Clinical Research01
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
New clinical trials confirm lasting reductions in treatment-resistant depression. What the data means for your healing journey — and what the next decade of research holds.
Evidence-Based Healing · Science of Mind Advancement
"The wound is the place
where the Light enters you."
— Rumi
Soma Wellness Science bridges cutting-edge neuroscience with ancient healing traditions — delivering transformative retreats, community wellbeing, and frontier research in service of the whole person.
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Airport Pickup
Collected from the airport on arrival day.
Accommodation
Premium curated lodging, fully included.
Monthly Starts
Programs begin the 15th of every month.
3 Destinations
Bali, Chiang Mai & Rishikesh.
Our Conviction
"The most profound healing happens when we stop choosing between tradition and evidence — and embrace both."
Soma Wellness Science was built on a refusal to accept the false divide between ancient wisdom and modern science. Every practice we offer has been tested by time, validated by research, and refined through thousands of hours of clinical application.
Neuroscience-Led
Every modality is selected through peer-reviewed evidence. We do not offer anything we cannot defend scientifically.
Tradition-Rooted
Ancient practices carry millennia of empirical wisdom. We honour that lineage while subjecting it to modern scrutiny.
Community-Centred
Healing is not a solo act. Our group processes and integration circles are as therapeutic as any individual session.
Trauma-Informed
All practitioners are certified in trauma-informed care. Safety, consent, and pacing are non-negotiable at every stage.
Traditional Science & Therapies
Ancient Wisdom.
Clinically Validated.
Every traditional therapy we offer has been practised for centuries and is now supported by peer-reviewed clinical evidence. We do not separate the ancient from the modern — we unite them in service of the whole person.
Vedic · Taoist · Indigenous
Breathwork & Pranayama
Structured breathing practices drawn from Vedic pranayama, Taoist qigong, and modern clinical protocols. Breathwork directly regulates the autonomic nervous system — shifting the body out of chronic stress states and into parasympathetic restoration.
Reduces cortisol and anxiety within a single session
Improves heart rate variability (HRV)
Releases stored emotional and somatic tension
Enhances oxygen delivery and cellular function
Supported by clinical trials in PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain (Zaccaro et al., 2018).
Ayurvedic · Traditional Chinese Medicine
Somatic & Body-Based Therapy
Somatic Experiencing, developed by Dr Peter Levine, draws on the body's innate capacity to heal trauma. Combined with Ayurvedic bodywork and traditional massage traditions, it releases trauma held in the nervous system — not just the mind.
Resolves trauma stored in the body
Restores healthy nervous system regulation
Reduces chronic pain and physical tension
Rebuilds the mind-body connection
Polyvagal theory (Porges) and SE research confirm measurable reductions in PTSD symptoms.
Buddhist · Contemplative Science
Mindfulness & Meditation
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) are among the most rigorously studied psychological interventions in existence. Rooted in Buddhist contemplative practice, refined by clinical science.
Reduces depression relapse by up to 43%
Measurably increases grey matter density
Improves emotional regulation and resilience
Reduces inflammatory markers in the body
MBCT is recommended by NICE (UK) as a first-line treatment for recurrent depression.
Ayurvedic · Naturopathic
Ayurvedic Medicine & Nutrition
One of the world's oldest medical systems, Ayurveda approaches health through the lens of individual constitution (dosha), seasonal alignment, and the healing power of food and plant medicine. Our Ayurvedic practitioners hold formal clinical training.
Personalised nutrition and herbal protocols
Gut-brain axis restoration
Hormonal and metabolic rebalancing
Inflammation reduction through diet
Ayurvedic dietary principles align with emerging research in the microbiome and psychoneuroimmunology.
Traditional Chinese Medicine · Vedic
Sound Therapy & Vibrational Healing
Tibetan singing bowls, gong baths, and binaural sound protocols have been used for millennia to induce meditative states and support healing. Modern neuroscience confirms their measurable effects on brainwave activity and stress hormones.
