Somatic Integration

“Somatic Integration” is a term I use to describe the process of healing through transformational, body-based modalities. These sessions include the full range of everything I offer. You can explore the different options on this page.
Humans are not mechanical beings assembled the way a car is, with parts crafted separately and then put together. Rather, we develop and adapt on multiple levels simultaneously.
Mind and body are not separate.
Working at the level of your body, whether through sensation, touch, movement, or subtle internal senses such as proprioception — can create system-wide change.
Somatic integration enables you to finally be truly free of the past and to fully embody the present.
Please read below to learn more about the specific trauma-healing, body-based modalities I am trained in.
Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a leading technique in trauma resolution. It is a short-term, natural, bottom-up approach that works with the body.
I am a fully certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP).
SE is among the most gentle trauma resolution techniques, suitable for highly sensitive nervous systems.
SE does not require the verbal recounting of traumatic incidents; it works directly with the nervous system.
Through dialogue, awareness, and sometimes gentle touch, the SE process first establishes a safe container. A feeling of embodied safety is necessary before further work can continue.
Once safety is established, we can allow suppressed emotions and thwarted survival responses to rise to the surface and find release, completion, and coherence.
This whole process gradually brings your system back into balance – sometimes completely resolving symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
Sometimes, the initial stabilizing work is all that’s necessary for someone to feel better. Other times, healing takes place over many months.
How long it takes depends how far back the trauma is rooted. Sometimes the process feels slow or frustrating; at other times, fast and expansive growth is possible.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away.
Many patterns go very deep in the past or in the family/ancestral history. These patterns require time and repetition to unwind.
The result of somatic work is often a feeling of increased spaciousness, capacity, regulation, groundedness, and coming home to oneself.
Life itself can open up.
Our vitality, which was trapped in harmful mental and physical patterns, can be free to flow again.
For many people, the changes are so profound that family members, friends, and coworkers notice and comment! Check out some of my testimonials here.
Compassionate Inquiry
Compassionate Inquiry (CI) was developed by Gabor Maté. CI is a dialogue process that can help unearth and unravel the deeper sources of harmful patterns.
It is gentle, body-based, client-centered and present-moment-centered.
Very often, our reactions are rooted in past experiences and not actually based on the present. CI helps us gain a deeper understanding of the roots of our pain through a gentle inquiry process.
This process can create lasting shifts in perspective through deep insight that arises spontaneously.
CI is especially useful when a client is aware of a pattern, but unsure where it comes from.
When paired with SE and other embodiment tools, it can be a powerful source of revelation and healing.