somatic trauma therapy
“I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.”
HAFIZ
Like fleeing a house that’s on fire, we flee our bodies when we’re in trauma.
It is how we survive. It is how we protect ourselves from getting burnt again. But we can also leave so much of ourselves behind…
Going back into our bodies can feel like too much after trauma.
Maybe the fire alarm is still blaring and we can’t turn it off. Maybe sifting through the debris and grieving what we’ve lost feels too overwhelming. But it is amidst the ashes that we recover the most precious pieces of ourselves - our intuition, our light, our dreams.
I am here to gently and lovingly walk you home to yourself.
We will create safety. We will tend to what is hurt and give space to what must be expressed. We will restore your system so that you can feel at peace in your body again. And gradually, we will rebuild your home - your life - in a way that feels deeply nourishing for you.
Somatic
Trauma Therapy can help you:
Go from people-pleasing and over-giving to having healthy boundaries and prioritizing your own needs and desires.
Go from being stuck in anxiety and overwhelm to having a regulated nervous system, and feeling safe in the world.
Go from being small and silent to speaking your truth and living a more full and purposeful life.
Go from being depressed, exhausted and sick to feeling more energy, vitality, and joy.
Go from feeling broken and ashamed to really knowing you inherent worth, beauty and power.
Go from numbing or avoiding your pain to being able to express healthy anger and access deeper joy and wisdom.
while everyone’s journey is unique, here are the touchstones of this work:
embodiment
Feel at home in your body.
We’ve been taught to disconnect from our bodies, and thereby, our inner knowing. I will guide you in reconnecting with your body’s needs & wisdom.
Safety
Safety is the most essential ingredient in therapy.
I commit to holding your story with compassion and non-jugement. Nothing you tell me will be too much. Your whole, unfiltered self is safe here.
nervous system care
Trauma is stored and re-lived in our bodies.
Neuroscience shows that talk therapy alone is not enough. Through somatic tools and embodiment practices, we will release stored trauma and restore nervous system health.
reclaiming joy
We’re not just eliminating trauma symptoms.
We’re reconnecting you to what truly matters, and what makes you come alive, so that you can create a life of pleasure, freedom and alignment.
Empowerment
YOU are the one you’ve been waiting for.
I’m not here to ‘fix’ you. I’m here to help you trust yourself again. Through mindful exploration of your inner landscape, we’ll recover your true self.
self-compassion
Many are stuck in a trance of ‘not enough-ness’.
At the heart of all healing work is creating a loving relationship with ourselves. I will teach you how to be with the hurt parts of yourself, and embrace your full humanity.
"Today marks the day I return home to myself. That I begin the long journey that will be learning to trust in my own power again. And when I arrive, I will move gently through each dark, narrow room. And proudly draw back the curtains.”
- BEAU TAPLIN
AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH
Trauma leaves an imprint on the whole self, which is why I use an integrative approach. The modalities I use are grounded in neuroscience & highly personalized, including:
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Developed by Peter A. Levine, PhD, Somatic Experiencing® (SE) is a body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma and other stress-related disorders.
SE focuses on developing self-regulation skills, regaining an internal sense of safety, restoring balance in the nervous system, and reconnecting you with your body's wisdom.
Instead of focusing on past memories and reliving the details, we will explore what happens in the body in the present moment, in a safe and supportive way. SE helps individuals shift old patterns and develop new neural pathways that provide alternative ways of responding to our environment.
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Founded by Dr. Richard Schwartz, Internal Family Systems is a model of psychotherapy that views us as having multiple parts, and that underlying them is a person's core or true Self.
Trauma can lead wounded parts of us to become exiled, overprotective, or suppressing, causing us to feel stuck and disconnected from our true Self.
IFS works to unburden our wounded parts and reestablish healthy communication with the Self, so that wholeness can be restored.
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Founded by Steven Hayes, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), offers techniques to help you change your relationship with your internal world - thoughts, emotions, impulses, and body sensations.
ACT teaches you to develop acceptance of your inner experiences, which are out of your personal control, and commit to taking values-based actions in order to create a rich, full, meaningful life.
The aim of ACT is to create psychological flexibility - which is the ability to adapt to the challenges life throws your way and to take effective action, guided by your values.
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“The mind is just like a muscle - the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.” - Idowu Koyenikan
Mindfulness is the practice of returning to and paying attention to the present moment with an attitude of openness, curiosity, and acceptance.
Practicing mindfulness can help you feel more alive and present in your life, reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and enhance your ability to manage emotions as well as chronic pain.
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Developed by Francine Shapiro, EMDR is an evidence-based treatment that offers healing and relief from trauma symptoms.
EMDR can be more effective than talk therapy alone, because it directly accesses the parts of the brain where trauma memories have remained stuck.
Using ‘bilateral stimulation’, the brain will naturally and safely reprocess the memory, which in turn reduces anxiety and distress and reformulates negative beliefs.
