What is Somatic Experiencing

Monday, April 23, 2012

What is Somatic Experiencing

From the somatic Experiencing website:

What is Somatic Experiencing® (SE)?

Somatic Experiencing® is a body-awareness approach to trauma being taught throughout the world. It is the result of over forty years of observation, research, and hands-on development by Dr. Levine. Based upon the realization that human beings have an innate ability to overcome the effects of trauma, Somatic Experiencing has touched the lives of many thousands. SE® restores self-regulation, and returns a sense of aliveness, relaxation and wholeness to traumatized individuals who have had these precious gifts taken away. Peter has applied his work to combat veterans, rape survivors, Holocaust survivors, auto accident and post surgical trauma, chronic pain sufferers, and even to infants after suffering traumatic births.

SE facilitates the healing of trauma by teaching and guiding those who have been traumatized to release stored or blocked survival energy and to complete interupted phsyiological process that have gotten “stuck” in the nervous system–in a safe, effective and contained way.

Benefits of Somatic Experiencing From Human Enrichment website: www.traumahealing.com

SE employs awareness of body sensation to help people “re-negotiate” and heal rather than re-live or re-enact the trauma

SE guides bodily “felt sense” which allows highly aroused survival energies to be safely experienced and gradually discharged

SE “titrates” experience rather than evoking catharsis–which can overwhelm the regulatory mechanisms of the organism

SE eliminates pitfalls of re-traumatization and the spurious generation of “false memories”

Receive the help and guidance you need

If you or a loved one is suffering we can help. Life brings both challenges as well as rewards. Dealing with a child’s behavioral issue can seem daunting at times. Being a new parent can deplete resources at a time when they are needed most. Couples and individuals can become stressed with all the demands. Our goal is to give clients the help they need. We provide practical tools and strategies to resolve the most pressing issues.

We cover a diverse population with a focus on ADHD, Sensory Motor processing, child and adult anxiety, Postpartum depression, child therapy, couples counseling and individual therapy. At Marin Therapy Partners we work with clients to re-establish and bring forth the well being that is inherent in each individual. Marin Therapy Partners is comprised of independent psychotherapists whose specialties are grounded in theory and expertise. As psychotherapists we believe in the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for healing and growth. Whether it is postpartum depression, child and family therapy, couples counseling,ortrauma, we work with clients to effect change and growth.

To find out more and to schedule an appointment call 415.453-1402 or email Kate@kebrennan.com. We look forward to helping you.

Kate Brennan Marriage and Family Therapist

About Me

As a 5th generation Marin resident, I have a deep sense of connection and appreciation for the natural beauty and community in which I call home. As an advocate for wellness and social change, I have worked for Kaiser Permanente as a parenting specialist, have lectured and taught throughout the county, and have focused on parenting and family health in my private practice. Championing local organizations as well as Global ones (Children of Uganda, Renewable Choice Energy, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Habitat for Humanity and Glide Memorial Church), I believe that the choices we make impact our communities and the world at large.

Education

B.S. Psychology, University California, Berkeley.

M.A. Counseling, University Southern California.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 1993

MFT 31122

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Certification 2012

Emotional Freedom Technique

Mindful based relaxation and meditation training for children and adults

TRAUMA

Understanding Childhood Trauma

By Dr. Peter Levine

Although anyone – regardless of strength, capability, or experience – can be traumatized by a threatening event, those at greatest risk are infants and young children.

How to Tell If Your Child Has Been Traumatized

Any unusual behavior that begins shortly after a severely frightening episode may indicate that your child is traumatized. Compulsive, repetitive mannerisms – such as repeatedly zooming a toy car into a doll – are an almost sure sign of an unresolved reaction to a traumatic event. (The activity may or may not be a literal replay of the trauma.) Other signs of traumatic stress include persistent controlling behaviors, tantrums, uncontrollable rage attacks, hyperactivity, an exaggerated startle reflex, recurring night terrors or nightmares, thrashing while asleep, bedwetting, inability to concentrate in school, forgetfulness, excessive belligerence or shyness, withdrawal or fearfulness, extreme clinginess, and stomachaches or other ailments of unknown origin.

To find out whether an uncustomary behavior is indeed a traumatic reaction, try mentioning the frightening episode and see how your child responds. A traumatized child will not want to be reminded of the predisposing event – or conversely, once reminded, will become excited, or fearful and unable to stop talking about it. A traumatized child may also respond with silence.

If you have questions or would like to know more about the treatment of trauma call 415 453-1402 or email kate@kebrennan.com.

For further reading

Trauma Through A Child’s Eyes by Dr. Peter Levine and Maggie Kline

Our Approach

The Therapeutic Process

At Marin Therapy Partners it is our belief that we all have an inherent inner drive to grow, heal, and evolve wired deep within our brains. Through the therapy process, crises, difficulties and challenges become doorways to transformation as we access this powerful inner force. We now know that the brain can actually re-wire itself. We have great faith in the therapeutic process and know from experience that healing and change are truly possible. Some of the modalities we work with include attachment based theories, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Somatic Experiencing Technique, EMDR and Mindfulness. We invite you to check our articles section where we have included material on these topics for further reading at www.marintherapypartners.com

Kate@kebrennan.com

Resources/links

You and your Child’s Health - Dr. Sue Johnson Pediatrician

http://www.youandyourchildshealth.org/youandyourchildshealth/articles.html

Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation - research and education on SPD

http://www.SPDfoundation.net/

Dan Siegal – Neuroscience of attachment. Through the use of MRI’s Dr. Siegal demonstrates how attachment, meditation and effective psychotherapy all tap into the brains capacity to create new neural pathways. Author of Parenting From the Inside Out – how our attachments with our children create resiliency.

Sensory Processing Disorder -Carol Stock Kranowitz author of Out of Synch Child.

http://out-of-sync-child.com/

Somatic Experiencing - website for SE.

SE supports people in accessing their innate resiliency and their inherent capacity to rebound and recover from overwhelming experiences.

http://www.traumahealing.com/somatic-experiencing/index.html

Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood

CCFC works for the rights of children to grow up—and the freedom for parents to raise them—without being undermined by commercial interests. http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org

Common Sense Media

Dedicated to helping families make the best media choices for their kids. www.commonsensemedia.org

Media Education Foundation

A nonprofit educational organization devoted to media research and resources to aid educators and others in fostering analytical media literacy. www.mediaed.org

Hand in Hand

A resource for parents to help build close connections with their children.

www.handinhandparenting.org

Books

Hold onto your child- Gordon Nuefeld

http://www.gordonneufeld.com/

The pivotal importance of children's relationships to those responsible for them and the devastating impact in today's society of competing attachments from peers.

Last child in the woods- Richard Louv This is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development.

The other parent-Jim Steyer founder of Common Sense Media. The Inside Story of the Media's Effect on Our Children

The end of Solitude- William Deresiewicz

http://chronicle.com/article/The-End-of-Solitude/3708

Monday, April 23, 2012