Healing Trauma
Let’s talk about trauma. 
“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”
Peter A Levine.
You thought you put the past behind you and moved on.
On paper, you are doing everything right. You have a job and a family, but sometimes, a smell, a sound, or an image brings it all back. Your heart is beating fast, you feel like you can’t breathe, and you become anxious or angry. Or maybe you freeze.
Sometimes it seems impossible to get through basic daily tasks, your migraines are getting worse, and so are your digestive issues. You might dread being alone, or you try to avoid social interactions at all costs.
If you tried therapy before and didn’t get the results you wanted, you know that words aren’t enough to process what you’ve experienced.
It’s time to let go. But how?
What is a somatic approach to trauma therapy, and how can it help?
A somatic approach to trauma focuses on the body’s physiological responses while taking emotions, thoughts, and behavior into account.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which emphasizes cognitive and emotional processing, somatic therapy addresses trauma stored in the body, affecting posture, muscle tension, movement patterns, and sensorial responses.
I will be honored to support and guide you safely through this journey.
The work plan is divided into three main categories.
1)Two types of somatic exercise
A) Gentle Movement Exercises designed to increase and enhance a sense of grounding and centering, so you feel safe in your body.
B) ‘Calm-down tricks’: Science-based self-regulation skills to use when you’re triggered and need to calm down. These are easy-to-perform skills that you could implement right away.
Then we will identify some of the physical responses you assosiate with negative feelings, such as freezing, rapid heartbeats, shallow breathing, tight shoulders, stomachaches, headaches, and nausea. Some of these sensations are common, while some are individual. Identifying these sensations is the first step in using self-regulation tools and skills, allowing you to ground yourself in reality, calm down, and take control before the situation escalates.
2) Trauma and somatic practice education: Understanding the science behind Trauma and anxiety can help you not only engage with the healing process, but also identify what methods and tools work for you. I aspire to give you the power to control your healing process so you don’t become dependent on me like in some other types of therapies.
3) I will gently guide you through an integrative somatic practice (Somatic Experiencing), focusing on integrating bodily sensation, thoughts, memories, and emotions so you can explore how your story is affecting you in the present moment
A safe and stable foundation is crucial for a successful process. This is why we will practice grounding and centering, emphasizing your inner strengths and outer resources. All the techniques used with the Balansa Method are based on Bodily sensations and movement patterns.
Emily* started to work with me because traumatic childhood experiences caused her anxiety throughout her whole adult life. After working together for a while, she called me to share a win: She went skiing with her friends, and as she got out of the car at their favorite site, she became anxious and felt as if a panic attack was about to start. She grounded herself through breathing exercises and other techniques we practiced together, and as she began to feel calmer, she realized: ‘I wasn’t anxious, I was excited!”
Emily’s ability to identify and recognize bodily sensations helped her take control and stop the vicious cycle of anxiety and panic. Then, she was able to explore her sensations even deeper, and she learned that some of her anxiety sensations are similar to the ones she experiences when she is excited. She also discovered that some of them are different.
With somatic therapy and practice, you can regain control and experience a calmer, safer, and more joyful life.
Let’s get the healing started. Call me for a free 30-minute consultation: (201) 639-1406.