Somatic Experiencing®
Somatic Experiencing® - Developed by Dr. Peter Levine
This is different.
Effective, gentle and different.
Often clients want to try Somatic Experiencing® when other therapy did not work.
You've already talked about the trauma.
You've maybe even done "trauma therapy" like EMDR or another approach. Yet still, you are suffering and tired of it.
Somatic Experiencing® supports clients to find relief from the symptoms of trauma or chronic stress by working with the physical body's connection to the brain.
This isn't dependent on your physical abilities or shape, or anything like getting an adjustment or doing yoga.
Although we talk about how you're thinking about the problems, we know that thinking alone doesn't change the problems.
Trauma - Having experiences that were too much, too soon, too fast, or not enough for too long.
Complex PTSD or Developmental Trauma = (Generally) Experiencing trauma during childhood,
when the brain and our relationship patterns are developing.
Medical diagnoses and pain patterns can often do together,
causing even more distress and symptoms. Relief and at least improvement is possible.
"While trauma is a fact of life, it does not have to be a life sentence." - Dr. Peter Levine
This truth is a guiding principal of Somatic Experiencing®.
This is a useful, gentle approach to resolve trauma which we know is stored in the body.
Somatic Experiencing® is offered by Victoria Ford, LMFT -
she has nearly completed a 3 year advanced professional training,
including hours over years of practicums in Somatic Experiencing®
Cultivate resiliency and regulation
We can get stuck in patterns of contraction & tension, or disconnection and cutoff, or we might be moving back and forth.
It's possible to reshape these patterns and feel restored.
Somatic Experiencing® supports a sense of overall wellness, peace, aliveness and goodness.
As a therapist, I have received Somatic Experiencing® sessions as a part of my training. I never even knew how much relief was possible.
Similar to recovering from the flu, sometimes we suddenly we feel so much better, and realize "how bad" or taxing our physical and mental experience really was.
We confuse "feeling better" with full healing - until we feel it.
We can confuse "survival mode" with "thriving mode" if we're busy enough, successful enough and tired enough.
Until it really is Enough.
That happened for me! And I'd love to support you in finding freedom also.
I have dedicated the last 3 years, in both personal and professional time, practice and trainings to offer you this specialized, unique and effective support.
Who benefits?
Chronic Stress
History of Trauma -Psychological, Physical or Sexual
History of Medical trauma
may include experiences affecting the ability to breathe
(near drowning, asthma, etc)
Preparation for medical procedure
Birth trauma (your own or in giving birth)
Falls
Chronic Pain or Chronic Illness
Find out more general information here:
Link here to learn more about what is Somatic Experiencing®.
Contact Victoria Ford for scheduling.
Research article links for SE and PTSD
SE Session
What is a Somatic Experiencing® Session like?
There is nothing like having the experience, so a consultation is probably the best way to find out how this might look for you.
Of course this will depend on your situation and goal for your sessions.
At the beginning, SE will feel like familiar "talk therapy" where you might share about your current concerns and situation, what you'd like to be different, and what links you might be connecting in your own life.
I'll teach some about the nervous system so that we have a common language and understanding of why it's relevant, and how this will help.
You learn how your thinking mind might be experiencing something different than your body and behaviors.
We will be curious about how you might be experiencing your emotions or thoughts in your body, such as tension, tight muscles, or a pleasant experience like breathing easily and feeling a sense of warmth in your face or chest. You may have no idea and feel nothing...and that is ok and not unusual.
You can't do this wrong!
We are supporting your nervous system to have some flow and flexibility, versus feeling "stuck" in states that feel rigid and tense, or kind of numb.
Dr. Peter Levine's theory is that some symptoms can be a result of incomplete self defense responses at the time of an overwhelming event, or cumulative stress, that keeps the stress response looping and activated instead of finding restoration.
In session that will look like pauses to slow down experiences so you can move through and integrate a new experience, while you're observing and curious, and supported by your therapist.
You learn some methods we practice in session, and learn to use them more on your own. This is a gentle therapy.
And then the possibility is to feel at home within your own body, and respond to others in a more useful and helpful way, that feels good to you. It's like a homecoming to yourself, in a safe way.
I found it to be so freeing and gentle, and it's changed my life! I continue my own personal sessions to stay healthy - for you and for me.
Warmly,
Victoria Ford
For Somatic Experiencing® Students:
If you are interested in a practice group, contact Victoria Ford.
I love hosting a local zoom monthly group of Somatic Experiencing® students for kind practice, improving skills, and sharing support and professional community. All levels of experience are welcome; from completion of Beginning One.