Induces theta and delta brainwave states
Reduces cortisol and blood pressure
Supports deep nervous system restoration
Enhances sleep quality and depth
Peer-reviewed studies confirm significant reductions in tension, anxiety, and physical pain (Goldsby et al., 2017).
Indigenous · Shamanic · Contemplative
Nature Immersion & Forest Therapy
Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) is a formal therapeutic practice originating in Japan, now supported by extensive clinical research. Combined with indigenous land-based healing traditions, nature immersion is one of the most powerful and underutilised therapeutic tools available.
Lowers cortisol by up to 16% in a single session
Boosts natural killer (NK) immune cell activity
Reduces blood pressure and heart rate
Restores attention and cognitive function
Over 60 peer-reviewed studies confirm the physiological and psychological benefits of shinrin-yoku (Li, 2022).
All traditional therapies at Soma are delivered by practitioners with formal training in both the traditional lineage and its clinical application. We do not offer surface-level wellness experiences — every session is purposeful, evidence-informed, and practitioner-led.
Ask About Our TherapiesInternational Programs
Transformative Retreats
Worldwide
Immersive, research-informed programs in the world's most healing landscapes. Monthly departures on the 15th. Everything included from the moment you land.
$3,800
7-Day Program
All-inclusive · Monthly departure
$4,800
10-Day Deep Immersion
All-inclusive · Most transformative
Starts 15th of every month
Airport pickup included
Most Popular
Island of the Gods
Bali, Indonesia
Sacred stillness meets neuroscience. Seven days of somatic release, breathwork, and forest immersion on the Island of the Gods. Guided by certified trauma-informed practitioners, each session is grounded in peer-reviewed somatic therapy protocols.
Apply for this retreat
Mountain Sanctuary
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ancient temple culture and modern trauma-informed therapy converge in the mountains of Northern Thailand. Immerse in forest bathing, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and traditional Thai healing arts — all validated by clinical research.
Apply for this retreat
Birthplace of Yoga
Rishikesh, India
The birthplace of yoga, reimagined through a clinical lens. Pranayama, Ayurvedic medicine, and peer-reviewed mindfulness protocols alongside the sacred Ganges. A convergence of 5,000 years of wisdom and modern neuroscience.
Apply for this retreatEvery Program Includes
Airport pickup & drop-off on arrival and departure day
Premium accommodation throughout the entire program
All meals — nourishing, locally sourced, nutritionist-designed
Daily somatic therapy & structured breathwork sessions
Traditional therapies: Ayurveda, sound healing, forest immersion
Evidence-based group therapy & peer integration circles
Two one-on-one practitioner sessions per week
Guided nature immersion & mindful movement practices
30-day post-retreat integration support & group calls
Lifetime access to the Soma Research Library
The Journey
How It Works
01
Apply & Connect
Complete a brief application. We schedule a complimentary discovery call to understand your goals, history, and which program is the right fit.
02
Prepare & Arrive
Receive your pre-program preparation guide. On the 15th, we collect you from the airport — your journey begins the moment you land.
03
Immerse & Transform
Seven or ten days of structured healing — daily somatic sessions, breathwork, group therapy, nature immersion, and one-on-one practitioner time.
04
Integrate & Sustain
30 days of post-retreat integration support. Weekly group calls, a personal integration workbook, and access to the Soma Research Library.
Voices from the Journey
Lives Transformed
"I arrived in Bali carrying ten years of unprocessed grief. By day four, something cracked open — not painfully, but gently. The practitioners here understand the nervous system in a way I've never encountered. I left lighter than I've felt in my entire adult life."
Miriam T.
London, UK · 7-Day Bali Retreat
"As a clinical psychologist, I was skeptical. What I found was a program that would hold up to peer review — rigorous, evidence-based, and profoundly human. The integration of somatic work with traditional practices is genuinely groundbreaking."
Dr. James R.
Toronto, Canada · 10-Day Rishikesh Immersion
"The Chiang Mai retreat changed my relationship with my own mind. The research-backed breathwork protocols alone were worth the journey. I've recommended Soma to every person I care about."
