When I enter into this work, I thank my teachers, again and again. There have been so many influences, curiosities, tangles, untangles, and beautiful turns and distillations since I began this inquiry over 27 years ago.
For those who are interested in my experience, or are looking for points on a map to begin, I recommend any of these folks and lines of inquiry to support your journey.
It all began with Peter Levin, who authored Waking the Tiger - the atlas for healing trauma at the time it was written back in 1997. Then came the work of Ron Kurtz, who connected the points between Gestalt theory and other psychotherapeutic approaches to create the Hakomi Method. This work is expansive, and includes the principles of Eastern philosophy- primarily Buddhism and Taoism - and emphasizing concepts such as mindfulness, loving presence, and empathy.
Soon entered into my life a great teacher by the name of Manuela Mischke-Reed, who combined her background in dance and movement therapy with mindfulness, psychology, somatic psychotherapy and years of work with refugees, survivors of torture, fire-fighters and more to create a unique and impactful method to support people to living full lives, learning to “come back from trauma to impact the world in a positive way”. There is no question that her work encouraged me into spaces where I could support veterans and trauma survivors alike.
And in these years, I honor deeply the work with expansive medicine that comes through the Mazotec lineage of Maria Sabia, Eugenia Pineda Casmiro, and Francoise Bourzat. And to my teacher and mentor, I will be forever grateful.
If you are curious about this work, I encourage you to be in touch.
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