SomatoEmotional Release
SomatoEmotional Release™ (SER) is a therapeutic process that uses and expands on the principles of CST to help a person rid their body of the residual effects of past injuries and negative experiences. SER is based on university research conducted by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger and biophysicist Zvi Karni. Physical forces enter a person's body at the time of an accident or injury. The injured body may immediately begin dissipating these forces and the natural healing process will follow, or the physical forces imposed upon the person's body may be retained rather than dissipated. Drs. Upledger and Karni came to realize that very often the body retained the emotional energy along with the physical force, and called this localized and concentrated area that formed, an "energy cyst." Initially the body accommodates to the presence of the energy cyst, but over time the body weakens or tires of this accommodation, and can develop symptoms of pain, dysfunction, or emotional stress.
SER facilitates a gentle process for releasing tissue memory, thereby helping the person to decrease the adverse effects of past traumas. There is vast research to show that a change in physical health is accompanied by a change in mental health, and it is equally documented that the reverse is apparent. SER is a holistic mind-body somatic approach that may also assist a person in gaining insight as to how that held trauma is influencing their physical and emotional health. SER can support the person's transition from dysfunction and unresolved issues towards wellness and optimal function.
How it works?
Every human has the birthright to experience peace and connectedness. The SER process encourages you to reconnect to yourself. The therapist does not diagnose and will not give direct advice about your emotional healing process. I am a facilitator helping you tap into the healing that is already inherently residing inside of you. This may be as undramatic, yet highly impactful, as a deep peace and shift in the somatic story you have experienced. For others, there may be a large physical and emotional release that occurs. My extensive trainings in nervous system regulation and trauma recovery guide this facilitation. We do not flood the system, but follow the pace your body sets. This is done through building capacity and self-attachment. You are your greatest advocate!
One way SER can occur is during bodywork (Massage or Cranial Sacral) and the therapist notices there is a resistant area of guarding or pain. With the client's consent, the therapist can facilitate a SomatoEmotional Release that may or may not involve the client talking. Sometimes the client's body and mind know what they need and just need the support of a neutral person to hold space for the process. Sometimes the client's inner wisdom knows the bodily or mental shift necessary to release the stored up trauma or tension. The therapist may ask prompting questions, while the client is enabled to bodily process into self-attachment. Occasionally, there will be a larger bodily process that was traumatically stunted (carwreck, birthing experience, etc) and the body wants to complete the biological process in order to shift the somatic story. My trainings enable me to support this process, while also ensuring you have capacity and support to appropriately process.
Another way SER can occur is as a standalone approach. You may have a thought process, relationship issue, or behavior cycle that feels stuck. You may have a traumatic moment that you have mentally processed, but you feel triggered or activated by. Or even grief that needs a neutral escort through the process. I can facilitate your emotional release while somatically integrating the new story you are developing the roots of.