Trauma Informed Somatic Therapeutic Interventions

Course Description:

This course will outline trauma informed somatic therapeutic approaches to treating clients with a history of sexual abuse and trauma. People who have experienced sexual trauma often find it difficult to live fully in their bodies, and to be touched, decreasing their ability to feel pleasure. This detachment from sexual embodiment can also lead to a variety of sexual issues, such as Anorgasmia, Vulvodynia, Erectile Dysfunction, Vaginismus, Dyspareunia and Chronic Prostatitis Pain.

There are various aspects that can effect the ability of a trauma client to do somatic work, including length and severity of the trauma, whether the client is already doing some sort of somatic embodiment ie; yoga, dance, tai chi, and how comfortable a client is being vulnerable within an interpersonal context. This requires the facilitator to have a layered skills set in empathetic attunement, body reading, and grounding techniques. Working with trauma clients requires a nuanced approach to therapeutic interventions that

This course will provide the facilitator with skills sets that set the tone for safe somatic sessions with trauma clients. Providing a safe container is the cornerstone to successful sessions that allow for curiosity and exploration into the landscape of the clients nervous system and the emotions that are coupled with their trauma experiences. Trauma informed somatic interventions have proven to reduce activation and gently open up the nervous system to allow the client to begin to generate new neural pathways in a relational, regulated and empowering manner.

Modalities:

This course combines, Somatic therapies, IFS, Depth Psychology and Movement as the foundations of nervous system regulation and exploration.
Learning Objectives: Learn how to facilitate a trauma informed session.
Learn how to combine somatic, depth and movement based therapies in treating sexual trauma.
Learn how sexual trauma effects clients from a somatic perspective
Learn somatic interventions to assist your client into gaining empowered embodiment, which can help them reduce activation during sexual activities.
Speaker Bio: De Anna Dudley-Ross, LMFT is a marriage and family therapist from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is a somatic sex educator, and trauma specialist that specializes in body centered modalities in her therapeutic work. She has has worked extensively with clients who have experienced sexual trauma, narcissistic abuse and PTSD in a variety of settings. De Anna uses a blended approach of depth psychology, somatic practices and nervous system regulation to guide her clients towards a sense of wholeness and freedom with their sexuality and their body confidence.

De Anna speaks and conducts workshops on erotic embodiment and sexual expansion for traumatized and sexually curious individuals. She has designed trauma informed programs for medical professionals, chronic pain programs for trauma clients and conducted group programs for survivors of incest. She is currently expanding her practice to include clinical consultation for mental health professionals seeking to add a sexual trauma informed lens to their work.