Introduction to Somatic Therapy: Supporting Regulation and Resilience: ONLINE LIVE STREAM EVENT

Workshop Description

Understanding the physiology of trauma has become an essential part of trauma-informed practice. We now know that trauma profoundly influences the autonomic nervous system, shaping how people respond to stress, relationships, and everyday life. These nervous system responses can present as a wide range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural symptoms that can be confusing, overwhelming, persistent, and difficult to resolve through insight and verbal processing alone.

Knowing why the nervous system responds the way it does, however, is different from knowing how to work with it therapeutically. This introductory workshop bridges that gap by exploring foundational somatic principles that support regulation, resilience, and healing.

Somatic therapy encompasses a range of body-oriented approaches that work directly with the nervous system to support healing from trauma.  Rather than focusing solely on thoughts or memories, these approaches emphasize safety, present-moment awareness, stabilization, and working at a pace that respects each individual's capacity. By supporting regulation of the autonomic nervous system, somatic practices can help reduce trauma symptoms while fostering greater flexibility, resilience, and overall well-being.

This engaging 3-hour workshop introduces participants to the foundational principles of somatic therapy and explores how a body-oriented, nervous system-informed approach can complement trauma-informed practice. Participants will gain a practical understanding of somatic principles and introductory practices that can be thoughtfully integrated into existing therapeutic approaches.

Learning Objectives:

• Deepen your understanding of trauma through the lens of the autonomic nervous system.
• Explore foundational somatic concepts, including activation cycles and self-protective responses.
• Recognize the importance of safety-building practices in supporting nervous system stabilization.
• Examine the role of relational processes in creating conditions for safety and healing.
• Practice introductory somatic strategies that support increased regulation and resilience.
• Identify when somatic approaches and interventions are appropriate within your scope of practice.
  
  

Please Note: Becoming a somatic therapist requires extensive training through an accredited program such as Somatic Experiencing®. This workshop is intended as an introduction to foundational principles and is independent of Somatic Experiencing International (SEI). Continuing education hours earned through this course do not count toward official SEI training requirements.

While this workshop is designed for helping professionals, some of the content may be personally activating. It is not recommended for individuals who are currently working through unresolved trauma.

​You will receive:

• Login details and instructions emailed in advance of the workshop
• Downloadable handouts
• Certificate of attendance upon successful completion of a brief online quiz (if desired)
• Access to a recording of the workshop for a limited period of time after the workshop - so if you can’t join live, or need to miss part of the live workshop and want to view it afterwards, we’ve got you covered!

About the Presenter

​​Dr. Stephanie Baker, PhD, RSW, SEP, is a Registered Social Worker and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner with more than 30 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, families, and communities.  She currently operates a private practice, where she provides counselling, clinical supervision, consultation, and customized training for community organizations. Her areas of expertise include trauma, addiction, neurodivergence, violence, and mental health, with a particular focus on the complex ways these experiences intersect.

Throughout her career, trauma has been a consistent thread in the lives of those she has served. Stephanie has worked extensively with individuals experiencing acquired brain injury, addictions, intimate partner violence, concurrent disorders, sexual violence, and complex trauma across both community and institutional settings. Her practice is grounded in trauma-informed, relational, and somatic approaches that foster healing, resilience, and meaningful change.

Stephanie believes that adversity can become a catalyst for growth and that compassionate, collaborative relationships create the conditions for healing. She is committed to helping individuals recognize their strengths, reconnect with their own capacities, and move toward lives that feel more meaningful, connected, and whole.

For more information or to register: www.missionempowerment.ca