I work with two types of sensory-based counselling.

The first is called Somatic Experiencing.  To understand how it works, it is important to know that anything experienced by our nervous systems as “too much, too soon, too fast or too long” needs to be repaired at the time it occurs. If it isn’t, there can be long-term impact on our bodies, minds, emotions and souls.

Somatic Experiencing, which has been applied clinically for over 45 yrs, helps re-establish the rhythm of the nervous system by paying attention to the self-protective impulses in the body. This in turn allows us to experience the relief of the danger being over and the system settling.

“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”  Dr. Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing.

I am qualified to work with people who have experienced high intensity activation such as pre and peri-natal trauma, anesthesia, surgery, high fevers, suffocation, choking and drowning; high impact events such as falls, acquired brain injury and accidents; natural and human-made disasters, inescapable attacks, emotional and sexual trauma, horror, abuse and war.

A Psychology Today article about Somatic Experiencing: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-intelligent-divorce/201503/somatic-experiencing

An interview with Peter Levine about Trauma and Somatic Experiencing:

The second approach I work with is called Transforming the Experienced-based Brain. It is developed by Stephen Terrell, co-author of the book, Nurturing Resilience.

To understand how it works it is important to know that our early childhood experiences establish the foundation of our nervous system. If our parents were going through difficulties or we didn’t have the connections it takes to make a good solid foundation, we spend the rest of our lives accomodating in “good” and “bad” ways.

This work involves following a precise protocol. It is designed for those who experienced pre and peri-natal difficulties, separation from mother at birth, medical interventions, abuse or neglect, anxious or disorganized parenting, and adoption as well as community and intergenerational trauma.

In using this protocol the nervous system establishes a solid foundation.

Although this explains what can happen with children, it also explains what can happen with those of us who are adults: