FAQs

We are glad you found your way here.

Here are some simple definitions that may help answer some common questions:

What is attachment?

When we talk about attachment, we are talking about how it feels to be in relationship. Does it feel calm and relaxed whether you are together with OR apart from the people you love? That’s what secure attachment feels like. Signs of anxious or ambivalent attachment are things like: not feel trusting and calm around the people you chose to partner with, feeling anxious and worried when your partner is not present, or getting locked in battles of breaking up and getting back together over and over. Avoidant attachment may look more like the person who never seems to let others in at all, and appears to not “need” others.

The good news here is that it is possible to change your attachment style.

“Earning” secure attachment is one of the most profound changes that can come about in therapy.

What does somatic trauma therapy mean?

Somatic is just another word for body. With scary or traumatic experiences, our nervous system can hold onto the natural responses that were meant to protect us at the time of the event. While panic or a freeze response might have helped us survive in the moment, if we wind up re-experiencing those sensations over and over again, we can feel like we are going crazy or there is something still wrong. The good news is, there are ways to heal from trauma. Allowing your body to experience those body defensive responses in a fully supported environment can allow for that deep healing to happen.  More relaxed and resourced states become available again. Somatic trauma therapy uses awareness of the nervous system and body sensations as a guide to where you are in this healing. 

What if that sounds scary and overwhelming?

If your symptoms are already intense and intrusive, you may feel some relief from just getting started! However it’s also completely natural to experience fear or ambivalence about the process. Although we do experience those symptoms as part of therapy, we will first teach clients how to have a sense of control over how to feel better. Our intent is to approach the scary stuff slowly and in small enough bites to digest. 

If I don’t have PTSD, does that mean I should look elsewhere?

Nope. Though this approach works well with PTSD, it also is very effective for people who experience other symptom sets such as anxiety, phobias or just plain “stress.” In fact, you may be surprised to hear that anxiety can be a sign of your nervous system moving towards health! Learning to look at surges in anxiety as a healing process can really help to take lessen the impact and duration of “anxiety attacks.”