|
I offer therapy sessions for individuals, couples and groups. My
understanding of somatic psychology is integrated into all of my
work.
I draw on many different conceptual orientations including: feminist,
systems, and anti-oppressive theories, gestalt, narrative and
resistance knowledges.
I also offer training and clinical consultation for social workers,
therapists, community practitioners and agencies, and provide the
teaching of body literacy practices to individuals and groups.
I am also associated with
www.mandalacounsellinggroup.com HEALING on
a Somatic Level:
Working with Self-Regulation in the Nervous System
Somatic healing principles were birthed from research in the fields
of neuroscience, ethology and psychology yielding an understanding of
the relationship between symptoms in the body and nervous system
dysregulation. The relationship between unprocessed relational and
shock trauma and physical, behavioral, emotional and spiritual
symptoms of dysregulation are becoming increasingly more apparent.
Somatic psychology considers how we are biologically programmed with
emergency response systems that are set in motion when there is a
threat (real or perceived) of harm to ourselves or to others. The
flight or fight response entails a great deal of survival energy and
when our response to the threatening event is thwarted, our body
instinctively moves into a freeze response. This can occur when our
thwarted response is of a physical, protective nature or of a verbal,
psychological nature. The highly charged energies in the nervous
system are similar to having the brakes and the gas on at the same
time. The nervous system presumes that the threat still exists,
despite evidence to the contrary.
As humans in the western world tend to be ruled by our neo-cortex,
our thinking selves take over and we disregard our body's desire to
discharge this surplus of energy. It is very common, in our day and
age, to brush aside overwhelming experiences and to leave them
unprocessed. However, the coupling of the gas and the brakes in the
nervous system leaves a sense of overwhelm. The following represent
symptoms that can result: depression
anxiety
hyper-alertness
sleep disorders
autoimmune dysfunctions
and
eventually chronic illness.
Overwhelming experiences can be processed in a gentle way where the
focus is on the body's emotional and sensory data, rather than on
the details of the actual event.
This work helps with the settling
of nervous systems so that the body's ability to self-regulate is
restored. Ultimately, this leads to a greater sense of aliveness.
The focus in on natural healing processes of the human body, mind,
spirit and soul. See: www.traumahealing.com |
