Somatic Healing
RAM CIRCLE Counseling uses a three pronged approach to psychotherapy to help clients mend the physical and emotional turmoil their brain and body have sustained as a result of past trauma.
We do so by helping you to identify the problem. This isn’t as easy for everyone especially when the person sees themselves as the problem versus the sustained turmoil in their brain and body.
To address the identified problem, the client is taught various skills geared towards improving the ability for being present (i.e. mindfulness), an increased ability to tolerate emotions that cause moderate to severe distress, using the body as a tool to self soothe, and communicating effectively in a way that’s empathic without compromising clarity and effectiveness.
Trauma manifests itself in the body in a multitude of ways. It impacts the way we relate to others, to ourselves, the way we move through life, our relationship to food and our bodies all in an effort to contain the turmoil that trauma causes.
The impact of power, privilege and generational trauma on a person’s body and relationship with their brain and body is also layered and significant.
With somatic healing, we utilized both Brainspotting and EMDR. Both approaches work to remove the blockages imposed on the body as a result of past trauma or ongoing trauma such as the impact of the global pandemic or the continuing oppression of Black, Indigenous, People of Color in America.
Emotional turmoil isn’t sustainable and doesn’t have to take a lifetime. Both Brainspotting and EMDR therapy have had significant impact on helping people recover from trauma that can typically take years with traditional talk therapy.
What is Brainspotting?
“Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms. Brainspotting is a simultaneous form of diagnosis and treatment, enhanced with Biolateral sound, which is deep, direct, and powerful yet focused and containing.” (cc: Brainspotting.com)
What is EMDR?
“EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes.” (cc: EMDR.com)
Do you find yourself engaging in any of these survival patterns?
>Body image: Binging and purging, chronic use of laxative, restrictive eating,
obsessively counting calories.
>Interpersonal relationship: extreme independence, shrinking yourself, a fear of taking up space, giving without boundaries, self abandonment, attachment trauma, feeling emotionally disjointed or at a lost as to what to do next, vacant self esteem, working yourself to the ground, impulsivity, constantly in defense mode.
>Identity: adoption or foster care issues, race and ethnicity
>Social justice: activism burnout due to guilt or self care
Are you interested in learning how we can co-create change in your life and recover from the turmoil that cause these behaviors? This is a place to start.
RAM CIRCLE Counseling is a culturally open, LGBT affirming community where we do the work of cultivating a space that is anti racist, anti oppressive in both our professional AND personal lives.
We know that honest open dialogues can dismantle systemic oppression and we do not shy away from any topic that helps you as the client find healing and recovery. Explore healing and recovery with us today and give yourself permission to heal so that you can live the life you want to live.
Your body and brain want to heal because their job is to work in your favor. When the turmoil holds your body and brain hostage, you naturally undermine your instinctual ability to heal yourself. Therapy with us is designed to focus simultaneously on your body and brain while we work to help you vocalize any somatically trapped words, sounds, thoughts that will push you towards greater self leadership and self care and presence.
It’s OK to feel good. Give yourself the gift of healing
Marjorie Jean, LCSW-C, LICSW