Somatic Experiencing® is a body-awareness approach to trauma being used
throughout the world.  I am proud to have been doing these treatments for over 20+ years.

It is based upon the realization that human beings have an innate ability to overcome the effects of trauma, and helps whose lives have been restricted, both subtly or severely by the ravages of trauma.  In working with patients over many years I have come to truly learn  and see daily that human beings are born with an innate capability to recover, resolve and even triumph over trauma – becoming better and stronger and more resilient.  Trauma can come from severe events such as war, emotional, sexual or physical abuse, experiencing or witnessing violence, rape or catastrophic illness or injuries. But, it can also come from minor auto accidents, medical and dental procedures, falls, natural disasters, illness, being left alone as a young child, prolonged immobilization, exposure to extremes, sudden loud noises and birth stress from both the mother or the infant. It may not be in the current event, it may be the events of long ago past that the body has covered over and compensated for that are now affecting and negatively impacting our lives.

As we resolve the trauma we can resolve the symptoms. And the process of resolving trauma also be the beginning of a profound healing journey that brings transformation, emotional regulation and even spiritual unfolding as well as an increased resilience, energy for living and sense of aliveness for those that choose to follow this path.

• EARLY SYMPTOMS of UNRESOLVED TRAUMA

Hypervigilance (being on guard at all times)
Intrusive Imagery or Flashbacks
Extreme Sensitivity to Light and Sound
Hyperactivity
Exaggerated Emotional Responses
Exaggerated Startle Responses
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Abrupt Mood Swings (Rage – Temper tantrums – Frequent Anger – Crying)
Shame and/or Lack of Self Worth
Reduced ability to deal with stress
Difficulty Sleeping

Trauma is one of the four portals for profound transformation in the buddhist and Taoist traditions.  And in this transformation we become more that we were before, more resilient, more able to handle stress, more alive.  The “energies” that are released through transformation can be used for creative, artistic purposes to help us give all we can give to the world.  With fuller presence of body and mind we tap into our innate source of inner wisdom, enthusiasm and energy.

• MORE SYMPTOMS THAT CAN COME FROM UNRESOLVED TRAUMA

Panic Attacks, Anxiety and Phobias
Mental “blankness” or spaced out feelings
Avoidance Behavior (avoiding places, activities, movements, memories or people)
Attraction to dangerous situations
Addictive Behaviors
Exaggerated or diminished sexual activity
Amnesia or Forgetfulness
Inability to love, nurture or bond with others
Fear of dying or having a shortened life
Loss of sustaining beliefs (spiritual, religious, interpersonal)
Excessive shyness
Diminished Emotional Responses
Inability to make commitments
Chronic fatigue or very low physical energy
Immune system problems
Endocrine problems such as thyroid malfunction or environmental sensitivities
Chronic Pain
Fibromyalgia
Asthma
Skin Disorders
Digestive Problems (Spastic colon)
Severe PMS PreMenstrual Syndrome
Depression of feelings of impending doom
Feelings of detachement, alienation and isolation
Reduced ability to formulate plans

• BENEFITS OF RESOLVING TRAUMA (i.e. Doing the Work)

Feeling Alert yet Relaxed
Living NOW in the Present Moment
Normal awareness of Light and Sound
Ability to be active then relax when you want to
Normal, Contained and Appropriate Emotional Responses
Normal, Contained and Appropriate Startle Responses
Stable and Balanced sense of Mood
Healthy Sense of Self Worth
Increased ability to deal with stress (even feel envigorated by stress)
Restful Sleeping
Improved Mental Awareness
More open, free inner sexual feelings
Improved Memory
Ability to love, nurture or bond with others
Healthy involvement and assertiveness
Improved physical energy
Immune system balance and getting sick less often
Endocrine Regulation
Improved pain tolerance
Improved ability to breathe
Digestive Balance and ease
No PMS symptoms
Inner Feelings of lightness and looking to forward direction in life
Ability to see and formulate plans

These are some of the benefits our patients have found by doing this work.

Over the last 30+ years, Somatic work and 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. Debra is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) the highest certification with this modality and has been using this work since 2000.  Debra on Faculty at Somatic Experiecing International and is an Advanced/Lead Assistant in the Somatic Experiencing Trainings and the Master Classes with Peter Levine throughout the country. 

Debra has seen this work assist combat veterans, rape survivors, Holocaust survivors, those suffering from the after effects of auto accidents and post surgical trauma, chronic pain sufferers, and to infants after suffering traumatic births – Anyone who has symptoms of unresolved trauma that is causing challenges in their current lives.

We offer SE sessions in a one on one format both in person and as a phone session through skype video.  Each session can be a standalone treatment and/or can be combines with other treatment modalities. The sessions are 50 minutes or 25 minutes with the initial intake session being50-60 minutes to facilitate the best results. Pricing is as follows:

•  Initial Intake session: ~1 hour                                                     $199
•  SE session/Individual Consult – 50 Minute                                $180
•  SE session/Individual Consult – 25 Minute                                  $95
•  Sliding scale is available with proof of income.  Please speak with us directly.

We also offer supervision groups for practitioners therapists, medical professionals, bodyworkers, yoga instructors – any SE student that are learning to integrate this work in their practices – as we are approved at all levels in offering these groups.  We offer additional consultation groups for those that are doing somatic work as well.  See below for dates and prices.

•  Group Supervision FOR SE CREDIT                                              $45
•  Next Group session: see Group Consultation Page
•  
•  Email us at appts@omvitality.com for registration form
•  Group Times in end of 2024 coming soon!

• Group Supervision NOT FOR SE CREDIT Limit of 20                  $TBD
• Co Lead by Dr Robert Coffman
•  Next Group session TBD                                                                             
•          TBD Pacific time to TBD Pacific Time 
•  Group Times in 2024 coming soon!

We hope to assist you to resolve the trauma you may be carrying in your body that may be affecting your life in any of these ways.  Please call us to set up a session.

Phone: 310-312-6759

 

We also would like to give credit where credit is due and give you some of the history of this work.  It is the result of over forty years of observation, research, and hands-on development by Dr. Peter Levine and the students and associates that study and practice this work.  SE draws from diverse history of  body focused modalities such as Focusing, Bioenergetics, Rolfing and other body centered treatments.