What is somatic therapy?

At Somatic Psychotherapy Michigan, it is a combination of the following modalities and approaches below:

What is Somatic Experiencing (SE)?

Is a holistic approach to the resolution and healing of trauma. It is based on the Polyvagal Theory and how trauma can become stuck or stored in the body/nervous system and show up as activation or symptoms. SE helps assess if a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight, or freeze responses and provides tools to resolve these states. SE works gently with the activation in a titrated and non-cathartic way—at the client’s own pace. The goal of SE is ‘re-negotiation of the trauma,’ which is building resiliency and completing self-protective survival responses that are still held in the body. SE also enhances communication between the mind and body, which facilitates a feeling of cohesiveness within oneself. An SE session may look like using many body-based mindfulness techniques to build more awareness of what is going on internally in the body. When the client can track what is going on internally and feels safe and comfortable, we can start working towards resolving the trauma.

*I am a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), and I started my PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Psychology at the California Institute for Integral Studies.

To learn more about Somatic Experiencing check out my blog post: Somatic Therapy.

What is Internal Family Systems (IFS)/Parts Work?

Is an approach that believes that the mind is naturally multiple and is made up of ‘parts’ (sometimes referred to as sub-personalities). Everyone has Parts; having Parts does not mean having multiple personality disorder. All of the inner parts are important and have roles and jobs—even though sometimes they seem to be working against the person—causing self-sabotage. Parts are survival strategies that usually develop in childhood and stay with us in adulthood. IFS does not aim to get rid of the part but wants to assist the part in having a less extreme role. This type of therapy aims to heal the wounded parts and get all the parts to work together as a cohesive whole. An IFS session may look like using guided meditations or mindfulness to converse with the part—the part may communicate directly with the client or through thoughts, feelings, sensations in the body, memories, or images. Together, we can listen to hear what the party may be trying to communicate so that we can help them. By befriending the parts, they may work with you instead of against you, and there may be less inner turmoil when the parts are not loudly competing for your attention all the time—creating more of a sense of inner calm. The ultimate goal of IFS is to become more ‘self-lead,’ which means having the True Self lead the system rather than the parts.

*I am a certified IFS therapist and level 3 trained from the IFS Institute. I am also level 3 trained in the IFS-EMDR model from the Syzygy Institute as well as trained in the IFS sex therapy model BLISS from Patrica Rich.

To learn more about IFS, check out a blog I wrote about it: Internal Family Systems.

What is Sex Therapy?

Sex therapy is a type of psychotherapy that provides an opportunity to explore many different sexual issues or topics. It can be for couples or individuals. Some people may want to explore their sexuality or gender identity and others may want to explore ways to have better intimacy or more sexual satisfaction. Some people may want to explore body image, self-esteem, trauma, or religious/shame-based messaging that has been internalized and is now interfering with their sexual expression. Others may want to explore kink or alternative relationships such as polyamory. Being able to explore these sensitive topics in a non-judgemental and sex/pleasure-affirming space while having support can facilitate healing and growth. The goal of this therapy is for you to explore who you really are and what you are truly wanting for yourself so that you can have the empowered sex life that you want and deserve. I do not offer court /probation-appointed sex therapy services at this time. There is no touching of any kind during sex therapy.

*I am a AASECT certified Sex Therapist and have a certificate in sex therapy from the University of Michigan and a Somatic Sex therapy certificate from Modern Sex Therapy Institute. I have also attended Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent—Like a Pro workshop. I am also trained in the IFS sex therapy model BLISS.

To learn more about sex therapy—check out my blog post: sex therapy.

What is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)?

EMDR is a modality that is known for treating trauma and PTSD but can also help with other issues. Memories can get stuck in the body and nervous systems and EMDR helps process and desensitize these memories. In EMDR, ‘bilateral stimulation’ is used to help process memories by activating both the right and left sides of the brain. Types of bilateral stimulation could be tapping, back and forth eye movements, and using ‘tappers, ' which are devices that the client holds in their hand that pulsate back and forth. EMDR can also help change negative core beliefs, which can help with depression, anxiety, and many other issues. I am a trauma-informed therapist and will make sure you feel safe and comfortable before and during the EMDR process. You will never be pressured to work on memories or trauma that you do not feel ready to work with,

* I am a certified EMDR therapist from EMDRIA. I have completed the EMDR training from the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and I also am level 3 of the IFS-EMDR model from the Syzygy Institute.

What is Neuro Affective Relational Model (NARM)?

It is a holistic approach to the resolution of developmental trauma, complex trauma, and attachment trauma. It is based on the Polyvagal theory, somatic therapy, and attachment theory. NARM works with survival strategies and explores how they have interfered with how we connect to ourselves and others and how they get in the way of what we want for ourselves. Survival strategies are adaptations that we pick up from chronic misattunements/attachment failures and trauma in childhood. The survival strategies help us survive but then interfere and get in the way of what we want later in life, which often gets in the way of our relationships and connections with other people. It can often look like self-sabotage. Many children learn to disconnect from their True Selves and suppress self-expression and emotions as children in order to preserve their relationships with their caregivers and attachment figures. This can happen even when the caregivers are well-intentioned but can especially happen in cases of trauma, abuse, neglect, or constant issues in the childhood home. Children learn to deny and suppress their wants and needs in an environment that cannot attune to them, and this can become an automatic and subconscious response throughout life until some awareness is brought to it. This chronic state of being disconnected and repressed can make it hard for people to feel like they can access their True Self. In NARM therapy, we can work on identifying the specific survival strategies you use and attachment styles, and then go on to help you work through these survival strategies. NARM aims to help clients reconnect with their True Authentic Self to help them discover their true wants and needs and when this is achieved, the client can develop more profound and more intimate relationships with others.

