Clinical Framework of Practice

Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy (SAP) is a body-centered, relational approach that integrates attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, affect regulation, and trauma healing. This framework recognizes that early relational experiences shape both our psyche and nervous system, wiring patterns of connection, regulation, and emotional capacity. When these early experiences involve relational wounds, attachment disruptions, or developmental trauma, they become embedded in the body and impact how we experience ourselves, others, and the world.

This approach moves beyond traditional talk therapy by working directly with the nervous system, implicit memory, and right-brain processing to create lasting shifts in both psychological and physiological well-being.

Key Principles of Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy in My Work

• The Body as a Portal to Healing – Our deepest wounds and patterns are held in the body. By bringing awareness to bodily sensations, breath, and movement, we access core emotional and relational experiences that might not be reachable through words alone.

• Regulating the Nervous System – Dysregulated states of hyperarousal (anxiety, panic, overwhelm) or hypoarousal (numbness, dissociation, shutdown) are common in unresolved trauma. Through co-regulation and somatic processing, we restore balance and emotional flexibility.

• Implicit Memory & Right Hemisphere Processing – Trauma is often stored implicitly in the body, influencing emotions and behavior outside of conscious awareness. Engaging the right hemisphere (the part of the brain responsible for emotion, intuition, and relational connection) helps access and integrate unprocessed material.

• Relational Repair & Embodied Attachment – Healing occurs in relationship. Just as trauma often arises in the context of relationship, it is through attuned, safe, and embodied relational experiences that deep repair becomes possible.

• Interrupting Old Patterns & Expanding Capacity – Instead of just reducing symptoms, this approach expands your capacity for self-awareness, connection, and emotional regulation, leading to long-term transformation.

If You Struggle With…

• Feeling stuck in repetitive emotional or relational patterns

• Chronic anxiety, hypervigilance, or emotional shutdown

• Difficulty trusting others or forming secure relationships

• A sense of disconnection from your body or emotions

• Overwhelming shame, self-criticism, or feeling "not enough"

…Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy offers a way to reconnect, repair, and reclaim a more integrated sense of self.

How This Informs My Work

In my practice, I integrate somatic awareness, attachment repair, and nervous system regulation to help clients move from survival-based coping into deeper, more connected living. Rather than simply talking through experiences, we track the body’s cues, work with implicit memory, and engage the right brain to unlock deeper healing. My approach is deeply relational, experiential, and attuned to the wisdom of the body.

My Training in Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy:

I am currently completing Bringing the Body into Practice’s Somatic Attachment Psychotherapy Training, an advanced program integrating:

• Interpersonal Neurobiology – Understanding how the brain, nervous system, and relationships shape our emotional experiences

• Polyvagal Theory – Restoring nervous system regulation through co-regulation and safety-based interventions

• Right Hemisphere & Implicit Memory Work – Engaging somatic, imaginal, and sensory-based processing to integrate unprocessed trauma

• Embodied Relational Practice – Using attunement, presence, and embodied countertransference as tools for deep therapeutic repair

Through this work, I continue to deepen my ability to bring the body into practice, supporting clients in reconnecting with their innate capacity for regulation, relationship, and healing.

Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) is an integrative framework that blends neuroscience, psychology, and attachment theory to help us understand how relationships shape the brain and influence emotional well-being. At its core, IPNB recognizes that our brains are wired for connection and that healing happens in the context of safe, attuned relationships.

Key Concepts in My Practice

• The Social Brain: Our brains develop in response to relationships. Early experiences with caregivers shape the way we regulate emotions, connect with others, and experience safety in relationships.

• Neuroplasticity: The brain’s capacity to change means that healing and growth are always possible, even for those with histories of relational trauma.

• The Mind-Body Connection: Emotional experiences are not just psychological; they have a direct impact on the body. By listening to the wisdom of the nervous system, we can work toward deep and lasting healing.

If You Struggle With…

• Feeling emotionally disconnected or numb

• Chronic stress, anxiety, or feeling "on edge"

• Relationship difficulties rooted in past wounds

• A sense of being stuck in old patterns of reactivity

• Difficulty accessing self-compassion

…this work can help you develop a greater sense of inner safety, emotional regulation, and deeper connections with yourself and others.

How This Informs My Work

In my counselling practice, I integrate relational neuroscience to create a therapeutic space that fosters safety, co-regulation, and deep presence. Understanding how the nervous system responds to trauma and connection allows me to support clients in shifting patterns of emotional distress and developing more compassionate relationships with themselves and others.

