How many times have you heard that trauma stays in your body until you heal it? That saying is true—but you’ve come to the right place. Our goal is to help you regulate your nervous system and develop healthy ways to cope with trauma. We are trained in various somatic therapies to help you relax your nervous system and retrain your brain and body to respond to triggers in a healthy, regulated way.
You are the expert in the room—you know yourself best. We are the guides here to help you become the best version of yourself.
Polyvagal Theory
Polyvagal Theory helps us understand how our nervous system reacts to stress and safety. It explains why we sometimes feel calm and connected, other times anxious or frozen, and how we can help our bodies feel safer.
Three States of the Nervous System
1. Safe & Social (Ventral Vagal State)
• When we feel safe, we can connect with others, think clearly, and feel calm.
• Example: Feeling relaxed while talking to a friend.
2. Fight-or-Flight (Sympathetic State)
• When we sense danger, our body prepares to protect us by fighting or running away.
• Example: Feeling anxious before a big test or getting angry in an argument.
3. Shutdown (Dorsal Vagal State)
• If a situation feels too overwhelming, our body might “shut down” to protect us.
• Example: Feeling numb, disconnected, or unable to move during extreme stress.
Why Is This Important?
Our nervous system reacts automatically, but we can learn to help it feel safer. Breathing exercises, movement, and social connection can bring us back to a calm state.
Therapy Modalities
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS is a type of therapy that helps us understand the different “parts” of ourselves. It teaches us that we all have different inner voices or feelings that sometimes conflict, and by understanding them, we can feel more balanced and at peace.
The Three Main Parts in IFS
1. The Self – This is the core of who you are. It’s calm, wise, and compassionate. When your Self is leading, you feel confident and in control.
2. Protectors – These parts try to keep you safe, often by controlling situations or keeping emotions buried. They can show up as inner critics, perfectionism, or avoiding feelings.
3. Exiles – These are wounded parts that carry painful emotions, like sadness, fear, or shame. Protectors try to keep them hidden to prevent pain.
How IFS Helps
Instead of fighting or ignoring your inner struggles, IFS helps you listen to and heal your parts. By understanding and caring for them, your Self can take the lead, making life feel more peaceful and whole.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a type of therapy that helps people heal from distressing experiences, especially trauma. It works by helping the brain process painful memories in a way that makes them less upsetting over time.
How Does EMDR Work?
1. Identifying the Memory – You and your therapist choose a distressing memory or event to work on.
2. Bilateral Stimulation – Your therapist will guide you to move your eyes back and forth (or use sounds or taps) while you think about the memory.
3. Processing the Memory – As your brain works through the memory, the distressing emotions fade, and you start to feel less triggered by it.
4. New, Positive Beliefs – Instead of feeling stuck in the past, you develop a healthier way of thinking about what happened.
Why Does EMDR Help?
Normally, our brains process experiences naturally. But when something traumatic happens, the brain can get stuck, leaving painful memories feeling as fresh as when they first happened. EMDR helps “unstick” those memories so they can be properly stored in the past where they belong.