Earn 3 CEUs!
Diane Long (they/them), MHS, SEP, BCTMB, has been practicing trauma-informed therapies for 30 years. An Empowerment Self Defense (ESD) instructor and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), Diane helps people heal from trauma and oppression and build resiliency through embodiment. Diane has built integrative health programs in various youth-serving agencies, most recently at SafeZone in Saint Paul, MN. In January 2024, Diane joined a research project at the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) to develop and implement trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive massage (TCI-Massage) for survivors of torture and war trauma. Diane currently serves as a clinical supervisor and adjunct faculty in massage therapy at Northwestern Health Sciences in Bloomington, MN.
Description
Somatic literacy, the capacity to sense and feel what is happening in our individual and collective bodies, is essential for self-care and safety. It allows us to recognize needs, to set limits, to better regulate internal states, and to make informed choices. This highly experiential workshop combines simple, effective tools from body-oriented therapies like Somatic Experiencing®, Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD), massage, energy work, and yoga. You’ll learn dynamic tools you can apply in your therapeutic practice right away, with individuals or groups. Easy to learn mindfulness skills such as breath, self-touch, movement, and sound help us to grow interoceptive awareness and reconnect to the body’s natural rhythms.
Objectives:
1. Define somatic literacy and its role in building self-efficacy and self-esteem
2. Explore personal boundaries and preferences as a way to increase a felt sense of agency and choice
3. Identify 5 body-centered practices to manage arousal states such as fear, anger, anxiety, or overwhelm
4. Learn to anchor resources in the body by orienting towards pleasure and connection
5. Build habits of self-care as a way to prevent burnout
6. Increase personal comfort using touch and movement in a therapeutic setting