My Training in IPNB

I have completed an advanced training with Dr. Bonnie Badenoch, a leading therapist, mentor, and author specializing in relational neuroscience. These immersive, year-long trainings emphasized embodied presence, nervous system attunement, and the divided brain’s role in trauma recovery. Through this work, I continue to develop my capacity to offer a deeply attuned, relational approach that supports healing at both the neurological and emotional levels.

Somatic therapy is a holistic, body-based approach that recognizes the deep connection between the mind and body in healing. This work acknowledges that trauma and stress are not just cognitive or emotional experiences—they are physiological experiences stored in the nervous system. By tuning into bodily sensations, emotions, and movement patterns, somatic therapy helps release stored survival stress and supports nervous system regulation.

Key Concepts in My Practice

• Titration: Processing trauma in small, manageable pieces to prevent overwhelm and help the nervous system integrate healing safely.

• Pendulation: Moving rhythmically between activation (difficult emotions or sensations) and regulation (neutral or positive experiences) to restore balance.

• Resourcing: Strengthening internal and external supports—such as feelings of safety, positive memories, and grounding techniques—to build resilience.

If You Struggle With…

• Chronic stress or burnout

• Feeling stuck in patterns of anxiety, hypervigilance, or emotional shutdown

• Unexplained physical symptoms related to stress or trauma

• A disconnect between your emotions and bodily sensations

• Difficulty feeling safe or grounded in your body

…somatic therapy can help you reconnect with your body’s innate wisdom, allowing for a more regulated nervous system and a deeper sense of well-being.

How This Informs My Work

In my counselling practice, I integrate somatic awareness and nervous system regulation techniques to help clients tune into their bodies, release stored tension, and develop a felt sense of safety. Rather than focusing solely on thoughts and emotions, I guide clients in noticing subtle shifts in breath, posture, and physical sensations as key indicators of healing and change.

My Training in Somatic Therapy

I have trained with Irene Lyon, MSc., a nervous system specialist and somatic neuroplasticity expert, as part of her SmartBody SmartMind program. This training integrates polyvagal-informed education and practical neurosensory exercises to restore nervous system regulation. It draws from the work of:

• Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) – Healing trauma through body-based awareness

• Kathy Kain (Somatic Practice) – Deep, hands-on nervous system regulation work

• Moshé Feldenkrais (The Feldenkrais Method) – Rewiring movement patterns to enhance self-awareness and healing

This approach allows me to support clients in moving beyond cognitive processing and into embodied healing.

Self-compassion is the gentle practice of treating yourself with the same kindness, understanding, and care that you naturally extend to others. It offers an alternative to self-criticism, shame, and perfectionism, encouraging a more nurturing and accepting way of relating to oneself. Importantly, self-compassion recognizes that pain begets compassion—regardless of fault or blame—and that healing begins when we meet ourselves with warmth rather than judgment.

The Three Pillars of Self-Compassion

• Self-Kindness – Instead of responding to difficulties with harsh self-judgment, self-kindness invites us to soothe our inner dialogue and offer ourselves patience, warmth, and understanding—just as we would to a dear friend.

• Common Humanity – When we struggle, we often feel isolated in our pain. Self-compassion reminds us that suffering is part of the shared human experience, helping us feel more connected rather than alone.

• Mindful Self-Awareness – Rather than suppressing or over-identifying with distress, mindfulness allows us to observe our emotions with openness and balance, making space for a compassionate response.

If You Struggle With…

• Harsh self-criticism or perfectionism

• Feeling unworthy, not “good enough,” or deeply ashamed

• Chronic stress, self-doubt, or difficulty accepting mistakes

• Feeling emotionally overwhelmed but unable to offer yourself the same kindness you show others

…self-compassion work can help you develop a more gentle, accepting relationship with yourself, leading to greater resilience, self-worth, and emotional well-being.

How This Informs My Work

In my practice, I integrate self-compassion principles into therapy to help clients shift from self-judgment to self-acceptance. Healing often requires meeting pain with warmth rather than avoidance or criticism, and I support clients in cultivating this capacity through mindful awareness and self-compassion exercises.

My Training in Self-Compassion

I had the opportunity to train directly with two of the foremost leaders in self-compassion research and practice, Kristin Neff, PhD, and Chris Germer, PhD, through the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Core Skills Training. This empirically supported program integrates mindfulness and self-compassion to enhance emotional resilience, providing practical tools to foster self-kindness, reduce self-criticism, and improve emotional well-being. Grounded in research-backed methods, the training offers strategies for cultivating greater ease and self-acceptance in daily life. This approach enables me to support clients in rewriting their inner narrative—replacing self-judgment with understanding and transforming self-doubt into self-trust.