SOMATIC EXPERIENCING THERAPY IN Avon & ACROSS IN

Find healing through compassion and curiosity.

Experience profound change & long-lasting relief with Somatic Experiencing.

Schedule a consultation

No matter what you do, nothing is working.

Do you feel like you’re stuck? This cycle of struggle keeps on spinning and it’s hard to imagine a life where you aren’t constantly in pain or having a hard time in your relationships. Even getting a good night’s sleep is difficult, often accompanied by nightmares or insomnia. Something might have happened to you and you’re starting to recognize that you just haven’t been the same since.

Managing all the things on your plate—not to mention how you feel on the inside—seems like an impossible task. Wouldn’t it be so nice to finally feel like you were living in the present instead of always stuck in the past?

Honoring our body’s sensations paves the way for profound transformation.

How it works

Somatic Experiencing is centered on healing the nervous system.

So we won’t be focusing solely on the events that have caused you pain or stress, but rather on how those events are stored in your body. Often, this manifests as a stuck fight, flight, or freeze response. 

Through techniques like somatic touch and auditory interventions, we'll work on regulation and co-regulation. What does that mean? Regulation is all about helping your nervous system return to a state of balance and calm. This can involve deep breathing, grounding exercises, or gentle movement. Co-regulation, on the other hand, means using my calm and regulated presence to help your nervous system find its balance. It’s like borrowing my calmness until you can find your own.

In sessions, we'll gently explore how your body responds to stress and challenges. I’ll help you uncover the unique ways your brain has helped you survive, and together, we’ll transform these patterns toward more supportive ways of living. Unlike traditional talk therapy, our focus will be on easing survival responses rather than just gaining insight.

Somatic Experiencing honors your whole experience—thoughts, feelings, and your body's responses—and is designed to empower your nervous system, help you heal from trauma, and deepen your self-understanding. By learning to tolerate both discomfort and joy, you'll develop a stronger, more confident approach to navigating your personal ups and downs.

Somatic experiencing…

  • Balances & helps control emotions

  • Boosts overall well-being

  • Builds resilience 

  • Reduces stress & finds calm

  • Supports your physical health

  • Connects your mind & body

  • Helps you feel more in control of your life

  • Improves relationships

WHAT IS SOMATIC TOUCH?

Somatic Touch is a nurturing, hands-on approach designed to help your body move from a state of survival to one of thriving and flow. 

Rooted in the work of Kathy Kain, this technique uses light touch and gentle body movements to support your nervous system in finding balance. Depending on what you’re struggling with, (complex or developmental trauma or any form of trauma) somatic touch can help create new pathways in your neurophysiology, resetting your body towards safety and relaxation.

Somatic touch therapy can aid in healing scars and physical injuries, falls, high-velocity injuries, and medical trauma. It is also beneficial for addressing complex and developmental trauma, promoting overall emotional and physical recovery.

In a session, you might sit in a comfortable chair or lie fully clothed on a massage table while we focus on areas like the kidney or adrenals, brainstem, or ankles. We’ll always begin with a conversation to ensure your comfort and consent, then move forward at your own pace. This work is profoundly different from traditional bodywork because it aims to relieve deeply ingrained stress patterns and enhance your overall well-being. You’ll find that it promotes deep relaxation, an increased awareness of pleasant sensations in the body, and a significant calming of the nervous system.

TRAINING & EDUCATION


My training has been extensive and specialized in various somatic approaches:

  • Somatic Experiencing (SEP): Completed a comprehensive 3-year, 8-module, 36-day training process. Certification requirements included a minimum of 12 hours of personal sessions and 18 hours of case consultation with advanced-level practitioners. I obtained my SEP certificate in 2022 and remain engaged through ongoing personal sessions and monthly consultations.

  • Somatic Touch: I pursued two additional years of training under Kathy Kain, spanning 6 modules.

  • Embodied Recovery: Completed a rigorous two-year training program integrating somatic practices with attachment and trauma work. This certification process incorporated Polyvagal Theory, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy,  IFS informed, and body-based practices under Bonnie Brainbridge.

  • Polyvagal Theory: Completed a one-year training program with Deb Dana and Stephen Porges, focusing on understanding the autonomic nervous system's role in trauma and recovery.

Each training program has equipped me with in-depth knowledge and practical skills to support clients effectively in their healing journey. If you’re a current student in Somatic Experiencing Training please reach out.

emotional freedom

Take the first step toward emotional freedom by tuning into your senses.

Schedule a Consultation

Are you a therapist interested in Somatic Experiencing training?

I have assisted in Somatic Experiencing Trainings in the US and Canada. I am also an approved session provider for beginning and intermediate levels for students learning Somatic Experiencing.

FAQs

  • Somatic experiencing is a good fit for someone who:

    • Has tried different therapies but hasn't seen the progress they want

    • Is interested in combining talk therapy with a body-based approach 

    • Knows chronic stress has taken a toll

    • Has faced a life-changing stressful event

    • Wants to be truly seen and heard

    • Looking for new ways to break out of old patterns

  • Unlike other bodywork or energy approaches, Somatic Experiencing & Somatic Touch never uses forceful pressure like in a massage. Instead, we focus on supporting regulation and renegotiation of how the body stores experiences, with gentle intention and attention.

    While dramatic releases can feel good temporarily, they often overwhelm the nervous system and don't promote long-term healing. We avoid forcing any processes; instead, we create a safe environment that allows your nervous system to initiate healing, which we support.

    In our work together, you'll learn about the biological processes of survival and safety, understanding how your system has protected you and how it manifests in your life patterns. We believe that slow is fast and less is more, supporting your nervous system towards lasting healing. You are always an active participant in the process, rather than a passive recipient.

  • Licensed providers are trained to practice in their scope of practice and held accountable by a governing body of ethics. The benefit of working with a licensed professional is they have completed education, internships, and licensing exams. The word ‘somatic’ is everywhere these days, so as a potential client, it’s helpful to know the difference between qualifications, as well as if the clinician is trauma-informed vs. trauma-trained. 

    Here are some things to consider:

    • Ask about credentials. What training have they completed to work on this level? How much of the training was in person? What was the length of time of each training and did they complete the steps for full certification? Trauma-informed is different from trauma-trained, and as a potential client, it’s important to understand the difference. Ensure that the practitioner you are considering is trained to a level that best meets your therapeutic needs.

    • Ask “How can you help me?”A trained practitioner will be able to give you a general outline of how they can help. Their answer should include more than just noticing what is happening in your body and should be tailored to your specific needs and goals in receiving treatment.

    • Ask yourself: Do I feel comfortable with them? When you speak to a practitioner, ask yourself if you feel a sense of ease with the interaction. It's crucial to feel comfortable and at ease with your therapist to foster a successful therapeutic relationship.

  • You can still try Somatic Experiencing without Somatic Touch. This experience is yours, so you’ll always be in charge of what you’d like to try within Somatic therapy. I’m available to answer any questions or concerns you might have about this approach. 

  • Sessions are typically 60 minutes. I will mention, as a therapist who prides themselves on being committed and “in it for the long haul” I want you to know that from my perspective, there isn’t a specific timeline in regards to your therapy experience as a whole. I’m happy to take as many sessions and as long as you need to find lasting, meaningful change.

  • Yes. I offer Somatic Experiencing virtually so you can engage in this process from the comfort of your home. Different methods related to it, like Somatic Touch, require you to be in person.