Embodied Trauma Healing with Michelle
“Trauma is the invisible force that shapes our lives. It shapes the way we live, the way we love and the way we make sense of the world. It is the root of our deepest wounds.”
— Dr. Gabor Maté
Embodied Trauma Healing sessions help you explore the underlying causes of whatever is troubling you in your daily life. Sessions take the form of a conversation to identify core issues followed by somatic enquiry and practices to help you feel, process and integrate what arises. Sometimes we will touch on past events that may be significant, but there’s no need to dwell in the past, because our unresolved trauma shows up in our life and relationships all the time.
Michelle will support you in uncovering the source of your discomfort and pain, which is nearly always rooted in unprocessed childhood experiences. Sessions address not only conscious beliefs and memories, but also the unconscious and implicit memories (pre-cognitive and/or pre-verbal) held in the bodymind. Our body always remembers and tells the story of our lived experience, even if we have no conscious recollection.
In order for trauma to be healed, we need to be willing to turn towards the discomfort and to feel in the present - to feel the sensations in our body, to feel the depths of our feelings and emotions, and to meet all of this with curiosity, courage and compassion for ourselves. Approaching our wounds in this way, holding them close to us as we would an old friend or distressed child, invites an open awareness and understanding of the root causes and consequent shift in our perspective - essentially we give ourselves in the present what we most needed in the past, but didn’t receive. Feeling fully seen and heard by another is profoundly healing.
— Dr. Gabor Maté
Embodied Trauma Healing sessions help you explore the underlying causes of whatever is troubling you in your daily life. Sessions take the form of a conversation to identify core issues followed by somatic enquiry and practices to help you feel, process and integrate what arises. Sometimes we will touch on past events that may be significant, but there’s no need to dwell in the past, because our unresolved trauma shows up in our life and relationships all the time.
Michelle will support you in uncovering the source of your discomfort and pain, which is nearly always rooted in unprocessed childhood experiences. Sessions address not only conscious beliefs and memories, but also the unconscious and implicit memories (pre-cognitive and/or pre-verbal) held in the bodymind. Our body always remembers and tells the story of our lived experience, even if we have no conscious recollection.
In order for trauma to be healed, we need to be willing to turn towards the discomfort and to feel in the present - to feel the sensations in our body, to feel the depths of our feelings and emotions, and to meet all of this with curiosity, courage and compassion for ourselves. Approaching our wounds in this way, holding them close to us as we would an old friend or distressed child, invites an open awareness and understanding of the root causes and consequent shift in our perspective - essentially we give ourselves in the present what we most needed in the past, but didn’t receive. Feeling fully seen and heard by another is profoundly healing.
The impact of trauma on the nervous system
Ordinarily, when met with an overwhelming situation, our nervous system would prompt us to defend ourselves (fight), run away (flight) or please/appease/deny our authentic Self (fawn). When none of these are an option, we dissociate (freeze). Freeze is our body’s protective mechanism to help us not feel the physical and emotional. pain.
During overwhelm, we may not consciously register the pain or even have recollection of the event(s), however the body remembers and until we allow these wounded unseen parts of ourselves to come up to the surface and be held, they will continue to have an impact on our life.
During overwhelm, we may not consciously register the pain or even have recollection of the event(s), however the body remembers and until we allow these wounded unseen parts of ourselves to come up to the surface and be held, they will continue to have an impact on our life.
How might trauma be showing up in your life?
Trauma can show up in both our physical and mental health. You may have heard of “Big T” as if certain traumatic events were more significant than others, however my experience is that persistent stress and unhealthy environments can have just as big an impact. Obvious manifestations of unresolved trauma may include anxiety, depression, addiction, and chronic illness but sleep problems, poor self-care and emotional reactivity can also be signs that we need support. Even less obvious may be the core beliefs we have about ourselves such as:
- I’m not good enough
- I’m worthless, stupid, helpless, a failure, unlovable….