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Trauma-informed yoga recognizes the impact that trauma and stress have on the entire mind-body system and helps to restore balance and regulate the nervous system. You will be invited to:
Connect with your body in the present moment and learning to appreciate your body
Listen to your body, referring to your own wisdom, and practicing movements/poses that feel supportive for you
Notice what feels good in your body and where you tend to hold/store tension and stress
Notice emotions, sensations and thoughts as they come and go
Let go of self-judgment and "right or wrong" and just experimenting with curiosity and kindness
Make your own wise, empowered choices about what to do with your body in each moment
Find safety in your body and reestablishing a sense of connection with your body
Use your breath and other resources as an anchor to the present moment
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Item description
Our Journey
Trauma disconnects us from ourselves, from others, and the world around us. I will guide you in listening to the messages of your body and heart, and re-connect to yourself and your environment in a new way. By connecting to both internal and external anchors, you’ll gradually foster an internal sense of safety, ease, and confidence.
1. reconnection
2. resolution
Through curious, gentle, and mindful exploration, we will get to know you and your inner landscape (sensations, emotions, thoughts, etc.) and uncover what’s been keeping you stuck at a root level. Using effective and cutting-edge trauma therapies, I will support you in healing from your past, releasing stored trauma, and restoring Self trust.
3. integration
Once you are no longer imprisoned by the pains and patterns of your past, you may become clearer about what you want in your life. I will help you connect to your values, so that you can create a life that feels authentically yours. I will also guide you in reintegrating lost parts so that you can step into your fullest, most expansive Self expression.
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My office is located in Overland Park, Kansas. I can provide online therapy to residents of Kansas and Missouri. If you live outside of these states, reach out to me and I can share more about my coaching and consultation services that I offer nationwide.
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After we schedule a session, I will email you the initial paperwork through your client portal. Please complete the paperwork at least 48 hours prior to our session. If we are meeting virtually, you will receive a link to our session. Once you’ve completed the initial paperwork, there is nothing else you need to do.
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$265 for a 60-minute session.
This fee is configured from my education, experience, specialized training, and the expertise I offer in Somatic Experiencing (SE), Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, mindfulness, trauma, attachment, yoga, and mind-body healing.
Extended sessions can be offered at a prorated fee. The fee can be paid with cash, check, debit/credit card, and/or Health Savings Accounts or Flex Spending Accounts.
Payment is due at the time of service.
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I do not accept insurance. I am an Out-of-Network (OON) provider for insurance companies.
Upon request, I will provide you with a monthly Superbill for you to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
Please contact your insurance company directly for information regarding your eligibility and reimbursement rates.
Here are some questions you can ask your insurance company:
1. Do I have out-of-network benefits?
2. What is my deductible?
3. At what percentage will I be reimbursed?
If you utilize this option, please be aware that a mental health diagnosis is required and will be listed on your Superbill.
Questions
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I believe that all humans can benefit from therapy – including myself, which is why I attend my own personal therapy. I have completed training in multiple treatment modalities that uniquely address healing and health.
The effectiveness of therapy will depend on how you show up during sessions (willingness, participation, openness, honesty) and your ability to engage in the process both in and out of session.
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation where we can discuss how therapy may be helpful for you. Get in touch to schedule a call.
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Therapy is a very individualized process. Therefore, sessions can look different for each person depending on their goals and unique healing journey. I will meet you where you are at, and together we will work towards achieving your goals. The therapies I utilize don’t require you to retell the details of your traumatic experiences – you don’t have to relieve your trauma in order to heal.
Sessions may involve the following:
sharing information about yourself and your experiences
exploring past coping mechanisms and relational patterns
learning new information and skills, practicing self-compassion
engaging in mindfulness/awareness practices (i.e., noticing thoughts, emotions, and body sensations)
identifying personal values
processing trauma and grief through EMDR, SE, IFS and other modalities.
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The duration of therapy is different for each person. Every person comes to therapy with different circumstances, needs, and goals. Some people choose to come for a few months and others for years. It will depend upon current stressors and past traumas, resources (self-care, support system, coping skills), and your goals for therapy. I will also depend on your willingness and ability to engage in the process (which at times may feel uncomfortable) both in session and out of session.
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This will depend on both your availability and mine. Typically, clients choose to meet weekly or every other week in the beginning and then shift to meeting less often. I will support whatever frequency works best for you.
1:1 SOMATIC TRAUMA THERAPY
$265 / 60-min session
Serving adults in Kansas & Missouri, virtually or in-person.
I am currently booked out for 2023. Join my waitlist to be informed when spaces open up.
NO SURPRISES LAW
Notice to clients and prospective clients
Under the law, health care providers need to give clients who don’t have or use insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services:
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service, or at any time during treatment.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your GFE.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or how to dispute a bill, see your Estimate, or visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.