Trauma Integration,
PTSD Treatment + Somatic Experiencing™
in Boulder, CO; Asheville, NC & Online
Using the Body for Nervous System Healing
Are you struggling with symptoms related to trauma? Do you struggle with emotions taking over and becoming out of control? Or is it a challenge to feel emotions at all? Do you feel highly charged and anxious often? Or perhaps you feel numb and depressed?
Do you view yourself negatively, perhaps with shame and guilt? Are your relationships unnerving? Maybe you wonder about developmental trauma, or have been diagnosed and are exploring different forms of treatment . . .
These symptoms and experiences are common . . . being human comes with internal and external difficulties that we must learn to navigate.
Trauma can be at the root of many unwanted symptoms. It can bar us from intimate contact with ourselves and others. If you are seeking ways to work with it, we salute you.
Reach Out to Us
PTSD Treatment + Trauma Therapy
One common misconception is that trauma is the car crash, fall, breakup, or assault. Actually, any one of these may be a traumatic event, but trauma itself is the nervous system damage left over.
In the face of any threat, our nervous system produces a high state of readiness in order to facilitate fighting or fleeing. But when these forms of protection are of no use or are socially unacceptable, our body holds onto that highly charged state because the energy prepared for defense has not been released. This highly charged state (known as PTSD or Complex PTSD) becomes stuck and can cause a lot of problems, both physical and psychological. Dr. Peter Levine once referred to trauma as “being all dressed up with nowhere to go,” meaning our nervous system is still wanting to fight, flight, or freeze long after the threat has gone.
How Can Somatic Experiencing Help?
Somatic Experiencing™ (SE™) is the main type of trauma therapy we practice. It is a body awareness form of treatment that moves slowly, works with sensations, and embraces nervous system healing as its first priority. Its main goal is to help you release unfinished energies and emotions from traumatic events.
Research shows Somatic Experiencing™ to be effective at renegotiating trauma related to issues as far reaching as natural disasters, childhood neglect, stress, anger, and substance use, just to name a few.
What to Expect . . .
This type of therapy might, at first, seem different than other talk therapies you have done in the past. But what makes it different is also what makes it helpful.
In our sessions, we will work to:
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Notice bodily sensations + symptoms
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Establish a sense of personal safety
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Feel emotions without becoming overwhelmed
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Release pent-up energy
In our work together, you may find that trauma does not endure forever.
PTSD Treatment FAQ
Does Somatic Experiencing™ work to treat PTSD? Even online?
Fortunately, we have a plethora of first-hand and research-based evidence that Somatic Experiencing™ is an effective form of PTSD treatment, even online. When we do online work, we advise you on proper camera/room conditions to make the treatment as effective as if we were in our office.
Do I have to retell or relive the traumatic event/s?
For some, telling the story of their trauma needs to happen, but many of us who have lived through challenging times begin to dread retelling the story. In our work together, you do NOT have to relive your trauma in order to heal. Because the trauma is in the body, we can work it by attending to sensations, breathing, and emotion. This means we learn to listen to our body’s response to our thoughts and feelings in service of a less taxed nervous system.
Some of the things I feel are scary and embarrassing . . . is that okay?
In this type of therapy, you are allowed to feel angry, hopeless, out of control, and any other intense feelings that come with the pain you are dealing with. And it is possible to do so without becoming overwhelmed. Over time, Somatic Experiencing™ can help you learn to feel small pieces of the trauma at a time, making it more manageable.
Do I have to know how to handle this?
In our trauma counseling, we will work together. All too often, our trauma was not only a result of feeling helpless in the face of danger, but also from no one being there to help us. Or, in the worst cases, the ones we relied upon for protection were actually the threat (to read more about trauma that comes from childhood, see Developmental Trauma vs PTSD). In this sense, it is important for you to know that we will work to make this process as gentle and effective as possible for you, all the while teaching you methods for managing your symptoms between sessions.
What is NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model)?
NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model) is a powerful, trauma-focused approach that helps you heal deep emotional wounds by addressing the connection between your emotions, nervous system, and relational patterns.
In NARM, you will explore how unresolved trauma from your early life may be affecting your sense of self, relationships, and overall well-being. This therapy focuses on increasing awareness of how emotional and psychological patterns are held in your body, giving you tools to reconnect with your authentic self and break free from limiting behaviors.
One of the key benefits of NARM is its body-based approach to healing trauma. Instead of only focusing on your thoughts or emotions, NARM helps you become aware of how trauma is stored in your body and how it affects your nervous system. You’ll learn how to release tension, stress, and emotional pain that have been trapped, allowing more ease and self-compassion.
NARM doesn’t just focus on the past—it also empowers you to reclaim your capacity for growth, resilience, and connection in the present. Through this process, you’ll cultivate greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and inner peace, ultimately creating a more fulfilling and aligned life.
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