Somatic Therapy

Trauma Informed
Somatic Experiencing Bodywork and Coaching

with Mandalyn Kruger

in Portland, Oregon

Somatic Experiencing

Is Somatic Therapy a good fit for me?

This is a question I get asked a lot. We are relational beings and many of our challenges stem from attachment wounds and interruptions of core needs from our primary care givers in our early development, and further impacted by traumatic life events, both ‘big’ T events and the daily little ‘t’s’ of living in marginalized or compromised ways daily.

Where the wound is, also is the healing. We are often wounded by the ‘other,’ yet through the ‘other’ in a safe supportive environment we heal the wound. 

The core of my work is Somatic Experiencing a trauma informed nervous system regulation method developed by Dr. Peter Levine. I’m also inspired by and have trained in Attachment work of Diane Poole Heller and NARM–Neuroaffective Relational Model of Laurence Heller and I have a Masters in Depth Psychology offering a Jungian non pathologizing imaginal approach.

I also bring nearly twenty years of working directly with so many amazing human bodies through massage therapy and advanced bodywork modalities, classical Hatha Yoga and Ayurvedic holistic lifestyle practices. I also address physical injuries and dis-ease from a holistic lens.

My answer to if Somatic Therapy is a fit for you:

If you are wanting to include your body in the process of healing and making foundational changes of maladaptive core patterns in a supportive nurturing environment.

I am not a licensed psychotherapist and depending on your circumstances I may refer you to a licensed clinician if that is a better fit.

Sometimes Magia and Gretchen support our sessions together:

“When you shut down your emotions, you are also affecting your immune system, your nervous system. So the repression of emotion, which is a survival strategy, then becomes a source of physiological illness later on.”

Gabor Mate

Through our work together you may feel

  • More aliveness and life force energy

  • More fulfilling relationships including to yourself

  • Ability to handle daily stress with more grace

  • Confront long held emotional pain patterns in a supportive environment

  • Increase motivation for self care–exercise, eating well, spending time in nature

  • Increase sense of self worth and purpose

  • Increase connection to your body 

  • Less social anxiety

  • Greater Self Agency

Mandy is a practitioner certified from the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute (SETI)