Rising Strong Wellness

Address common questions ahead of time to save ‘Soma’ is a Greek word for ‘the living body known from within’, or known to the Self. This ‘knowing’ signifies wholeness. Somatic therapy is an experiential approach towards mindbody integration. The pain, overwhelm, and coping responses manifested by trauma take us away from feeling at home in our body, and as a result there is often a split within ourselves. Somatic Therapy helps: • Restore the body as a place of safety while helping to expand the capacity to process body (preverbal and nonverbal) memory • Metabolize unprocessed emotions • Complete thwarted (incomplete) stress responses • Restore our optimal relationship to our self and the world around us. Somatic trauma therapy offers techniques for clients to sense and regulate their own physiology and states of being. This includes building more internal and external resources, building trusting and co-regulatory relationships, learning to turn inward with compassion, being invited deeper in the body, and given time and space to process the trauma. These somatics techniques unwind trauma and restore well being. THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE THAT HEALING AND INTEGRATION HAPPENS THROUGH OUR BODY'S PRIMAL LANGUAGE OF MOVEMENT, BREATH, AND SENSATION. ADDITIONALLY, BODY AWARENESS HELPS US ACCESS AN INTERNAL SOURCE OF WISDOM THAT GUIDES THE HEALING PROCESS AND BUILDS RESILIENCE.

A holistic approach to trauma defines trauma not as an event, but rather as a disruption and overwhelm to our body-mind’s capacity to adapt, thrive, and flourish. Trauma can occur when: There is too much too soon There is too much for too long There is not enough for too long Power and agency have been taken away from the person or collective. The stressors outweigh the resources available to navigate them. When our primal protective instincts, intuitions, and responses are thwarted. There is not enough time, space, or permission to heal It is essential that we consider social, developmental, and cultural factors. By not acknowledging these contextual factors we do a disservice. The symptoms of trauma may occur immediately or emerge over time from the compounding stress and challenges of processing and adapting to the experiences of life. Symptoms of trauma emerge as the body and mind attempt to cope with and resolve the stressors. The effects of trauma may include: Physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, tightness in the body, muscle tension, digestion challenges, and constrictions around the breath. Emotional symptoms such as flatness / inability to feel, fear, anxiety, panic, overwhelm, loss of choice, difficulty feeling comforted, anger, and shame. Trauma can lead to feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, and groundlessness. It interferes with our ability to feel real in body and mind, it disrupts our very sense of existence, and takes us away from the present moment.

It doesn't matter if we are working together in person or virtually... you can expect compassion! We begin our time together by simply arriving. Getting present and connecting with our bodies. Each session we utilize modalities like trauma informed yoga, dance, art, breathing, EFT tapping and more to bring you to a deeper awareness of what is happening in your body and life. You will gain insights and tool to help you navigate some of life's hardest situations. You can expect a safe, accepting place where all parts of you, and all emotions are welcome.

I utilize a heart based payment plan or a "sliding scale." Those that can pay the full amount are asked to do so in order to provide accessible care to those that cannot at this time. We all get to heal as the collective! We all get to care for each other. This is re-evaluated every 3 months. Payment is due at the time of scheduling unless otherwise arranged. There is a no-show and late cancel fee.

Start with an open heart and a commitment to heal and be real! Wear something comfortable. Arrive 5 minutes or so prior to our time together just to get settled and to quiet your mind. We will take it from there.

As with anything therapeutic ... everyone is different! I recommend 6-8 sessions consistently to gain some really valuable tools. Some people find they need to continue, some people take a break and come back often, some people end there.