Anika S.
Berlin, Germany · 7-Day Chiang Mai Retreat
Soma Vision
A Community
Wellbeing Center
Coming to You
Soma Vision is a community wellbeing sanctuary open to all. Sessions are pay-by-donation — participants contribute a small donation per session, keeping access genuinely affordable for everyone. Modalities include breathwork, pranayama, sound therapy, mindfulness, somatic movement, and peer support circles — all evidence-based, all practitioner-led.
"Because healing shouldn't be a privilege."
How to Join
01
Contact us to express your interest and learn about upcoming sessions.
02
Booking is required — sessions fill quickly and space is intentionally limited.
03
Attend your session and contribute a small donation of your choosing.
Pay-by-Donation
A small donation per session — you choose the amount.
Booking Required
Reserve your spot in advance — spaces are limited.
Evidence-Based
Every modality backed by peer-reviewed research.
Community-Led
Shaped by and for the people it serves.
Pay-by-Donation
A small donation per session. Booking required — contact us to get started.
500+
Lives transformed across three continents.
Our Approach
Where Ancient Wisdom
Meets Modern Science
Soma Wellness Science was founded on a single conviction: that the most profound healing happens when we stop choosing between tradition and evidence — and embrace both.
Every modality we offer is selected through a rigorous lens: peer-reviewed research, clinical outcomes, and thousands of years of lived human wisdom. Our practitioners hold dual expertise — clinical training and deep immersion in the traditions they teach.
We are not a spa. We are not a yoga retreat. We are a science-led healing institution that happens to operate in some of the most beautiful places on earth.
12+
Years of Research
500+
Lives Transformed
3
Global Destinations
100%
Evidence-Based
Soma Research Library
At the Frontier of
Wellness Science
We read the research so you can live it. Curated deep-dives into the science shaping the future of human wellbeing.
Read More
Neuroscience02
Somatic Experiencing & the Brain
How body-based trauma therapies are reshaping the neuroscience of recovery — and why talk therapy alone isn't enough. A deep dive into polyvagal theory and interoception.
Longevity03
Longevity & Breathwork
Emerging research on HRV, CO₂ tolerance, and the measurable effects of structured breathwork on cellular aging. The science behind why breath is your most powerful tool.
Opportunities
Expand What's Possible.
Work With Soma.
Whether you are a clinician, researcher, educator, or practitioner — there are multiple ways to bring your expertise into the Soma ecosystem. Commission our experts, build your practice with us, train through our courses, or expand our reach into new communities.
01
Commission Expert Research & Consultation
Our team of clinicians, researchers, and traditional therapy experts are available for commissioned research, clinical consultation, and expert advisory work. Whether you need a peer-reviewed literature review, a program evaluation, a clinical opinion, or a keynote speaker — we bring rigour and lived expertise to every engagement.
Clinical consultation & second opinions
Commissioned research & literature reviews
Program design & evaluation
Expert witness & court reports
Keynote speaking & conference presentations
Organisational wellbeing assessments
Featured
02
Build Your Practice With Soma
Are you a therapist, practitioner, or allied health professional looking to grow your practice within a values-aligned, science-led organisation? Soma offers a unique model: join our network, access our client base, collaborate with our multidisciplinary team, and build something that matters — without building it alone.
What we offer practitioners
Referral pipeline from our programs
Shared clinical supervision
Co-located or remote practice options
Multidisciplinary team collaboration
Administrative & billing support
Continuing professional development
Research & publication opportunities
Brand association & credibility
03
Join the Soma Network
Expand your reach by becoming a Soma-affiliated practitioner or organisation. Our network spans retreat facilitators, community program leads, justice reform advocates, family support workers, and traditional therapy practitioners across Australia and internationally.
Affiliate & referral arrangements
Co-delivery of community programs
Cross-referral with our clinical team
Shared marketing & visibility
04
Expand Our Work Into New Areas
Do you see a gap in your community, region, or specialty area that Soma could fill? We are actively looking to expand our programs — new geographies, new populations, new therapeutic modalities. If you have the vision and the local knowledge, let's build it together.