- I don’t need anyone
- I can’t ask for help
Outcomes of healing
- Living more in the present moment experience
- Feeling more emotional resilience and equanimity
- Experience more energy, vitality and joy
- Feeling safe in your body and the world around you
- Feeling more integrated and whole within yourself
- Experience more authenticity and freedom to be you
- Feeling more connected to others
Pricing and making an appointment
One-to-One session €50 p/h
When choosing someone to support you on your healing journey, it’s vitally important that you feel safe in their presence, and that they have done (and continue to do) their own work in order to be able to hold space for you effectively. If what Michelle offers resonates with you, please email her to schedule a free 20-minute call so you can decide if you are a good fit for one another.
Contact Michelle via email: vitalityretreatportugal@gmail.com
When choosing someone to support you on your healing journey, it’s vitally important that you feel safe in their presence, and that they have done (and continue to do) their own work in order to be able to hold space for you effectively. If what Michelle offers resonates with you, please email her to schedule a free 20-minute call so you can decide if you are a good fit for one another.
Contact Michelle via email: vitalityretreatportugal@gmail.com
Therapist Michelle Murray
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Michelle is an experienced yoga teacher and massage therapist, having worked in both fields since 2002, initially in London then in various other locations before settling in Portugal over a decade ago.
In recent years, Michelle has taken a deep dive into the field of trauma healing, and continue to deepen her understanding of developmental, relational and intergenerational trauma with ongoing study. She is passionate about many things, but in particular nervous system regulation, the body-mind-breath connection, and how somatic inquiry can support the transformation of old wounds and invite deep relaxation and ease from the inside out. Integration, wholeness, and freedom are the driving forces behind everything Michelle offers and she celebrates radical authenticity, self-love, self-acceptance, and body positivity. For more info: https://www.vitalityretreatportugal.com |
FAQs
What does embodiment mean?
Embodiment means being more present to and in the body, and for the mind to become both more grounded in the sensations of the body and more in touch with simple satisfactions.. The more attuned we are to our inner landscape, our feelings and sensations, the easier it is to hear the body speaking, and over time we begin to live more from the wholeness of somatic intelligence rather than cognitive intelligence. Our body becomes a faithful and steady resource in an ongoing process that flowers into feeling totally at home in your bodymind, living with more vitality, joy and an unshakeable trust in life itself. We are home and can surrender to the flow of life as it unfolds.
What does somatic mean?
Somatic means relating to the body, which is often distinguished from the mind by most people. However, the apparent separation of body and mind is merely cognitive. Sustained self-enquiry reveals that the mind is a reflection of the body, so when your body is comfortable and happy, then your mind will be clear and integrated.
What is trauma?
Opinions vary but generally most professionals agree that trauma involves overwhelm which then results in disconnection - from the body, emotions, our authentic Self, and in relationship to others. Disconnection is our way of coping with the unbearable and is a necessary survival response to the presence of real or perceived danger in the moment. However when the disconnection continues, it can result in us feeling closed, defensive, unsafe and shut down, affecting our present moment experience of daily life.
Are there different types of trauma?
Yes and no. You may experience a physical injury or shock trauma as a result of an accident but ultimately trauma can be thought of as being like an unhealed wound from the past, which continues to show up in the present every time it gets triggered.
Michelle supports people who feel stuck in unhelpful patterns and beliefs, and people experiencing pain, disease, and emotional distress arising from not having their needs fully met in childhood (developmental/relational trauma) and from being immersed in unhealthy family dynamics that are passed down through the generations (intergenerational trauma).
What happens in a session?
You decide the content and pace of sessions, and Michelle will support you by offering a safe nurturing space and a compassionate, non-judgmental presence where all parts of you are welcome. In Michelle's experience, we already have all the answers within us so her role is to support you in becoming curious about your body’s messages and to explore them with more acceptance and compassion.
What’s the difference between Embodied Trauma Healing and psychotherapy or counselling sessions?
