Many individuals attempt to think their way out of anxiety or depression, but forcing oneself out of the physical experience often leads to increased stress. While talk counseling offers some helpful tools, it frequently overlooks the larger reality that the mind and body are interconnected.
Somatic therapy enables you to recognize the sensations and the emotions linked to those feelings. You can begin to engage with these sensations with curiosity, rather than pushing them away. Suppressing old wounds is akin to packing a box in the basement of your body labeled “trauma – do not open,” and eventually, that box starts to fall apart from the pressure to ignore it.
At times, the body responds to triggers without conscious choice; this reaction stems from an old survival mechanisms. It manifests as automatic responses of fear, collapse, or freezing, serving as a form of self-protection. This is why talk therapy may not always be effective. Talk counseling can be beneficial for issues like grief or marital concerns, as many people appreciate having their stories heard. I create a space to validate past experiences; however, it’s not essential to repeatedly recount traumatic events for healing to occur.
Transforming Touch® Therapy
This approach employs therapeutic touch to facilitate healing in relationships, helping the body establish somatic trust and address the narrative that you are alone, cannot trust anyone, and do not need anyone because you have always managed on your own.
Somatic Experiencing® Therapy
This therapy focuses on developing the “Felt Sense” muscle, enhancing your ability to be present with sensations or body pain, and integrating the mind-body connection to identify the emotions and reactions associated with those sensations.
Internal Family Systems® Therapy
Together, we explore, befriend, and update the smaller, wounded parts of you, allowing your true Self to reclaim its rightful leadership within the system. This process blends somatic therapy with counseling, enabling you to cultivate skills in self-compassion, curiosity, and clarity between your Self-Energy and your various parts.
Contact me for a 20 minute free consultation.
Located out of Kelowna, BC, I provide in-person appointments to Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and surrounding communities. I also provide on-line appointments to clients across Canada.