Michelle Hollingbrooks' extraordinary story begins with a mosquito bite that changed everything. At thirteen, this seemingly insignificant event transmitted equine encephalitis, causing her brain to swell and plunging her into a seven-day coma. The aftermath was devastating – she awoke blind, deaf, partially paralyzed, and with no memory whatsoever. Unlike a newborn baby with established connections from the womb, Michelle describes awakening as a "blank slate" with no understanding of who she was or even what it meant to be human.
This profound disconnection forced Michelle to develop extraordinary body awareness. Unable to communicate verbally and with no memory to draw upon, she became hyper-attuned to energy and somatic cues, learning to read others' bodies as a survival mechanism. These skills now form the foundation of her work as a trauma-informed somatic coach, where she helps others reconnect with their own body wisdom.
The most remarkable aspect of Michelle's journey? The very creature associated with her illness – the horse – became central to her healing. After establishing her nonprofit Unbridled Change, Michelle discovered how horses provide unparalleled opportunities for trauma recovery. She shares a powerful story of a traumatized teen whose breakthrough came when a therapy horse named Barry chose to move toward her during an emotional outburst rather than flee, creating a safe container for authentic emotional processing that no office-bound therapist could replicate.
Michelle's approach blends somatic awareness with spiritual dimensions, recognizing that true healing requires addressing body, mind, and soul as an integrated whole. She views healing not as "fixing" something broken but as "remembering we're already whole" – a profound perspective gained through her own journey back to embodiment. Today, she offers coaching both in-person and virtually, hosts the Soulful Practices podcast, and has authored "The Horse Cure" with a second book on somatic healing coming in 2025.
Ready to reconnect with your own body wisdom? Explore Michelle's work at unbridledchange.org and discover how somatic awareness can transform your relationship with trauma, helping you find the medicine within your own wounds.