The main difference is that the body is included as an essential part of the conversation because the body is where memories are stored, where wholeness resides, and where healing happens. Embodied Trauma Healing has been born out of 20+ years experience of working with somatic practices supporting both myself and others to live lives with less pain and more freedom.
It’s important to know that Michelle's approach is one of walking beside you - She is not all-knowing, simply another human being who has taken a consistent deep dive into healing from an embodied bottom up approach both in her personal practice and living on retreat with her teacher for extended periods of time. Aside from somatic learning, Michelle's understanding about trauma is grounded in the work of Dr. Gabor Maté, who she studied Compassionate Inquiry (CI) with, and this informs the conversational parts of sessions.
The CI approach was developed by Dr. Gabor Maté as a result of his extensive experience working with people suffering with trauma and addiction. Dr. Maté is a retired physician, the author of several books, an international speaker, and is widely respected as an authority on trauma, addiction, childhood development, and the relationship between stress and disease.
Embodiment means being more present to and in the body, and for the mind to become both more grounded in the sensations of the body and more in touch with simple satisfactions.. The more attuned we are to our inner landscape, our feelings and sensations, the easier it is to hear the body speaking, and over time we begin to live more from the wholeness of somatic intelligence rather than cognitive intelligence. Our body becomes a faithful and steady resource in an ongoing process that flowers into feeling totally at home in your bodymind, living with more vitality, joy and an unshakeable trust in life itself. We are home and can surrender to the flow of life as it unfolds.
What does somatic mean?
Somatic means relating to the body, which is often distinguished from the mind by most people. However, the apparent separation of body and mind is merely cognitive. Sustained self-enquiry reveals that the mind is a reflection of the body, so when your body is comfortable and happy, then your mind will be clear and integrated.
What is trauma?
Opinions vary but generally most professionals agree that trauma involves overwhelm which then results in disconnection - from the body, emotions, our authentic Self, and in relationship to others. Disconnection is our way of coping with the unbearable and is a necessary survival response to the presence of real or perceived danger in the moment. However when the disconnection continues, it can result in us feeling closed, defensive, unsafe and shut down, affecting our present moment experience of daily life.
Are there different types of trauma?
Yes and no. You may experience a physical injury or shock trauma as a result of an accident but ultimately trauma can be thought of as being like an unhealed wound from the past, which continues to show up in the present every time it gets triggered.
Michelle supports people who feel stuck in unhelpful patterns and beliefs, and people experiencing pain, disease, and emotional distress arising from not having their needs fully met in childhood (developmental/relational trauma) and from being immersed in unhealthy family dynamics that are passed down through the generations (intergenerational trauma).
What happens in a session?
You decide the content and pace of sessions, and Michelle will support you by offering a safe nurturing space and a compassionate, non-judgmental presence where all parts of you are welcome. In Michelle's experience, we already have all the answers within us so her role is to support you in becoming curious about your body’s messages and to explore them with more acceptance and compassion.
What’s the difference between Embodied Trauma Healing and psychotherapy or counselling sessions?
The main difference is that the body is included as an essential part of the conversation because the body is where memories are stored, where wholeness resides, and where healing happens. Embodied Trauma Healing has been born out of 20+ years experience of working with somatic practices supporting both myself and others to live lives with less pain and more freedom.
It’s important to know that Michelle's approach is one of walking beside you - She is not all-knowing, simply another human being who has taken a consistent deep dive into healing from an embodied bottom up approach both in her personal practice and living on retreat with her teacher for extended periods of time. Aside from somatic learning, Michelle's understanding about trauma is grounded in the work of Dr. Gabor Maté, who she studied Compassionate Inquiry (CI) with, and this informs the conversational parts of sessions.
The CI approach was developed by Dr. Gabor Maté as a result of his extensive experience working with people suffering with trauma and addiction. Dr. Maté is a retired physician, the author of several books, an international speaker, and is widely respected as an authority on trauma, addiction, childhood development, and the relationship between stress and disease.