Therapist Spotlight: Sophie Davies
Reclaiming The Wild Woman Within
As autumn arrives with its golden hush and falling leaves, it invites us to release what we’ve outgrown and return to our natural rhythm. In this season of transition, we spoke with Sophie Davies, massage therapist and women’s wellbeing practitioner at Treat Norwich, about the wisdom of slowing down, the body’s connection to the cycles of nature, and how embracing the “Wild Woman” archetype can help women rediscover their power, intuition, and vitality.
Drawing on her experience supporting women through all stages of life, she shares how our bodies mirror the turning seasons. Her message is clear: tending to the self is an act of deep remembrance, a way of returning to the wild, wise nature that lives within us all. Over to you, Sophie…
1) Autumn is often described as a time of transition and release, why do you think this season resonates so strongly with the “Wild Woman” archetype?
I feel the Wild Woman archetype is a really useful tool for women to reflect upon, and one I have found really freeing in my own life. The concept of this archetype challenges us to reflect about how we define a woman and how they "should" be. It reminds women of our true nature and to check in with ourselves if we have been restricted by holding ourselves to a level of "perfection" in any areas of our lives. It also offers us the chance to reject the negative conditioning we are all susceptible to, and to remind ourselves of the Wild Woman who lives within. This can liberate us into empowered action for ourselves first, which in turn ripples outward into the world.
Autumn also teaches us to let go of summer and embrace slowing down, turning inward, reflecting and seeing what we are holding and what we can release - with the same ease that the trees release their leaves, in all their fiery colours.
The Wild Woman uses her knowing to create more for herself when that season comes, and she must embrace the shedding and clearing to make space and free herself from what she has outgrown.
In a world that constantly tells us to work harder, move faster, produce more, the ‘Wild Woman’ rejects such concepts and innately connects to her inner wisdom, creating healthy boundaries to protect her energy and focuses on deep nourishment of her mind, body and spirit and the self-care practices that honour this process.
2) In your massage work with women, how do you see the body mirror the cycles of nature? What signs show up when someone’s resisting that natural slowing down?
I think it's beautiful how the body beautifully mirrors nature’s rhythms — expansion, fullness, release, and rest — just like the seasons. When a woman resists that natural slowing down, her body often holds tension, especially in the shoulders, jaw, or lower back. The breath becomes shallow, and there’s a sense of pushing rather than flowing. Massage helps the body remember its cyclical wisdom and return to balance which brings a feeling of relief.
3) Many people feel a dip in energy as the days shorten. What self-care rituals or body practices do you recommend to help women nurture themselves and stay connected to their vitality through autumn?
Looking after sleep hygiene (sleep rituals, not cleanliness!) as well as quality of sleep is a great priority to focus on during Autumn, winding down earlier in the evening - think soft lighting (I'm personally obsessed with my Himalayan salt lamp!) and doing what many know we should do but most people don't do and that's putting your phone away before you get in to bed! Blue light from screens heavily disrupts our sleep cycle.
To stay revitalised and to prevent stiffness and tension building in the body and mind, I always recommend yoga to my clients. It keeps movement in the body, calms the nervous system and promotes sleep which are all great things this time of year.
If yoga isn't for you then explore different practices like going for a walk with the added benefit of absorbing vitamin D to boost mood, bone strength and immunity. Movement is key in preventing a host of health complaints and is key for promoting wellbeing. If you have a bath then a warm bath with magnesium salts and a few drops of lavender essential oil is deeply restorative and brings deep ease to the mind and body. In terms of massage, I would recommend having a monthly massage to keep stress and tension as low as possible. If you want the most benefits from your massage sessions, see it as maintenance like you would your car or bike - if you don't tend to it, it will rust and cost you more in the long run! So committing to your health in this way provides fantastic benefits not only for our wonderful bodies but for our overall wellbeing. Knowing mentally that each month you've set aside that time to nourish yourself holistically and keep your energy vital, to take on whatever life brings, has such a positive impact on not only yourself but those around you.
4) For women who feel disconnected from their “wild” side — perhaps caught in busyness or self-criticism — what’s one small, practical way to begin turning back into that inner wisdom and freedom?
A simple way to reconnect is to slow down enough to notice your body’s signals — hunger, tension, fatigue, or the need for fresh air. Responding to those cues with small, consistent acts of care — like stretching, breathing deeply, or taking a quiet moment outside — helps rebuild a sense of trust and presence. From that grounded place, your natural confidence and intuition start to return on their own. The body is always talking to us and it never lies so as we listen and respond, we reestablish the gateway back to that wild, instinctive self.
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