Hosted by Amie Leigh, Director of Public Health Initiatives at SEI created this conversation series to explore prevalent topics in public health thru the lens of Somatic Experiencing© neurobiological approaches to trauma resolution. Also responsible for creating bottom-up real mental health resources with our Crisis Stabilization and Safety CSS program, there's never been a better time to involve the world in our mission to transform lives through healing trauma. Contact us at publichealth@traumahealing.org to get involved!
It is estimated that chronic pain affects one in five people, or nearly 1.5 billion globally. Chronic pain is a complex symptom that can stem from a variety of physical and mental conditions. In this month’s SE Community Conversation, we will hear from several experts in the field who specialize in working with chronic pain and utilizing somatic techniques to support resolution. These experts will discuss the effects of chronic pain on the nervous system, resources for chronic pain management, and things providers should know when working with clients experiencing chronic pain.
Rachel Bixby PT, DPT, E-RYT 500, PSEP
Dr. Rachel Bixby has been a physical therapist for 3 decades and was drawn to the field by a desire to share her enthusiasm for movement as a regulating tool, though she didn’t have this language available in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when she was trained. Though traditional physical therapy education is linear and based on medical diagnostics and biomechanical manipulation, she became more and more intrigued with the outliers who didn’t respond to this approach. This curiosity took Rachel down the rabbit hole to extensive trainings in Myofascial Release body work, Sensory Integration/Therapeutic Listening, Neurovascular Integration Therapy, and Yoga. Her work is also influenced by her many interests in all things esoteric with its rich language and imagery of symbolism and archetypes. Rachel enjoys utilizing the very comprehensive and nuanced approach of Somatic Experiencing which combines elements of many healing practices from Eastern and Western Wisdom Traditions with a modern understanding of human physiology and psychology. Learn more about Dr. Rachel Bixby’s practice and check out her blogs @ www.alchemywellness.biz
Sam Del Vecchio MA, L.Ac., SEP
Sam is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Licensed Acupuncturist, holding a BA in Philosophy and Religion and an MA in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, in practice since 2005. In the past 6 years, his work has moved away from acupuncture and toward somatic therapy; and most of the last 2 years he's worked exclusively on Zoom. He is also a farmer, carpenter, musician, and poet; and lives with his wife and children in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Sam Del Vecchio - SEI Practitioner Directory (traumahealing.org)
Beth Hinden LMT, SEP
Beth is a transformational massage therapist and SEP. She has been a licensed massage therapist for the last 27 years as well as attaining her BS degree in Psychology in 2015. Sanctuary of Integration Wellness Center is her business and was birthed in 2012 out of the desire to create a safe place where clients can land and be authentically who they are in the moments. Life is challenging and when trauma descends, it can rob the individual of their capacity to fully enjoy the day-to-day opportunities. Using a combination of bodywork, energy healing, and her SE lens perspective, she partners with clients to explore their inner experience on all levels...Physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual. She aims to hold space for the ENTIRE person as they arrive for their session. In her experience, a multitude of clients arrive with chronic pain for various reasons; it is a beautiful opportunity to share her skillset to alleviate the pain symptoms as well as explore other aspects of self. Please check out her website at www.sanctuaryofintegration.com for more information or call/text 859-866-6666 to connect.
Jon Aaron SEP
Jon teaches meditation, Buddhist dharma, and is a Somatic Experience Practitioner® in New York City. He is well known as a teacher of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as well as a trainer of new teachers of this seminal 8-week curriculum. Among his primary interests are the use of meditation and somatic work in healing trauma and working with individuals with chronic pain and grief. Recently he has been teaching for the New York Police Department in an 8-hour intervention called Cultivating Mindfulness: expanding the capacity of mind and body to work with stress, anxiety and trauma. When the pandemic hit, along with his partner he co-founded Space2Meditate, an online community of meditators which is still going strong six days a week.
JonAaron.net, Space2Meditate.com
