About Trauma + Body-Based Therapy

Over the last 40 to 60 years much research and study has been done in the field of trauma. How it is held in the body; why a similar experience can produce the effects of trauma in one person while not in another; methods that help persons heal. In the past trauma has often been thought to be all in the mind and that people should be able to return to their pre-traumatized state if they have enough determination or try hard enough. Often people who experience trauma are viewed as weaker, lazy, or lacking courage. This attitude revictimizes those who have already been 'thru hell'. Research has shown that experiences of traumatic or overwhelming events that cause trauma, impact the nervous system at a cellular level, this impact then has repercussions in a persons thoughts, emotions, and physical actions. This resulting state is a logical consequence of the nervous system disturbance and is beyond the voluntary control of the individual. Individuals who rise above, or heroically overcome events that many perceive should have caused trauma usually have had access to resources that are overlooked or invisible. Peter A. Levine, a well known and highly respected pioneer in the area of trauma, developed Somatic Experiencing®, a body-focused therapy to help people heal from trauma,.

Trauma can occur even if the event did not end in tragedy, ie a near-miss car incident, The perception and terror of the possibility of danger, threat to life, safety or of being overwhelmed can result in the same effects. This fact, being traumatized as a result of the perception or possibility of injury, or by witnessing trauma can cause distress and shame for individuals as they are frequently told ‘nothing happened to you’.

About Transforming Touch®

Transforming Touch® was developed by Stephen Terrell, PsyD, SEP during his 20+ years of experience working in the field of developmental and early childhood trauma, much of this work has been with adoptive families and children. He found approaches such as talk therapy and various other more common somatic approaches were minimally effective. Building on the work of Peter A. Levine PH.D, Stephen Terrell, PsyD has developed a touch-based protocol called Transforming Touch®. Since the start of Covid-19 treatment sessions moved online and a new version known as Transforming Intentional Touch was born. This new version has proved to be effective, and well received by clients.

Transforming Touch® follows a specific routine that is repeated every session. This repetition allows the nervous system, conscious and unconscious, an increased sense of safety. This new experience and sense of safety can allow the nervous system to respond in new ways. Clients often report that they responded differently or felt different in a given routine situation without effort or conscious thought.

Trauma that has its roots in intergenerational, in utero and early childhood experiences has been notably difficult to address. Transforming Touch® connects directly to the body and provides the support needed to heal trauma that occurred in pre-verbal states. This does not require a narrative or ‘story’ and focuses on providing consistent safe presence and attention rather than trying to ‘fix’.

The settling of the nervous system often results in a calming of the mind and body. Some of the benefits of this new state may be: increased ease in social engagement, decrease in sudden mood swings, more restful sleep, a greater felt sense of safety, increased ability to distinguish between real and imagined threats, and a greater ability to enjoy the present moment.