offering these sessions in the Los Angeles area, but in the coming year will also be offering these sessions in Marin County (north of San Francisco).

Clients of mine can expect to process life’s hardships through words (the Mind) while applying mindfulness, the Body (the “Soma” in “Somatic” means “body”), and the Spirit. Spirituality in the context of my healing work has to do with connecting with our innate worthiness, our creative energy, and cultivating acceptance of self and of life. I believe that this integrative approach facilitates true, long-term growth and healing.

Perhaps the most influential factor in my ability to support others is my own personal growth. Maintaining my own well-being allows me to guide others in creating and maintaining theirs. Mental health is a priority, and in my experience, approaching my mental health from a Somatic and Spiritual perspective has been the most impactful. I am committed to ongoing growing, learning and healing so that I can show up for others as a grounded, compassionate, and supportive presence. Passing my own wisdom on to others is a great privilege.

When I am not coaching or leading workshops, I am working as an Artist of many mediums. Art connects me to parts of myself that may be otherwise hidden, allows my Spirit to come through in full expression, and serves as an outlet for emotional matter. Working with my hands and moving creative energy through me is an essential form of self care and survival.

As an Artist, I utilize creativity as a tool for guiding others to shift their perspective and approach life with fluidity, openness, and grace. Having hosted Creativity Workshops in the past, I know how truly transformative creativity can be in a person’s ability to make real progress in their growth and healing.

Artistically, I engage in writing, ceramics/pottery, painting, printmaking, drawing, film photography, and more. Working with each of these mediums has played a vital role in my grief processing, personal fulfillment, trauma recovery, emotional expression, sobriety, and deep healing. Art work fulfills me on a deep level, allowing me to continuously and consistently show up for others in my Coaching practice and personal life from a place of abundance.

Though starting my own business was intimidating at first, what fueled me to persevere through the process was a deep passion for helping others achieve the healing and recovery that I have experienced in my own personal life. Studying Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy at the EmbodyLab awakened an insatiable craving for somatic wisdom – I couldn’t help but seek even more knowledge from other experts in the field. As I underwent my training/certification in Spiritual Psychology (formerly Soul Care) Coaching, I experienced my own internal transformation and growth which then lent itself to my ability to truly hold space for others. The time after completing my certifications required some less “fun” elements of starting my business (legal stuff, etc.), but what kept me motivated was this unwavering passion for the teachings, skills and wisdom I get to offer to others in my practice.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Matcha at Good Friend Coffee on Virgil (Silver Lake) for the best, darkest-green matcha latte you’ve ever had. Brunch at All Time in Los Feliz – or, for a shorter line and bigger menu, walk down the street to Alcove. Evening cocktails (mocktails for me) at The Ruby Fruit, an LGBTQIA+ friendly, lesbian-owned wine bar and restaurant located in a Silverlake strip mall. Dinner at Kismet (or Kismet Rotisserie for takeout). Eat at any time of day (in almost any neighborhood) at Homestate for tex-mex tacos that will never disappoint.

For non-food-focused activities, a vintage crawl down Magnolia Blvd in Burbank – making sure not to miss Playclothes and The Holding Company Vintage. If you’re still itching for more vintage, head to Starday Vintage on Hollywood Blvd. and the less formal but never disappointing The Bearded Beagle across the street. Go to Blue Rooster for some art supplies and take them over to Griffith Park for some creative outdoor time. Check the Cinespia calendar and get tickets to see old and new films on a the big screen (outside!) from the comfort of your own picnic blanket. And finally, a trip to LA would be incomplete without rollerskating at Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale. Rainbow Skate on Wednesdays is my favorite!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My creative and coaching careers would not be possible without the support and wisdom of others. I extend my deepest gratitude to my husband Zachary for supporting my creative pursuits, my first mentor Suzi Lula for her wisdom and guidance, my sister Kayla and brother-in-law Dylan Soufer-Lubell for creative inspiration and encouragement, my sister Jade for her consistent support and love, my parents Jacques and Kara for their unwavering loving presence, countless loved ones walking by my side through my own trauma recovery and spiritual growth, and my loyal friends who were the first customers of my art – especially Rax, whose house is basically a museum of my early ceramic work and drawings.

Books that carried me along the path towards a fulfilling coaching practice and creative lifestyle include: “It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle” by Mark Wolynn, “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin, “How to Be an Artist” by Jerry Saltz – a witty and inspiring creative guide, “More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us” by Steve Leder – a guide to feeling-it-all and finding profound meaning in life, and “Pageboy” by Elliot Page – an intimate and vulnerable memoir that inspires us to courageously be our most authentic selves, and reminds us that healing is always possible.

Finally, I would be remiss not to offer gratitude to my greatest inspiration in both my artwork and coaching work: Nature – its miraculous harmony, unmatched beauty, and wordless wisdom. Without Nature, my own healing and therefore my ability to help others to heal would not be possible.

Website: https://wildjasminebloom.com

Instagram: @wildjasminebloom

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-peterson-6a1050255

Image Credits
Original Artwork by Jasmine Peterson.