Somatic Experiencing

Resolve overwhelm and over-stimulation so you can feel calm again.
You are a strong and resourceful person.
 
And then life throws you one too many curve-balls, way too fast, and you are over your limit.

You're not weak. You are over-capacity.

You are putting on a strong face. But your tattered edges are starting to show.

  • You aren't sleeping full nights.
  • Physical symptoms of your stress overload are showing up: headaches, messed up digestion, racing mind, increased startle response, body pain that has nothing to do with exercise or physical effort.
  • When you come home from work, you notice you are 'taking it out' on your family.
  • Your emotions are going numb or overflowing. You no longer have control over the faucet.
  • Your nervous system simply can't keep responding to what is coming at you. ​​
You can get relief.

Even if you can't imagine scheduling one more thing on your 'to do' list. We can work online or in-person with the same results. 
I'm Shelley Harrison and I'm trained in trauma resolution work.

I know, trauma is a big word. I didn't think I had any stored trauma myself.

My life story isn't that dramatic. No 'big incidents' like a car accident, an assault, or abuse. 

When I started learning the work of Somatic Experiencing, I discovered there was plenty of residue from overwhelming situations stored in my body. 
I was shown that if someone held the right conditions for me to slow myself down, attune to my body, and discharge that bound energy, I could feel more focused and at ease in my body. Pain I had 'just gotten used to' could finally un-clench.

Then more of my intelligence, insight and spark could take the lead.

I can help you to do the same.

​We can get you from wound-up-tight, to calm and centred.

I help you work through fight/flight/freeze responses so you can resolve symptoms at their root and reconnect with your own inner wisdom to make decisions from that place, not a "deer in headlights" fear place.​

Here's what a Somatic Experiencing session looks like.

As we connect video screen to video screen, or in-person, I begin by guiding you to orient to the room around you. 

Your orienting response is a biologically ingrained survival mechanism you use all the time to assess your surroundings for danger.

As we take the time to respect this instinct and give it space, you will notice your level of nervous system activation is coming down already. This is called settling.

Next, I invite you to attune to sensations in your body.

Your attention may land on painful uncomfortable sensations (they really do like to put up their hand first!) or easier, more pleasant sensations.

The uncomfortable sensations are areas of blockage in your energy and incomplete stress responses stored in your nervous system and body.

I help you to go into those blocks, dwell, get more information in the form of sensation, image, memory, emotion, then come back out into the easier areas of sensation-or energy flow. We go back and forth from the pain and discomfort to the ease and comfort.

We slowly nudge the bound energy to wake up, animate, and clear out.

​When that stress energy animates and begins to discharge...
  • emotions may come up
  • more sensations or different sensations
  • memories related to the block
  • a shaking sensation
  • or even heat
Your nervous system is discharging stored up stress, overwhelm or even trauma. The block is dissolving.

Don't worry, we always work with sensitivity to how much is just the right amount for your system to do in any moment and in any session. 

It won't help if we do too much and overwhelm you again, so there is no need to be afraid of going over the edge.

SE sessions aren't a big trauma-drama. We work slowly and wisely, and get results=relief.
Somatic Experiencing is not talk therapy.

​We work with how pent up fight, flight & freeze are stuck and stored in your physiology-your body.

I'm happy to hear about how your day went, or what is going on for you. But the moment I see that sharing activate your nervous system and your stress level start to climb, I will stop you and direct you to focus on the 'felt sense' in your body. 

Re-telling the story of what happened just runs the same stress through your body all over again. It doesn't bring resolution. The relief is in the release of the bound stress energy.

It's very simple, very rewarding, and anyone can do it. You can do it with my help.

The more you work with me, the more you will learn how to help yourself with what you are learning. You are learning a new life skill that will help you understand your stress responses, and other's. 
And hey, this stuff is not woo-woo.

Dr. Peter Levine, who developed SE, has worked in the field of stress and trauma for over 40 years and has a PhD in medical biophysics as well as a doctorate in psychology. Somatic Experiencing is recognized as the cutting edge in trauma resolution, PTSD and stress. It is taught world-wide.

So, if you are ready to do some serious self-care that respects how much you are putting out there and showing up for others, let's get your stress sorted.
Because you deserve to:
​
  • Sleep better between shifts so you can show up with your full capacity.
  • Keep your own immune system strong by clearing stress from your body.
  • Slow down your racing mind.
  • Uproot triggers so your nervous system doesn't get ambushed when you need to be present and available.
  • Be able to 'come down' at the end of your day and feel safe, grounded, and connected.
Free 30 minute consult.

Need to ask more questions about whether this work can help you? Let's talk by phone or video so you can connect and check it out.
Somatic Experiencing single session
60 minutes / $135

Sleep better tonight. Empty out what happened yesterday and in the past so you are ready to face what may happen tomorrow with more resilience and readiness.
Somatic Experiencing 3 month package.
6 sessions, 2 per month / $780 ($135/session)

Long term stress, developmental trauma, or large impact events (physical or emotional), need time and attention to resolve, layer by layer. If it's time to lift the burden you've been carrying, let's give you the conditions you need to do the healing. You will feel clearer, more connected to your aliveness, and empowered after 3 months of work. 

You will also be on your way to being trauma-informed so you know how to help yourself and others when crisis occurs.
"Soldiering on" only works for so long before you start to become ineffective and erode your own health. 

Being heroic means showing up for yourself first, so you can show up with all your awesome for others. Rescuers who are drowning themselves, can't get others to shore.

I believe in your heart, your compassion, your strength and your altruism. Let me help you regain your full capacity to be in your work, and your own life, with your loved ones, for the long haul.
When life throws you stresses that activate your energy, emotions, and nervous system, Somatic Experiencing work will help you to re-integrate, find calm, and re-embody your True Nature so you can move through your week with more grace and confidence.
Learning how to regulate your nervous system when you are faced with overwhelming stress is something we all should have learned in grade school.

​Is it time to get your self-care up to speed?

Learn more about where your stress is stored.

I see a lot of you that other therapists don't see.
​I'm trained to observe your energy on all the levels you show up on in your life--the 7 Levels of Your Aura. It's part of the reason I'm so good at tracking the way you store stress in your body.

Get a diagnostic tool for self-care and personal healing available whenever you need it. My Free Aura Healing Checklist and Video Series will guide the way.
(In video #2, I speak more about fight, flight & freeze.)
love@truenaturehealing.ca
613.220.6863
© COPYRIGHT 2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.