Areas of Focus
Areas of Focus
Trauma
When we hear the word "trauma," we often think of "big-T" traumas like car accidents, war, or near-death experiences. However, our nervous system experiences trauma in a non-linear way, and its impact is not solely defined by specific events. The accumulation of prolonged "little-t" traumas, such as financial difficulties, job loss, separation or divorce, and challenging childhood experiences, can be equally traumatic and impactful.
If you find that your physiological responses and emotional reactions resemble trauma symptoms, please do not dismiss or invalidate these feelings. Your body may be trying to communicate something important to you.
My somatic approach to trauma work is designed to be slow and steady, characterized by empathy and care rather than rigidity. This approach also takes into account various factors that contribute to your unique experience, including your upbringing, coping mechanisms, survival responses, and overall life experiences.
I prioritize creating a sense of safety for your nervous system within our therapy space and through our interactions. While I cannot promise a cure or an easy path, I am committed and confident in my ability to support you on this journey.
Anxiety
In the Somatic Approach, anxiety is understood as a response of the sympathetic nervous system, commonly known as the "fight or flight" response. This can manifest in both physical and psychological symptoms, including rapid heart rates, sweating, muscle tension, digestive issues, excessive worry, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and a feeling of being out of control.
Often, we tend to focus on unpleasant thoughts and how to work through them, which can sometimes lead to a spiraling effect and worsen our feelings. However, there are alternative methods to support both our body and mind when dealing with anxiety by directly engaging with the nervous system and its responses.
If you're curious to learn more about how this approach can help you, I would be happy to discuss it further.
Grief
In our society, there are many misconceptions and unrealistic expectations surrounding grief. We often perceive certain events as more "grief-worthy" than others and are expected to "get over it" as quickly as possible. However, grief is a complex and non-linear process, unique to each individual's life experiences.
Grief can also arise from experiences we may not typically associate with it, such as moving, job loss, the end of a relationship, the birth of a child, or other significant life changes. It encompasses a wide range of emotions, including sadness, shock, anger, disbelief, and numbness.
The good news is that there are helpful approaches to navigating grief, and you do not have to go through it alone. If you are experiencing grief, please know that there is space and support for you. Your grief is welcome here.
Relationship Issues
It’s common to blame relationship problems on poor communication, especially if that’s what we’ve been taught to do. While poor communication can play a role in relationship problems, the issues are often far more complex, and we often end up blaming ourselves when things fall apart.
In our time together, we will explore relationship challenges beyond isolated incidents, focusing instead on the underlying dynamics, patterns of interaction, and behaviors. This approach will help you develop a deeper understanding of what constitutes a healthy relationship and equip you with strategies to navigate your own effectively.