Trauma Recovery Counselling: A Holistic Approach to Healing
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner I offer a compassionate and integrative approach to trauma recovery that addresses not only the psychological and emotional aspects of trauma but also the physiological, psychosocial and spiritual dimensions of healing.
My Qualifications:
As a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), I’ve completed a comprehensive three-year training program in Somatic Experiencing, where I learned to work with the nervous system and help people process trauma through a body-centered approach. My training has provided me with a deep understanding of how trauma manifests in the body and how to guide clients toward healing and resilience.
In addition to my certification, I have the privilege of assisting with Somatic Experiencing trainings, where I help support the next generation of practitioners. This experience has further enriched my understanding of SE, allowing me to continue learning while sharing this powerful modality with others.
I’m dedicated to using these skills to create a safe and supportive environment where you can explore and heal trauma, at your own pace, through the wisdom of your body.
I deeply believe in the power of holistic healing, where all aspects of your being are supported to restore balance, meaning, and vitality.
Somatic Experiencing®
What is Somatic Experiencing (SE™)?
Somatic Experiencing (SE™) is a unique therapeutic approach designed to help release the stress, trauma, and emotional shock that gets stuck in our bodies and nervous systems. Rather than focusing solely on the mind, SE takes a deeper look at how trauma impacts the nervous system and the body. When we get “stuck” in patterns like fight, flight, or freeze, SE helps us process and release these responses, bringing us back into balance and building resilience.
SE is a body-centered approach based on decades of clinical research and draws from fields like neuroscience, psychology, biology, and indigenous healing practices. Developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, SE helps people of all kinds – from mental health professionals to educators – better understand and work with the body's responses to trauma.
How Does Somatic Experiencing Work?
Trauma can show up in many forms – from accidents and medical procedures to emotional abuse, neglect, or ongoing stress. SE helps you understand how trauma affects your nervous system and offers a path to healing. It works by helping you process and release the physical tension and emotional energy trapped in your body.
When our nervous system gets stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze, it can feel impossible to move forward. SE helps guide you through those stuck responses by gently encouraging you to face difficult sensations and emotions, allowing your body to release the tension it’s been holding onto. This “body-first” approach to healing helps shift the nervous system out of survival mode and back into a state of balance.
Dr. Levine’s research was inspired by the way animals naturally release stress. When animals are under threat, they experience freeze responses, but once the threat passes, they shake off the stress and return to normal. Humans, however, don’t always have the chance to “shake it off,” and as a result, the trapped energy can create lasting symptoms of trauma. SE works by helping you release that stored energy, so the body no longer feels under constant threat.
The Science Behind It
Trauma doesn’t always come from a single, dramatic event. It can build up over time through ongoing stress or from a variety of life experiences like accidents, assaults, or loss. Both acute trauma and cumulative stress can affect your ability to cope, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and stuck. SE helps address this by working with your body’s natural healing mechanisms, releasing trauma from the nervous system and bringing you back to a place of greater ease and resilience.
Psycho-Social-Spiritual Aspects of Trauma Healing
Trauma affects every aspect of who we are: psychologically, socially, and spiritually. To fully heal, we must address all these interconnected layers. Psychologically, trauma impacts how we think, feel, and relate to ourselves and others. Socially, it can affect our relationships and sense of belonging. Spiritually, trauma can challenge our sense of purpose, meaning, and connection to something greater.
In my trauma recovery work, I integrate these psycho-social-spiritual dimensions, guiding you to heal on all levels of your being. Whether through psychotherapy, somatic techniques, or tapping into your spiritual practices, we work to help you reconnect with your inner wisdom, rebuild trust in yourself, and rediscover a deep sense of meaning and purpose in life.
