Learn skills to easily release stress, and explorations to track your progress. When there are as many nerve cells in the gut as in the spinal cord, where does the mind end and the body begin? Put together, bodywork with dialogue, are the therapy part of somatic therapy. More and more research is supporting the physiology of the mind-body connection. It isnt a conscious process that someone chooses. My intention is to create a safe, compassionate space to support your journey toward living your best life. Sessions begin with a face-to-face discussion and exploration of your experience of your body in a comfortable seated position. In our work together, I view you as the expert on your life and I take on the role of supporting you in uncovering barriers to listening to your innate wisdom and achieving a greater sense of empowerment. All forms of somatic therapy help people practice body-based strategies to soothe and regulate the nervous system. Trauma Through A ChildsEyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing. The overwhelming event may be something commonly understood as trauma (emotional/physical/sexual abuse, violence, neglect) or another type of event that was overwhelming to an infant or young child (medical procedures/surgeries, falls, birth trauma). Are you not feeling like yourself? My training qualifies me to safely facilitate exploration of emotions in the context of the body experience. We all go through times in our lives that are difficult and challenging. That training involved another year of didactic and supervised client contact, and was informed by pain neuroscience, coaching and behavior change psychology, and motivational interviewing. My process is most effective for curious seekers who want to explore inner depths and optimize their lives, moving from just surviving to thriving. That's where the light enters you." - Rumi What would it be like to loosen the hold your stories, pain and struggles have over you? Because somatic therapy is based in the principle that mind, body and spirit are one, we may engage with spiritual and energetic content in a session. Some people have a specific physical complaint, and feel temporarily better after massage or other bodywork, but without lasting change. I utilize my training in the Gottman method to help couples gain a deeper understanding of their relationship, to build better communication skills, and to reignite joy in each other. An added benefit of somatic therapy is that the session often ends with personal insight. Asheville,NC28806 (828) 537-4094 Offers online therapy Email Me Show Map Nearby Areas Nearby Areas This location is easily. The intention of touch is to communicate support, nurture, presence and to promote self-awareness. Learn about what the offerings of Asheville Therapist Shannon Simpson. Working collaboratively and experientially, we use the body as the primary lens for exploration of the self, and honor emotions as full body experiences. Transforming Touch was created as a way to help address early trauma. EMDR involves remembering a traumatic experience while allowing ones eyes to track a side-to-side visual stimulus from a therapist. My training, experience and focus would NOT be a good fit for people with the following concerns (although other types of somatic therapy could be beneficial). I am comfortable and experiencedworking with members of the lgbtq community as well as heterosexual couples, and couples who are polyamorous or monogamous. I have received extensive training with the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute and have received the SEP certificate (somatic experiencing practitioner). Use tab to navigate through the menu items. In addition, we are building a relationship with each other and with your body over time. In this state, trauma can manifest itself both mentally and physicallythrough tension in the muscles, anxiety, and stress. Somatic (910) 659-8881 View Winston Salem, NC 27103 Amy Elizabeth Duffy Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHCS, NCC, CCTP Verified I have been working in the mental health field for. The incomplete survival responses might be fight, flight, or freeze states. Lingering sadness and anxiety can threaten to overwhelm us. I am a member of the LGBTQA+ community and am sex-positive, kink-affirming, and knowledgeable about non-monogamy. Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, E-RYT, My style with clients is warm, compassionate, heart-centered, solution-focused & collaborative. Please see below for information on my scope of practice and training, the home page for information on indications and contraindications for my practice, and the FAQs for important information on my scope of practice for clients with a trauma history. This lateral eye movement is believed to diminish the painful power of the memory so that it can be discussed with a therapist. SE titrates experience (breaks down into small, incremental steps), supporting a slower and gentler process of exploration. Are you ready to light up your life? You are fully clothed during the session, and touch is non-invasive, respectful of boundaries and safety-sensitive.In the session we may engage in dialogue with the body or emotion, imagery,metaphor, breath exercises, use of pillows and props, and gentle movement. We work together via modalities of Transforming Touch, Somatic Experiencing, Safe and Sound Protocol, and EMDR to increase well-being and access to innate life force. This is Piper, my handsome partner in somatic healing. We may also be relying on unhealthy behaviors to cope with our deep unease. I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Journalism from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Often times, these problems are the result of trauma from childhood that is still unresolved. (There is also a nocebo effect, in which negative expectations contribute to worsening symptoms). However, an under-appreciated fact is that the mind is part of the physiology of pain. My professional development in the field is grounded in . Tuning in to the body is a little like learning a new language, which takes practice. When I experienced the power of somatic therapy in my own healing from persistent pain, I knew I wanted to find a way to offer it to others. Clinical and Somatic Psychotherapist (MFT), Sex Therapist, Tantra Teacher, Love and Sex Coach Well work together to address the day-to-day challenges in your life and build a more solid foundation for feeling better. The field of somatic therapy is growing, and organizations like the US Association of Body Psychology advocate for more research to support and differentiate the various somatic modalities. My most successful clients are comfortable with touch, have done some healing work previously, and already have a hunch that there is a link between their symptoms and their emotions. I offer a warm, compassionate presence and non-judgmental space to explore how your body is showing up in your life, and how your life is showing up in your body. Pain coaching focuses on new habits and strategies that harness the ability of the nervous system to "rewire" and "retune" (called neuroplasticity). In the session we may engage in dialogue with the body or emotion, imagery,metaphor, breath exercises, use of pillows and props, and gentle movement. Touch can be a valuable tool, because it fast-tracks body awareness. Levine, P. and. After witnessing the way the bodymind is often neglected for