Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

This somatic (body and mind) approach brings the wisdom of your body into the therapeutic process of addressing, accessing, processing, transforming, and resolving trauma. This modality explores the present-moment sensations and experiences (mindfulness) of the body to help heal trauma.

I trained in this incredible healing approach as soon as I finished school, deepening my skills and knowledge of how to include our physical, body experience in therapy for deeper, lasting healing. If you're like the folks I typically work with, you already know a lot about what is going on that isn't working for you. If knowing and talking about it was enough, you might not even be looking for a therapist. Using this treatment, I help you actually experience how it feels to live differently.

I have completed Level 1 and 2 of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy training, as well as the Complex Trauma trauma training offered by the institute.

SP is a method that draws upon the natural wisdom of the body to tap into the innate drive in all of us to heal, adapt and develop new capacities. The effects of trauma, neglect and abusive or emotionally painful relationships with childhood caregivers are held in our nervous systems, posture, and movement habits as well as in unresolved painful emotions and limiting beliefs. To change these patterns, clients learn to mindfully follow the natural intelligent processes of body and mind.

Connecting mind and body to emotions

A body-centered approach that integrates sensorimotor processing with cognitive and emotional interventions. This therapy is particularly effective for treating trauma and attachment issues. It focuses on the somatic responses of the body to trauma, helping clients to become aware of their bodily sensations and to develop new ways of responding to them. By addressing the physical patterns that underlie emotional and behavioral issues, it supports a more embodied and integrated healing process.

I ground myself in a holistic perspective and utilize brain-body connections to deepen self-understanding (the body is wise!) and release trauma (when you wish your body would STOP keeping the score).

I am currently a student of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Level 1 - Trauma Themes, expected graduation Feb., 2022). I am especially passionate about helping QTPOC navigate our relationships with our bodies. As a trans person, I know firsthand what dysphoria feels like... and as a biracial person, I know how it feels to not love the skin I'm in. SP has been a great tool to help folks like me learn to feel safe and confident in our bodies, and I look forward to sharing this experience with you.

One of my favorite aspects of sensorimotor psychotherapy are the tools it offers for healing wounds from childhood (aka developmental wounds). It also offers core values of organicity, non-violence, unity, mind-body-spirit holism, mindfulness, and relational alchemy that deeply inform how I engage with my client work.

I have completed a year of training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Additionally, I have completed several additional trainings through SPI; including Relational Embedded Mindfulness and Interpersonal Neurobiology through a cultural lens. It was such a natural progression in my work after doing Gestalt psychotherapy for so long, which has a strong emphasis on listening to and tracking the body as a way to heal and grow.

The body holds the wisdom to your healing. Sensorimotor psychotherapy is a profound combination of body based explorations, mindfulness sequencing of sensation in the body to help you unlock trauma, unconscious parts and move into a more whole, calm, curious and connected version of yourself. It goes through 3 phases of stabilization, processing and integration. This modality combined with other right brain approaches allows for deep transformation and more satisfaction in life.

A body-oriented approach to trauma treatment that focuses on helping clients begin to expand their "Window of Tolerance" so that they are able to more effectively manage the trauma symptoms and problems while they begin to slowly process the trauma as the client is able to effectively tolerate the experience of creating new possible meaning and understanding of the trauma.

I am an occupational therapist with more than 30 years experience evaluating and treating clients challenged by sensory processing disorders. I am not a psychologist, but an occupational therapist trained to use activities to accurately assess and treat these concerns for children and adults. Sensory modulation, balance, coordination, and self regulation are challenges experienced by highly sensitive people. I use age appropriate training to create personal treatment plans.

"Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) welcomes the body as an integral source of information which can guide resourcing and the accessing and processing of challenging, traumatic, and developmental experience. SP is a holistic approach that includes somatic, emotional, and cognitive processing and integration." - SP website I am currently level 2 trained and enjoy using this modality to bring holistic healing. As a PhD student, I hope to do research/writing on this modality.

I am a certified Level I Sensorimotor Psychotherapy practitioner. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy helps individuals work through trauma at the level of the body and nervous system where trauma responses are rooted.