About Healing
This may surprise you, but…
Healing trauma and chronic stress aren’t all about wading through the murky darkness of your soul. It is also a process of re-discovering yourself.
If you struggle with high levels of stress and anxiety that feel like they are tearing you apart, this healing work can feel like a soothing balm on tired skin.
You’re here because you are tired of living with things the way they are, and you want a change. You might be reactive to your partner and kids and then beat yourself up afterward.
You just want to be heard and feel like all you do is listen.
Do you feel completely disconnected from your body? Have you had experiences or past trauma that have made you feel unsafe in your skin?
You can be your own safe space. I promise it’s possible. Healing your nervous system and past trauma IS possible, and with Somatic Experiencing, we take it slow.
Think about being in the middle of a busy marketplace…
Colors, sights, sounds, people, and smells drift around in a chaotic, colorful mass. You glimpse a man walking a line of chickens loosely tied together with a rope. An intense yet sweet aroma fills your nose and mouth. The dust and heat irritate your skin. You spot a vendor with cool drinks ahead, and your mouth waters slightly.
As you stand in the middle of mayhem, how do you feel?
Are you getting agitated, absorbing all of the chaos of the external environment?
Do you disconnect from your body just to “get through it”?
Or are you an oasis unto yourself, staying present in your internal environment despite what’s happening around you?
Much of our work will focus on helping you feel connected and alive!
Our work together will be guided by something called “Somatic Experiencing.”
Let’s go back to that marketplace…
Wouldn’t it be nice to observe the changes in your body without shutting down (subtly or completely)?
What if you could stay present and partner with yourself, even when you feel uncomfortable?
This is the kind of self-regulation that Somatic Experiencing is all about.
The marketplace within…
We won’t travel to a crowded marketplace during our sessions, but you will visit and intimately learn about your internal landscape.
The landscape may sometimes feel jagged, empty, or tumultuous. You may discover the stormy seas that lie just beneath your breastbone.
But you will also find tranquil pools and the strength of tree roots.
You will know yourself and find comfort in inhabiting your body.
Here’s how it works…
In our sessions, I will ask you to notice what happens in moments of “okayness” or goodness. It is nearly impossible to start becoming present in your body if you only focus on the things that feel terrible inside!
One of the benefits of this work is that you are encouraged to slow down and notice when you feel GOOD.
And if you are reading this and thinking, “Well, crap, I never feel good,” you are not my only client to say that! You WILL feel better. It’s the beauty and magic of this work.
This isn’t “woo” or some disconnected, floaty idea.
It makes sense.
You may have never been able to experience goodness, calmness, or security in your own body. For whatever reason, this wasn’t safe for you.
So, how can you expect to feel MORE of that if you have no idea what it feels like in the first place?
When you build your nervous system and body capacity to feel good, you’ll learn how to experience more of it.
One of my past clients, an author, and retreat host, Bea…
…can testify to the value of Somatic Experiencing. Feeling good is something she practices daily.
As she recognizes and notices what feels good in her body, she finds she can take in the good, and more of it comes to her.
She walks the expanse of her land in Texas and feels the sun on her face and the breeze gently blowing on her skin. She sees her retreat center become reality, with several small structures and glamping tents now available on her property. She lets the goodness in her body propel her forward as she brings her vision into reality. She enjoys and savors the pleasant sensations in her body. She knows and trusts they will return again and again.
Are you ready to start feeling good?
Somatic Experiencing isn’t a single-use, “Boom, you’re healed!” kind of tool.
You will heal, and your healing will take exactly the amount of time YOUR body and system need.
Somatic Experiencing always stays with you because your nervous system and approach to the world will shift.
Aren’t you ready to get back to life??
Give me a call today for your free consultation. Let’s talk about how I can help: (619) 432-2991.
About Me
I’ve had some pretty dark periods in my life.
I remember one in particular…
I was a hopeless alcoholic and couldn’t stop.
My partner was leaving me.
I was a shell of a person. Devastated and alone, I didn’t know my next step, but I knew I couldn’t continue that way.
I had hit bottom.
The good thing about hitting bottom is that there’s only one way to go…
And that’s up.
So, I went to a 12-step meeting where I heard my own life in the speaker’s story. I went up and hugged him at the end of the meeting. At last, I had SOME hope.
I went to more meetings, cried a LOT, and started to get my footing.
I ended up going to a therapist who specializes in Somatic Experiencing, and it wasn’t long before I started having access to my inner world. I could notice when I felt okay… even good.
It was by accident, but I had stumbled onto Somatic Experiencing.
I took long walks on the cliffs every morning, occasionally stopping to engage my senses.
I noticed the salty air, sun, and breeze on my skin.
I noticed the knots starting to unclench from my stomach and the smooth and expansive space that began to take its place.
I learned to observe and feel my internal landscape and find comfort in my body and being. I had moments of calm stillness inside and began to trust myself.
My educational and spiritual road has been long and winding.
As a young woman in my early 20s, I lived simply in a yurt on the land, participating in sweat lodges and Native American ceremonies.
I’ve attended a healing arts school high in the mountains, studying massage therapy, herbology, and Chinese medicine.
I’ve made several ten-day silent Vipassana meditation retreats, deepening my connection to inner stillness and learning a breathing practice that still guides me to this day.
I’ve lived in Costa Rica on a farm, studying permaculture and organic gardening. The four years of Spanish I had in high school were very useful!
While in Central America, I trekked through the muddy jungle, spotting brilliantly colored scarlet macaws and toucans, being wary of “cocodrilos” on the riverbanks.
I’ve even spent time in Hawaii, driving to and from the beach in a battered old Subaru, surfing, swimming, watching waves, and exploring underwater worlds.
When I’m not doing therapy…
I love spending time outdoors and am blessed to be within driving distance of the High Sierra mountains.
In the warmer months, I often hike or backpack, and winter finds me snowboarding during the snowy season! I’ve come to love boogie boarding in the cool Pacific Ocean and find it easy to access joy on a warm day here in San Diego.
I am fascinated with historical fiction about women in the World War II era and love spending relaxed time reading in my downtime.