New community program locations
Specialist population programs
International retreat partnerships
New therapeutic modality integration
05
Soma Courses & Professional Training
Learn directly from our clinical and traditional therapy experts. Soma courses are designed for practitioners, students, and organisations who want to deepen their skills in trauma-informed care, breathwork, somatic therapy, community healing, and wellness science.
Trauma-informed practice foundations
Breathwork & somatic therapy training
Community healing facilitation
Wellness science for practitioners
Not sure which path fits? Start a conversation.
Every collaboration begins with a conversation. Reach out to [email protected] and tell us what you're thinking — we'll find the right fit together.
Advocacy & Justice Reform
Community Healing
Over Remand
Incarceration does not heal. The evidence is unambiguous — community-based therapeutic intervention reduces reoffending, rebuilds lives, and costs society a fraction of the price of remand. We advocate loudly for a justice system that chooses healing over punishment.
74%
Reduction in Reoffending
Community-based therapeutic programs vs. custodial sentences
3×
More Effective Than Prison
Therapeutic community models show 3× better long-term outcomes (NIDA, 2023)
$4.50
Returned for Every $1 Spent
Community healing programs deliver $4.50 in social value per dollar invested
65%
Lower Recidivism Rate
Trauma-informed community programs vs. standard custodial release (AIC, 2022)
The Case for Community Healing
Trauma is the root cause of most offending behaviour. Incarceration compounds trauma — it does not resolve it.
Community-based therapeutic programs address the underlying drivers: addiction, mental illness, housing instability, and unresolved childhood trauma.
Restorative justice models that include therapeutic support show dramatically lower rates of reoffending within 2 years of program completion.
The financial cost of one year of incarceration exceeds the full cost of a 12-month community healing program by a factor of 6 to 1.
What the Research Shows
74% reduction in recidivism
Participants in structured community therapeutic programs reoffend at dramatically lower rates than those who serve custodial sentences for equivalent offences.
Trauma-informed care works
Programs that address trauma, mental health, and social determinants of offending produce sustained behavioural change that punitive approaches cannot replicate.
Early intervention is decisive
Diverting individuals at first or second offence into community healing programs prevents the entrenchment of criminal identity and breaks the cycle before it begins.
We advocate for systemic change.
Soma Wellness Science works alongside legal advocates, social workers, and community leaders to push for diversion programs, therapeutic remand alternatives, and trauma-informed justice policy. If you share this conviction, we want to hear from you.
Family & Parenting Support
Healing Families.
Preserving Bonds.
The family unit is the most powerful protective factor in a child's life. Our family support programs are built on one principle: wherever safely possible, families should stay together — and where separation has occurred, reunification should be the goal.
Family Reunification
Structured, trauma-informed reunification programs for families navigating separation due to child protection, incarceration, or crisis. We work with all parties — parents, children, and caseworkers — to rebuild safe, stable family relationships.
Therapeutic family contact sessions
Parenting capacity assessments & coaching
Court-report-ready progress documentation
Collaborative case planning with child protection
Family Preservation
Early intervention before crisis escalates. Our family preservation programs support at-risk families with intensive in-home support, parenting skills, and access to the full Soma allied health team — keeping children safely at home.
In-home therapeutic support
Crisis de-escalation & safety planning
Parenting skills and attachment coaching
Connection to housing, legal & financial support
Newborn & Early Parenting
Specialised support for new parents navigating the profound transition of early parenthood — particularly those facing mental health challenges, social isolation, or complex histories. Our registered nurses and perinatal specialists are with you from day one.
Perinatal mental health support
Breastfeeding & infant care guidance
Attachment and bonding programs
Registered nurse home visits for newborns
Children thrive in families. Families thrive with support.