people who have pain, I was drawn to a different professional path.When I experienced the power of somatic therapy in my own healing from persistent pain, I knew I wanted to find a way to offer it to others. Somatic therapy is hands-on, active, and participatory; involving sensation, movement, imagery, sound, metaphor, discussion and exploration.Because somatic therapy is based in the principle that mind, body and spirit are one, we may engage with spiritual and energetic content in a session. Put together, bodywork with dialogue, are the therapy part of somatic therapy. Somatic therapy takes advantage of these links. If we can learn to pay attention, it may get us to the crux of the matter faster than talk alone. Scroll down and explore the links above to learn more about me, as well as the science, art and heart of somatic therapy. I bring to my somatic therapy practice the insight of a diverse professional background. Finances. Stuck in patterns that cause you physical and emotional pain? The word placebo has become a dirty word in healthcare, used to dismiss mind-body approaches as non-scientific. As a Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist (NC License #17796) in Asheville, NC, I specialize in Somatic Experiencing (SE), SE Touch, & Jin Shin Do Acupressure. Carmel Rd. Asheville, NC 28801. Drug & Alcohol Counselor, MA, LCAS, LMBT, SEP, As a licensed clinical addiction specialist, I'll assess your issues and make recommendations of how I can help you through. SEs guidance of the bodily felt sense, allows the highly aroused survival energies to be safely experienced and gradually discharged. That training involved 2.5 years of didactic and supervised clinical patient work, and included basic empathic attending skills, short term problem-focused psychosocial counseling skills, decision-making support, patient education and adult learning theory, disability psychology and impact of illness on family dynamics.I am a level 2 certified practitioner of the Transformative Touch modality, one of the touch + talk therapies endorsed by the United States Association of Body Psychology (USABP). Clients are advised that it is their responsibility to reach out to a primary health care provider to rule out the possibility that their symptoms are associated with a serious health condition, and to ensure that any wellness resources pursued are safe and effective. Berkeley, CA:North Atlantic Books. (828). Community Health, Medical Specialist, Clinic. I am not a licensed health care provider and clients are instructed that our discussions should not be considered medical advice. It's my belief and experience that among all of our deepest desires is the longing to be fully seen, validated, and loved, when all the masks are taken away - for who we truly and authentically are. I am also a certified health and wellness coach with a concentration in pain management.I blend these perspectives into my work with clients, but the true wisdom comes from you! I also draw upon our interconnectedness with nature and all living things as a means for developing growth, sense of place, and greater awareness. I offer various tools to support you in your journey, such as mindful self compassion, guided visualization, self inquiry, embodied parts work, and a. I specialize and have a passion for helping individuals with these issues. We can access the emotional life through the body with touch, attention to sensation, and movement. And, via the vagus nerve, the pathways of communication go both ways, from brain to body and from body to brain. I use body-centered and mindful modalities to assist individuals recovering from trauma, addictions, sexual violence, substance abuse, stress, anxiety, and depression to relate to your experiences with an attitude of patience, curiosity, and attentiveness which reinforces neuropathways for resilience and well-being. Your time may be consumed with school, work, or loved ones, and theres little time for much else, especially you. EMDR allows your brain to do the healing as the therapist facilitates with specific questions and techniques. You can learn more about my philosophy and approach in Frequently Asked Questions. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy is an evidence based treatment for symptoms of trauma, PTSD, and Adjustment Disorders. Insurance. Somatic therapy and pain coaching can be wonderful stand-alone practices, or adjuncts to psychotherapy, physical therapy, massage, chiropractic care, and wellness coaching. Your unique journey is here right now, and experiencing it from a nonjudgmental perspective can be a vital ingredient to moving past whatever is holding you back from living your best life. Is this a good therapy for people who have had trauma? Avg Cost (per session): $80. The body doesnt lie. I utilize a trauma-informed and body-centered approach incorporating cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, somatic awareness, guided imagery, self-compassion, expressive arts, subtle yoga, and movement. Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. Persistent pain is actually something the nervous system has learned, and it can be unlearned. is an established group practice that is focused on strong team values both within the practice and through collaborating with providers in the community. Whatever it is, you're ready. However, the aim of somatic therapy is not transcendence. Rather, we attempt to help you feel more embodied and grounded, to enable you to more fully engage in life and the richness of the here and now on this planet. Sessions may also involve education about the neuroscience of pain and stress, self-assessment of pain triggers, nervous system mapping and resource identification, wellness goal setting and coaching.A typical session is 60 minutes long and involves about 15 minutes of discussion, 30 minutes of guided experience on the table, and 15 minutes of integration.Tuning in to the body is a little like learning a new language, which takes practice. In our work together, I view you as the expert on your life and I take on the role of supporting you in uncovering barriers to listening to your innate wisdom and achieving a greater sense of empowerment. About Me I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Journalism from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My work focuses on a, I'm here to create a safe space for people to explore parts of themselves and their relationship with their mind and body. While psychotherapy includes exploration of past experiences and correcting faulty thought patterns, dialogue in somatic therapy emphasizes present moment mindfulness of body sensation in relationship to thoughts and feelings.As a separate modality, somatic therapists do not diagnose or treat specific mental health conditions, behavior change or addiction. I also draw upon our interconnectedness with nature and all living things as a means for developing growth, sense of place, and greater awareness. In addition to Transformative Touch, I have studied Ortho-bionomy bodywork, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, the Community Resiliency Model, and Introductory Hakomi Method. Components of SE areincorporated into my therapeutic approach. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, MA, LCMHC, LCASA, Clients come to me with stress, sadness, anxiety, guilt, grief, shame, confusion, addictions, relationship issues and trauma. 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