What It Means to Feel at “Home” in Your Body
Homebody Psychotherapy is a therapy practice where “healing feels like home”. But what does that actually mean? Admittedly, had you asked me while I was in my graduate program if solo-practice was my destination, I would’ve said “absolutely not”. And yet, here I am doing the solo-practice thing (and doing it well). Part of what informed my “no” was the lack of — to the best of my knowledge — therapy practices that undoubtedly embodied the mission, values, and calls to action that they proudly plastered across their websites and social media accounts. I was disillusioned with the hollow marketing schemes, and was skeptical of the possibility that a therapy practice of all things could really center the needs of not just members of my own community, but all communities who’ve historically been pushed towards the margins. As the founder of Homebody Psychotherapy, it was incredibly important for me to build this practice with intention. I didn’t want another run-of-the-mill practice that sustained itself from the ongoing suffering of others. Instead, what I envisioned was a practice that was truly person-centered, enriching, and collaborative. I wanted to do my part in establishing not just a refuge, but a mission to recover what was previously stolen from us. Our autonomy.
When conceptualizing Homebody Psychotherapy I reflected upon my own childhood, and the multitude of experiences that had then led me on the arduous journey of fighting like hell to re-establish the connection to my body again. My upbringing, although littered with painful experiences, was nursed by a community that never faltered in its attempts at preserving my link to humanness. At the time, I couldn’t quite find the language to address these tyrannical “powers-at-be" directly, however I knew that I (and the other members of my local and global communities) had the right to not only exist, but to live our full, natural lives free from persecution.
For many queer, Black, Indigenous, Brown and folks from other persecuted communities, we have undergone a displacement from self at the hands of white supremacy and colonialism. This estrangement, being violent by design, leads us to associate presence and embodiment with pain. Ultimately, we are left in a state of limbo where we’re simultaneously being subjected to the ongoing harm enacted onto us by the stewards of oppression while also facing the desperation that arises from painstakingly attempting to locate ourselves amidst the chaos.
To me, “returning home to the body” is an act of defiance in direct opposition to the generations of policing by those who stubbornly claim that “we” don’t (and shouldn’t) belong. It’s the fight for self-sovereignty, veneration, and a reminder that pleasure is an abundant resource whose wells exist deep within ourselves. It’s the reprieve that we feel through understanding that what’s needed to be clear has been so the entire time, and that no weapon forged through hatred could ever dare to pierce the spirit. It’s the connective tissue grounding us to our truth, and reminding us of the intricate root system tethering us to our communities.
Clinically speaking, I support my people in further recognizing and understanding how their multitude of experiences, environments, social location, beliefs, intuition, and imagination can work in tandem to support them in accessing a more present and conscious state of being as safely as possible. Through the use of a relational, and anti-colonial approach, the therapeutic relationship is used as a model and testing ground for self-advocacy, discovery, and celebration with the hope that over time, my people can eventually fortify the foundation of self needed to facilitate healthier, supportive, and meaningful relationships outside of our clinical space.
That said, to feel at home in your body is not about reaching some perfect or healed version of yourself. It is about learning to listen and trusting yourself that even in moments of uncertainty that you’ll be there for yourself to weather the storm. Your body has always carried wisdom, even in moments when it has also carried pain. At Homebody Psychotherapy, this work is not about fixing you. It is about making space to return to yourself with care, honesty, and choice. A sense of belonging that is truly yours.
Keanu M. Jackson, LCSW (he/him) is a queer, Black sex therapist, educator, and the founder of Homebody Psychotherapy. In addition to his clinical work, he centers curating connective experiences that highlight the importance of moving towards a more tender and compassionate future. To keep in touch, follow his instagram: Homebody Psychotherapy, and TikTok: @ke.nu