*I am a certified NARM Therapist from the NARM Institute.

To learn more about NARM, check out my blog about NARM.

What is Expressive Arts Therapy?

Expressive arts include all creative things—painting, drawing, collaging, visual arts, creative writing, poetry, journaling, music, dance, sand tray, sculpting, photography, film, and anything else that activates the imagination. This type of therapy can be a good fit for creative people and those who want to access more creativity and imagination. It can also help parts of the brain that are less verbal—express themselves. It can access different areas of the brain that regular talk therapy cannot. It also pairs well with somatic therapy, IFS/parts work, Jungian, and psychedelic integration.

*I am working on my Registered Expressive Arts Therapist certification and have a Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator Certificate from the Institute of Creative Mindfulness.

What is Jungian Therapy/ Sandtray Therapy/ Dream Work?-

Jungian therapy is about making the ‘unconscious more conscious,’ in other words, becoming more aware of things about ourselves that we are not usually aware of and ultimately becoming more self-aware. Jungian therapy can make use of things like sandtray, art, writing, dreams, tarot, astrology, psychedelics, and other forms of creative expression work. Jungian therapy can also be a helpful way to explore spirituality, the meaning of life, and the universal patterns in the psyche/nature. The goal of Jungian therapy is ‘individuation,’ which can also be called ‘self-actualization'—reaching your full potential. Like many of the other types of therapies I offer, it aims to become more connected to the True Self.

Sandtray is a unique form of therapy that uses play, creativity, and symbols to access deeper levels of the subconscious by bypassing the cognitive parts of the brain that are usually activated by talk therapy. Sandtray can also be a helpful way to explore trauma or topics that one does not feel comfortable talking about with words. Sandtray can also be done in virtual sessions with a virtual sandtray that I use, which works very well.

Dream work is a way to discuss and process dreams in therapy. In dream work, the client brings up dreams that they feel were meaningful or stood out to them somehow. Some clients may keep a dream journal and track their dreams regularly to look for potential messages from the subconscious or motifs and themes. Often, I will use a sand tray for creative expressive work with dream work—for example, having a client make the dream scene in the sand tray or draw scenes from the dream.

*I have a Master’s in Depth Psychology with a emphasis in Jungian Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. I have also attended a Somatic Jungian Sandtray workshop at the C.G. Jung Institute Los Angeles.

To learn more—check out my blog on Jungian Therapy and sandtray therapy.

Somatic therapy can help with

• trauma and PTSD
• anxiety and panic
• chronic stress
• dissociation
• attachment trauma
• difficulty feeling present in the body

My Approach:

In my practice, somatic therapy is often integrated with Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and attachment-informed approaches such as NARM. This allows therapy to work with the body, emotions, and relational patterns that develop through life experiences.

How Somatic Therapy Differs from Traditional Talk Therapy

Many people come to somatic therapy after years of traditional talk therapy and still feel that something deeper remains unresolved. While insight and understanding can be helpful, trauma and chronic stress often live in the body and nervous system rather than only in thoughts or memories.

Somatic therapy works with both awareness and bodily experience. By noticing sensations, breath, posture, and emotional responses in the present moment, clients can gradually process experiences that may have been held in the nervous system for years.

Understanding the Nervous System in Trauma

When people experience overwhelming events or prolonged stress, the nervous system can become stuck in survival responses such as fight, flight, or freeze. These patterns may show up as anxiety, numbness, hypervigilance, dissociation, or difficulty feeling safe in relationships.

Somatic therapy helps the nervous system slowly move out of these survival states. Through careful pacing and attention to bodily signals, clients can develop greater regulation, resilience, and capacity for connection.

What Somatic Therapy Sessions May Include

Somatic therapy sessions often combine conversation with attention to present-moment experience. Depending on the client’s needs, sessions may include:

• noticing body sensations or emotional shifts

• grounding and nervous system regulation practices

• exploring internal parts through approaches such as Internal Family Systems

• gentle movement or posture awareness

• working with memories and relational patterns

The pace of the work is always guided by the client’s sense of safety and readiness.

Somatic Therapy for Trauma, Anxiety, and Stress

Somatic therapy can be helpful for people experiencing a wide range of challenges, including:

• trauma and PTSD

• chronic anxiety or panic

• attachment trauma and relationship difficulties

• dissociation or feeling disconnected from the body

• chronic stress or burnout

• patterns of emotional overwhelm or shutdown

By addressing both the emotional and physical aspects of experience, somatic therapy can support deeper and more lasting healing.

*Therapy at Somatic Psychotherapy Michigan will not be a good fit for you if you do not want to do somatic therapy or Internal Family Systems/parts work—I weave these two modalities into all the work I do. To learn more about somatic and IFS work check out my blog.

If you are interested in somatic therapy in Detroit or online across Michigan, you can reach out to schedule a consultation: Click Here