Welcome! I’m so Glad You’re Here.

Nic Despres is a ritualist, somatic practitioner, song carrier, fire and Grief tender based in the Grand River Watershed of West Michigan.

My Journey in Healing & Bodywork

Following the golden threads of holistic healing, somatic awareness, and parts work, I was led to the Vitalist Institute, where I learned trauma-informed bodywork, working with the 5 Personality Patterns, breathwork, and parts work. During this time I began learning Reiki to combine bodywork with a foundation of energy work.

As I continued my learning with the Vitalist Institute, I deepened my understanding of body-centered healing, nervous system regulation, and somatic therapy techniques through mentorship, independent study, and hands-on client work.

I began working with clients to integrate these modalities and support individuals in their healing journeys in 2023 and am committed to the continuous apprenticeship of these modalities.

Ritual, grief, and cultural emergence

Beyond individual healing, my work with Grief and recognition of cultural rupture has led me to hold community Grief rituals and apprentice in holding youth rites of passage, a part of a long-term vision embraced by a network of village-tenders to guide teenage boys through adolescence.

I aspire to practice rituals that restore deep kinship bonds and webs of resilience. I see Grief rituals as holding an intimate place among the cycles and responsibilities of a community- alongside others such as youth rites of passage and rituals of elderhood.

Created alongside gifted teachers, rewilders, and village-tenders, I co-guide Firetenders, a recurring 6-week outdoor program for boys aged 10-13.

🔗 Learn more about Firetenders here.

With gratitude,
Nic Despres