While studying the effects of accumulated stress on the nervous system, I began to suspect that most organisms have an innate capacity to rebound from threatening and stressful events.
Peter Levine
Somatic Experiencing™
Somatic Experiencing is a body-based approach for helping people with stress and anxiety, low mood, or difficult past experiences. Developed by Peter Levine through clinical practice and observation of animals in the wild, Somatic Experiencing seeks to release patterns of ‘stuck’ trauma responses from the body, mind and nervous system.
In a session attention is given to the sensations, emotions and movements that may arise and I can show you how to follow this process to completion and resolution. You can learn simple techniques to regulate your nervous system, and understand how to access the body’s natural responses for your benefit and wellbeing.
Neuroaffective Touch™
The creation of Aline LaPierre, NeuroAffective touch elevates the importance of the body in therapy, and seeks to help clients recover from early childhood trauma and neglect. Restoring the connection between mind and body can lead to a felt-sense of safety that was missing for many people in their early lives.
Touch work, or self-contact if you prefer can be an important part of this approach, as touch is our first sense to develop, even before we are born. I can teach you gentle processes for calming any hypervigilance in your senses of hearing, touch and vision. NeuroAffective Touch can be subtle yet deeply transformative.
Somatic Attachment Therapy
Originating in the work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth 70 years ago, attachment theory has been brought to wide attention by many people working in the field of relationships.
Attachment ‘styles’ can be reframed as adaptations to our early life experience which can change over time, and vary in different relationships. Somatic attachment therapy includes the experience of the body, with a focus on sensations, emotions and movement impulses that arise during a session.
Diane-Poole Heller is one of the leaders in the field and I especially like her approach with an emphasis on simple resources to help strengthen our innate capacity for experiencing secure attachment.
Deep Brain Reorienting™
Dr Frank Corrigan developed this process based on decades of clinical experience as a psychiatrist in Scotland, and his own neuroscience research.
In a session the client orients to the issue to be worked with in a particular way, which accesses a natural progression of release through the deep levels of the brain. Clients are guided to notice any sensations, movements and emotions arising during a session. Research by Ruth Lanius and team shows promising results, and more studies are in progress.
I am currently training in this method, and look forward to it being more widely available in New Zealand.
About Julie Forsey
Julie is a retired medical doctor now offering assistance for people with anxiety, low mood or past trauma. Informed by the latest thinking on resolving the effects of traumatic experience on mind, body and nervous system, Julie is available to work with individuals and groups, either in-person or online.
I love working in a way that is complementary to and supportive of mainstream medical practice.
Continuing her long-held interest in holistic health and wellbeing, she completed the three year Somatic Experiencing™ training in 2021, Neuroaffective Touch™ in 2022 and is currently studying Deep Brain Reorienting™ with Dr Frank Corrigan. She has also explored mind-body connection through 5Rhythms® conscious dance, (qualified teacher 2008) Bio-energy therapy, (Diploma course 2003) and the practice of Yoga, meditation and QiGong.
She is now based in Kapiti Coast, providing individual and group sessions for people with a history of traumatic experience, or for those who are simply interested in learning more about embodiment.
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