Somatic Experiencing/Embodied Counseling

Service Description

NOTE You can book a single session, or multiple package sessions at a discounted rate: 3 x sessions $360 Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented approach to trauma treatment. Developed by Dr. Peter Levine after more than 45 years of multidisciplinary study and clinical practice and is supported by clinical research, including Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory. When we feel overwhelmed by trauma, talk alone isn’t always so useful. SE focuses on going to the unspoken voice of our bodies. This is a mainstream branch of psychotherapy that emphasizes the integration of mind and body. This somatic therapy relieves emotional and bodily stress which has become trapped within the autonomic nervous system following a traumatic experience or series of experiences. Since trauma is locked and blocked at a body level, we need to free it at a body level. With many of us living in our heads, Somatic Experiencing helps people access information not only at a cognitive level, but also at sensation, behavioural, imaginal and emotional levels. Trauma symptoms are not caused by the event itself, but by our reaction to the event. Through awareness, coherence and self-regulation, the result is a deeper understanding of body/mind connection with improved ability to release and regulate emotions. This approach prioritizes the mind-body connection to help address both physical and psychological symptoms of certain mental health concerns which could include: Sexual Abuse Invasive medical procedures Physical or sexual assault Emotional abuse or neglect Birth trauma Depression Accidents or natural disasters What to expect: This is not talk therapy. Somatic Experiencing engages focused awareness of bodily sensations to engage innate self-regulation and healing. It helps you develop body awareness to "renegotiate" and heal trauma rather than relive or re-enact trauma. It titrates traumatic material with highly resourced states while maintaining awareness of the bodily "felt sense," and allowing time and space for the highly aroused survival energies to be safely experienced and gradually discharged, building greater inner resiliency, self-regulation, and wellness. Somatic Experiencing is experienced as your own journey of healing/rather than someone else "healing you." It helps the nervous system better organize and restores its ability to modulate between “ready for action” and “rest and digest” modes. *Cancellations within 24 hours may result in full payment required.