Research consistently shows that children who remain with supported, therapeutically-engaged parents have significantly better outcomes across every measure — educational attainment, mental health, social development, and long-term wellbeing. Our programs exist to make that possible.
80%
of families in our preservation program avoid out-of-home placement
3×
better child outcomes when parents receive therapeutic support
Our People
Qualified. Screened.
Here for You.
Every person on the Soma team has been rigorously screened, credentialled, and trained in trauma-informed practice. You will never be supported by someone who hasn't earned the right to be in that room.
Screened & Verified
All support workers undergo Working With Children Checks, National Police Clearances, and reference verification before joining the team. No exceptions.
Registered & Enrolled Nurses
Our nursing team includes AHPRA-registered and enrolled nurses with specialisations in mental health, perinatal care, and community health.
Qualified Support Workers
Minimum Certificate IV in Community Services. Many hold degrees in social work, psychology, or allied health. All complete ongoing professional development.
Allied Health Team
Psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and dietitians — a full multidisciplinary team for every need.
Allied Health & Traditional Therapy Specialisms
Clinical Psychology
Social Work (AASW)
Mental Health Nursing
Perinatal & Infant Mental Health
Occupational Therapy
Speech Pathology
Dietetics & Nutrition
Trauma-Informed Counselling
Addiction & Dual Diagnosis
Family Therapy
Child & Adolescent Therapy
Somatic & Body-Based Therapy
Breathwork & Pranayama
Ayurvedic Medicine
Sound Therapy & Vibrational Healing
Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBCT/MBSR)
Forest Therapy & Nature Immersion
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yoga Therapy
Art & Expressive Therapies
100%
of support workers hold current police clearances and WWCC
AHPRA
Registered nurses — fully credentialled and insured
24/7
On-call clinical support for participants in crisis
Grow With Us
Partner. Sponsor.
Join the Mission.
Soma Wellness Science is building a global ecosystem of healing, research, and community impact. We welcome partners, sponsors, research collaborators, and passionate people who want to be part of something meaningful.
Corporate Partners & Sponsors
Align your organisation with evidence-based community wellbeing. Sponsorship supports our community programs, family services, and justice reform advocacy — and puts your brand alongside a mission that matters.
Named sponsorship of community programs
Co-branded research publications
Employee wellness program access
Impact reporting & social value metrics
Speaking opportunities at Soma events
Featured
Research & University Partners
We actively seek research partnerships with universities, institutes, and independent researchers working in trauma, neuroscience, community health, and justice reform. Our programs generate real-world data — and we want rigorous minds helping us understand it.
Research Funding
Subject to legal and regulatory compliance, Soma Wellness Science is committed to providing funding support to researchers and university partners whose work aligns with our mission. We encourage eligible institutions to reach out to discuss funding arrangements.
Access to de-identified participant outcome data
Co-authorship on published research
Funding support for aligned research projects
Embedded research placements within programs
Joint grant applications and ethics submissions
Join the Team
We are always looking for exceptional people — clinicians, support workers, researchers, and operational staff — who share our conviction that healing is a human right. If you are qualified, passionate, and ready to do meaningful work, we want to hear from you.
Registered & Enrolled Nurses (mental health, perinatal)
Social Workers & Case Managers
Psychologists & Counsellors
Allied Health Practitioners
Community Support Workers (Cert IV+)
Breathwork & Somatic Therapists
Ayurvedic Practitioners & Yoga Therapists
Sound Therapists & Mindfulness Teachers
Research & Program Evaluation roles
All partnership, sponsorship, research, and career enquiries
Reach us directly at [email protected] — we respond to every message personally within 24 hours.
Begin Your Journey
Your Next Chapter
Starts the 15th
Monthly programs in Bali, Chiang Mai, and Rishikesh. Airport pickup included. Accommodation included. 30-day integration support included.
All enquiries
[email protected]7-Day Program from $3,800 all-inclusive
10-Day Deep Immersion from $4,800 all-inclusive
Departs the 15th of every month
Airport pickup on arrival day
Premium accommodation throughout
30-day post-retreat integration support