Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Practitioner

In 2022, I underwent and completed my training to become a certified Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Practitioner. It was a 60 Hour Certificate program that ran from September 23rd to December 14th of 2022, and it was led by program directors, Nkem Ndefo MSN, Arielle Schwartz PhD, and Scott Lyons PhD.

The Program Was Broken into 4 Phases:

Phase 1 Focus: Befriending The Body

  • Somatic Psychology & Trauma Recovery for the Individual Body

  • From the Individual to the Systemic -Sites of Trauma and Healing

  • Towards an Alchemical Resilience - Foundations and Inspirations

  • Polyvagal Theory and Pathways to Connection Part 1 & 2

  • Evolution of Trauma Therapy

  • Foundations of Trauma and Healing in Children

  • Introduction to Embodiment

  • Nurturing the Ecologies of Trauma & Resilience

Phase 2 Focus : Trauma Reprocessing Building Blocks & Tools of Trauma Healing

  • Healing Inter-Generational Trauma

  • Hakomi - Core Principles

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma - Part 1 & 2

  • Trauma & Embodied Movement

  • Balancing Individual and Collective Transformation

  • Trauma and the Internal Body Mind Family - Part 1 & 2

Phase 3 Focus: Applying Methodology

  • Addiction, Trauma & Healing

  • The Legacy of Early Attachment Relationships: A Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Perspective

  • Mending the Bodily Roots of Developmental Trauma

  • Treating Shock Trauma and Repeated Complex Trauma - Integrating Somatic Psychology and EMDR Therapy

  • Embodying Ancestral Wisdom

  • Structural Embodiment - Somatics for the Collective Body

Phase 4 Focus: Practitioner Training Intensive

  • Intensive in Embodied Practitioner Skills

  • Intensive in Mind-Body Tools to Foster Resilience

This Training Program Was Led By:

Arielle Schwartz PhD -

Arielle Schwartz, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, EMDR Therapy consultant, and certified yoga instructor with a private practice in Boulder, Colorado. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Fielding Graduate University and holds a Master’s degree in Somatic Psychology through Naropa University. She is the author of four books: The Complex PTSD Workbook, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, The Post Traumatic Growth Guidebook, and The Practical Guide to Complex PTSD.

Nkem Ndefo MSN -

Nkem Ndefo MSN brings an abundance of experience as a clinician, educator, consultant, and community strategist to innovative programs that address stress and trauma and build resilience for individuals, organizations, and communities across sectors throughout the US and internationally. She is particularly interested in working alongside people most impacted by violence and marginalization.

Scott Lyons PhD -

Scott Lyons, PhD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Doctor of Osteopathy, and Mind-Body Medicine practitioner who specializes in therapies for infants, youth and adults. Scott is the creator of The Embody Lab — a hub for embodied education, self-discovery and healing— and developer of Somatic Stress ReleaseTM — a process of restoring our biological adaptation system.

Kitty Schur