
About Somatic Therapy
After traumatic experiences, the nervous system can get caught in survival mode, making us feel trapped in the past, sometimes outside of our conscious awareness. This can lead to impulsive reactions, emotional outbursts, shutting down, pushing people away, or feeling constantly on edge among so many other fight, flight, freeze, or fawn behaviors and feelings.
“Soma” refers to the body as a whole. Somatic-focused interventions work directly with the nervous system and mind-body connection as you learn to tune into your body’s wisdom. You can learn to feel safe, connected and grounded while experiencing a full range of emotions. This work isn't about reliving or dissecting painful past events. It's about understanding their impact on you today and reprocessing them to resolve your symptoms. I can support you to gently process and build resilience. This approach allows for healing without overwhelming you, one step at a time.
With somatic-based interventions, we can identify and expand your ability to experience and tolerate tough emotions, work through tension and stress stored in the body related to trauma, and so much more. Whether you are looking for the structured and efficient support of EMDR or hoping to take all the time and space your nervous system may need to settle, sessions are designed to be collaborative and empowering. You have the power and ability to care for and heal your pain, and I will support you on your healing journey.
Types of Somatic Interventions
Somatic Experiencing
Trauma-Informed Yoga
EMDR
Grounding and Coping Skills
Meditation
Breathwork
Learn more here
What can somatic interventions treat?
Depression and mood disorders
Anxiety, phobias and panic
Medically unexplained symptoms and chronic pain
Combat-related PTSD
Relationship & interpersonal challenges
Childhood trauma & adult children of dysfunctional families
Identity struggles (ie. gender, sexuality, race, culture)
Life transitions, loss, and grief
Feelings of numbness and disconnect
High intensity emotions and behaviors linked to emotions
Issues related to body image
Who can benefit?
Anyone can benefit from somatic therapy!
A somatic approach can be especially helpful for those struggling with symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues, or feelings of disconnect and want more than just talk therapy. These interventions help you to bring awareness the body in a safe and contained space while reconditioning it to release the trauma stored deep within the nervous system.
“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not have to be a life sentence. ”
— Peter A Levine, PhD, founder of Somatic Experiencing
About Me
Born and raised in Wisconsin, I have lived in Boston for the past decade. After serving two years in AmeriCorps, I was drawn to social work as a way to continue direct service within my community. Coming from a small rural town, I have always been driven to learn about other cultures to expand upon and challenge the worldviews around me. My studies of conflict resolution and global cultures have brought me to Denmark, Ecuador, Mexico, and Ireland, teaching me to bring a sense of flexibility, nuance and cultural awareness to my work. I am firmly rooted in values of social justice and anti-oppression and acknowledge my privilege as a white, cisgender woman. My clients and I collaborate to share power and create a safe and comfortable therapeutic space to facilitate healing.
As a social worker, I have trained at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital, where I offered individual sessions and co-led Dialectical Behavior Therapy groups and got to witness immense change and healing. I also have extensive training in the treatment of trauma and PTSD from my work at McLean Hospital’s outpatient, residential and partial trauma programs. Through my experiences, I have seen an immense need for healing not just the mind, but also the body. Continuously learning, I take courses each year to stay up-to-date on advancements on the treatment of trauma as well as on issues of social, racial and climate justice.
I acknowledge my office is located on the unceded and colonized land of the Massachusett Peoples.
Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, yoga, the ocean, and rescuing animals, including my cats, Enzo, Ophelia and Ozzy and my pup, Domino.
Education
Master of Social Work, Boston College
Graduate Certificate in International Conflict Resolution, University of Massachusetts-Boston
BA in International Relations with Certificates in European Studies and Global Cultures, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Trainings & Certifications
EMDR Basic Training
Somatic Experiencing International
Cognitive Processing Therapy certified provider
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator
Trainings in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Compassion-Focused Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD