“The spontaneous movement in all of us is toward connection, health, and aliveness.
No matter how withdrawn and isolated we have become ... on the deepest level, just as a plant spontaneously moves toward sunlight, in each of us there is an impulse moving toward connection and healing.”
Laurence Heller, PhD & Aline Lapierre, PsyD
...if you boil down childhood trauma, it's the heartbreak of not getting our core psychobiological needs met, and we have to protect... by disconnecting from our own hearts... the resolution of developmental trauma is supporting our clients to reconnect to their hearts, to come home to themselves." Stefanie Klein, LCSW and NARM faculty
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When we can access our deep heart, we feel innate qualities like joy and love, which enhances our capacity for connection, aliveness, confidence, hope, etc. Yet, how often are we in turmoil, convinced we’re not enough, that we don’t matter, and afraid to be ourselves or to take up space?
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Many of us learn to survive early attachment, relational and developmental traumas by disconnecting from our hearts/core selves as love and acceptance by our caregivers were as crucial as food.
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If our caregivers weren't able to attune enough to our needs, such as being seen/heard/held/felt, we often come to believe there is something wrong with us–we are bad, flawed, unlovable, etc.
If the womb environment didn't feel good (e.g. high cortisol from mother's stress, drugs & alcohol), the fetus contracts, perhaps to get really small or become invisible.
Into adulthood, we continue life-draining survival strategies such as, hide, be perfect, people please, forgo our needs/our voice. We shut down our hearts and brace against life.
I ​support people to explore and process psycho-biologically and somatically what’s in the way of feeling their wholeness and deep hearts.
When traumas are preverbal and/or from the womb, we may not be fully embodied as sensations from nervous system dysregulation can feel scary. There may be a sense of chronic nameless dread. We may dissociate or live in our heads often.
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In addition, unresolved shock traumas such as physical and sexual abuse, falls, car accidents, and pervasive traumas like racism and the like, can lead to a sense of despair, anxiety or pain.
Dr. Laurence Heller's Neuro-Affective Relational Model™ (NARM) is the primary modality I use. I'm also trained in Somatic Experiencing™ (SE), and Co-Regulation Touch and have found that these three models work synergistically.
"Brianna has a vast array of knowledge, techniques, and tools she employs to help me resolve the damaging effects of early trauma. I've discovered and handled deep false identities and illusions that had ruled my life. It's been a thrill to uncover my Authentic Self and being that is now a primary purpose.
We are working with healing my nervous system which brings deep, systemic relief. My chronic anxiety level has dropped 70%. Brianna approaches everything with empathy and kindness.
She's easy to trust. I recommend her. This is the most effective therapeutic process I've done in my life."
F.N. Writer and Artist.
Foundational to My Approach:
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This work is really about reconnecting with the power of our life force, the deep pulsatory formative intelligence that's creative and loving, which grew us up from conception and naturally nudges us to evolve in spite of any hard stuff in early life.
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I've learned from interfaith minister, spiritual teacher and author Miranda Macpherson who's work integrates the psychological and somatics, that with loving spacious presence--being directly with what’s here in body, heart and mind, without attempting to fix, pain can be digested. We land back in the depths of ourselves, our essence.
Photography by: Leslee R Goldstein
"Brianna has a heart of gold and genuinely cares about her clients. I was really struggling -- I felt alone, disconnected from myself, struggled to make concrete decisions that would benefit me, conflicted and battling the inner voices that had overpowered me for the majority of my life.
Now, after about 10 sessions I am feeling more connected to myself, more secure, happier, and more aligned with what I really want for myself. My happiness is not tied to other people. I do not have to prove myself to anyone. I do not need validation from others.
I have learned to make space for my emotions and practice self-compassion and self-love. I am able to make decisions that are best for me and my future with clarity and that makes me feel powerful inside. I feel more capable to handle situations as they arise, knowing that I can come back to a place that feels like home within me."
K.O. CSM/Coach in training
Some Qualities of Core Self
Inherent Value
Inner Joy, Aliveness
Inner strength
Inner Silence, Knowing, Rootedness
