somatic experiencing (SE)

Trauma recovery cannot ignore the body.

SE is a highly specialized body oriented approach aimed at resolving emotional stress in the nervous system.

 
 

Emotions are often signals from the body

Somatic therapy works in the interplay between our physiological state and our emotions.

Consistent research in the field of physiology, medicine, neuroscience, and psychotherapy confirm that our physiological state influences our emotional state (and the inverse is true).

‘Emotion’ is the word we give to a symphony of experiences — somatic, cognitive, behavioral and physiological. However, most psychotherapy tends to focus on only two of these channels, the behavioral and cognitive without consideration that experiences such as trauma live in the somatic channel. Through carefully selected psychophysiological interventions, somatic experiencing works directly with the body and nervous system to identify and shift somatic patterns that have remained ‘stuck’ as a result of trauma, accidents, or chronic pain and disease.

Techniques such as sensation tracking and resourcing allow people to understand how their mind and body are connected and to use that understanding to become more equipped to cope with painful triggers and experiences. Somatic Experiencing was originally developed to treat the effects of acute trauma but has evolved to be a dynamic treatment that is effective for decreasing stress and anxiety responses, reducing chronic pain, and increasing work and athletic performance.

Everyone can benefit from learning how to become better in touch with the rhythm of their nervous system, especially those who have experienced chronic stress or trauma.

Conditions i work with:

  • trauma and stress disorders

  • Chronic pain and somatic disorders

  • autoimmune disorders (i.e. hashimoto’s disease)

 

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Trauma is fundamentally a disturbance in the ability to be in the here and now.” — van der Kolk

 

I use SE in combination with principles of neuroscience and the physiology behind trauma to work with the effects of complex and developmental trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, and toxic family systems. I am trauma recovery trained through the Somatic Experiencing Institute (SETI) and my clinical experience leading a nationally-recognized young adult mental health program where I worked regularly with complex trauma cases. My trauma work is comprehensive and focuses on healing the nervous system, improving resilience, and integrating mind, body, and emotions.

 

Dr. Natalie’s Somatic Therapy Training:

• Somatic experiencing professional 3-year training program: Beginning III, Intermediate III and Advanced II (touch)

• Integrating somatic experiencing and emotionally focused therapy, facilitated by Dr. Peter Levine and Dr. Sue Johnson

• Working with domestic violence survivors through a somatic lens

 

support is just a click away.

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Coherence can be defined as: Connected, Open, Harmonious, Engaged, Receptive, Emerging, Noetic, Compassionate, Empathic. The movement toward wellbeing is a movement toward Integration. Coherence entails a flexible state of harmony that embraces the many aspects of neural functioning and interpersonal connections… brain stem, limbic/right and left hemisphere processes. As Integration is achieved across the numerous dimensions of living, a sense of the unity of being is revealed.
— Daniel J. Siegel, (in press) Mindsight