Somatic Trauma and Stress Release
“Some things must be dealt with at the roots. Trauma is one of these things.”
Peter A. Levine
Traditionally, somatic awareness and interoceptive intelligence have not been at the forefront of medical advances for healing trauma. Priority has been given to conversation and problem solving, while symptoms of traumatic stress would often continue to manifest physically. This makes sense, considering that most experiences and emotions that occur in the body become encoded in the brain stem and limbic brain, not in the neocortex.
If physical, emotional, mental or spiritual constriction occurs in the body, it follows that healing should also occur within the body. Recent years have begun to see the emergence of somatic approaches that support stress and trauma processing through sensation, affect and motor activity awareness. Somatic modalities have become powerful tools for finding relief at the root of suffering and discomfort, and for exploring a conscious, integrated body.
At this time in our evolution, advanced somatic healing does not yet fit with the medical model. I do feel strongly that medical sciences will catch up in a not too distant future, and will be open to more connectivity between our fields.
Trauma affects our biology, physiology, nervous system, psychology and epigenetics. Chronic illness, autoimmune disorders and nervous system dysregulation need nuanced approaches at the body level. My work focuses on the effects of developmental trauma, pre and perinatal trauma, generational and ancestral trauma in:
Clinical anxiety
Clinical depression
Asthma
Chronic fatigue
Chronic illness
Autoimmune conditions
Dissociative disorders
Addictions
Grief and loss
Neurodivergence
Learn about early trauma and how it affects risk of chronic health issues. Address the origins of your mental, physical, emotional and energetic challenges in a gentle way.
“I started seeing Dr. Baciu on Zoom while going through a rough patch. I was in a numb, hopeless state, with multiple failed relationships. I had significant childhood trauma, and was on depression medication. She was patient and respectful of boundaries, and introduced me to somatic techniques very gently. After a few sessions working with micromovements, I started to become aware of small glimpses of energy in different parts of my body. They became a lifeline, and a path to finding my way around myself. I gradually learned how to truly pay attention to my body, and to rely on what it was telling me. Then one day, I found I had enough energy to start looking for a job. The path ahead is long, but I am pleased with my steps. Dr. Baciu is a supportive, intuitive, and compassionate therapist, and I feel grateful to have found her.”