As I write this, I'm sitting in the back of my van, parked not far from my old house in Portobello. Nervously typing, trying to work out how to explain my next move. After four false starts, I'm just going to blurt it out.
My life as a photographer continues. And alongside it comes the Unwind.
Over the past six years, following a significant burnout and breakdown, I've spent countless hours learning, reading, listening, and watching. I worked through CBT and ACT therapy as a client, trying to understand what was going on. They were genuinely useful, helping me understand my patterns and giving me tools to work with. But at a certain point I realised that thinking about it wasn't enough. Somatic Experiencing was where that started to shift, still a therapeutic setting but working with the body's responses rather than just the mind. There were things sitting deeper than thought could reach, and I needed a different way in. Foundation Training had already been part of my life for years, and a couple of years ago I travelled to California to train in it formally. From there I kept pulling on threads, travelling to Bali and India to work with my teacher Jana, and finding the Edinburgh Holistic School where I trained in Indirect Myofascial Release and energy work, having already received both as a client. Those are the two I've just finished training in, and later this year I'll be starting a Somatic Trauma Therapy practitioner course.
I’ve not fixed myself, because I no longer think I was broken. I don’t have the answer. And there feels like so much more to learn, which genuinely excites me.
What I do have is a room at a close friend’s clinic on Broughton Street Lane in Edinburgh, a portable treatment table I can bring to people, and a website that looks to explain how I work and who I’ve learned from.
If any of this sounds interesting, I’d love you to have a look: mikeguest.co.uk/unwind
There’s also a page I’ve called Inspirations, which is a nod to the people who have taught me what I know. That level of transparency felt necessary before I could feel comfortable putting this out into the world.
I work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; sessions are 60 minutes and 90 minutes at 10B Broughton St Ln, and later this summer I’ll be splitting my time between Edinburgh and Aviemore, where I’ll also be offering treatments.
Some weeks I’m off on photographic jobs, and I've been enjoying treating fellow photographers, creatives, or athletes during shoots. Some weeks i go visit people in their homes or gardens if the sun shines.
If any of this sounds interesting, drop me a line. And if you think it might resonate with someone you know, please pass it on. This isn’t a sales pitch, just an invitation and in a way a letter to myself to let this out into the world and see where it go’s
Lots of Love
Mike
+447803725413
Sounds like you’re on an interesting and fulfilling path, Mike! Hope it all goes well. Lots of love and positive vibes to you, my friend! 🤙🤗😁