Trauma-Informed Somatic Principles
“Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering.”
Dr. Peter Levine
What does it mean to be Trauma Informed?
- Trauma-Informed is a Way of Being
- Being
- Trauma-informed involves the responsibility of understanding how trauma impacts the nervous system and our duty as space holders to provide therapeutic presence that is attuned and reparative
- It is a deep belief that the healing intelligence resides within each individual and that while trauma burdens may cause fragmentation, it is our birthright to return to wholeness
- We understand that trauma effects everyone differently, and that the size of the trauma may not equal the size of the burden. It is our duty to be pillars of compassion that support each individual’s path to wholeness and empowerment
- We understand that safety and support are personal, and that layers of support and scope of expertise are imperative to the integrity of our work. It is our responsibility to structure and engage layers of support when necessary
- Offering diverse transformative experiences and psycho-educational tools, facilitates empowerment on the holistic journey of well-being and self-discovery.
Honoring Your Body’s Wisdom in Plant Medicine Work
Trauma Doesn’t Discriminate
Trauma often leaves us feeling stuck and disconnected from ourselves, others, nature, and spirit. It can cause us to freeze in fear, trapping our survival energy and making it difficult to move forward with our lives.
We believe that everyone carries trauma, whether big or small.
We view trauma as any event or instance that overwhelms the capacity of our nervous system. Trauma imprints can arise from adverse childhood experiences, systemic oppression, intergenerational or cultural legacies, religion, abuse/neglect, grief/loss, combat, emergency situations, or from everyday stress.
Through the western lens, we can view trauma as a fragmentation of ‘Self’ that results in ‘Parts’ of ourselves that go into hiding, and parts of ourselves that adapt to survive (Internal Family Systems, IFS). In Shamanism, this is called Soul Loss.
Our role as Trauma-Informed Somatic Healing Retreat Facilitators is to identify trauma imprints and, with compassion, navigate the most appropriate approach for support. Our goal is to support the process of trauma renegotiation and resolution through empowering guests with education, resources and tools.
When all of us work together (us, you, and the plant medicine), there is incredible potential to identify where you are holding trauma in your body and clear it out. We believe in the body’s capacity to heal and the resiliency inherent in each individual.
A Traditional Ayahuasca Retreat Experience
What is Somatics?
Somatic Psychology honors the harmonization and equal contribution of the body and the mind.
Each play a cooperative role in the healing process. This viewpoint prioritizes balancing listening to the body for its wisdom, and not just the mind.
Somatic Awareness is a modality based on Somatic Psychology that views the
body and mind as interconnected.
Its name is derived from the Greek words “Soma” which means the body and “Psyche”, the mind.
Somatic practices are body-centered approaches that integrate both the body and mind to enhance healing, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and help build our capacity to navigate challenges.
Our Somatic Principles Include:
- Body’s Response: The body reacts to stress and threats with tension, imbalance, and unhealthy habits
- Memory: The body remembers feelings, sensations, and memories, especially when triggered or touched.
- Flexibility: The body is constantly changing and can adapt.
- Temporary Experience: Bodily experiences, including pain, don’t last forever.
- Healing Capacity: The body can heal and repair at any time.
- Wisdom Through Attention: The body’s wisdom comes out when treated with kindness, curiosity, compassion and patience.
- Source of Healing: The body is a vital place for healing and transformation.