Erika Shershun (she, her)

Somatic Psychotherapy is the foundation of my work. It is an integrative approach that brings awareness to the entirety of an individual and includes the experience of the physical body along with one's thoughts, emotions, and essence or soul. The brain does not only reside in the head, neural net processors around the heart and the gut are part of the larger concept of brain. Somatic Psychotherapists work with the body while working with emotions and thoughts because optimal health emerges from an integration of body and mind. The experience of trauma is not about the past, it’s about a body that continues to behave and organize itself as if the experience is happening in the moment. For this reason working in the present, somatically, is key to healing from trauma and restoring a sense of safety, creative expression and vitality. As a Somatic Therapist I support the safe release and integration of overwhelm and trauma, along with self agency and playful discovery.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence based treatment for trauma. Many of the symptoms related to stress, anxiety, and depression that lead individuals to seek therapy are due to developmental, physical or emotional trauma. Even if you have been fortunate enough to avoid suffering any big traumatic events, everyone has had an experience of overwhelm, and trauma is simply an experience of overwhelm that is beyond ones capacity to adapt effectively. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (side to side eye movement, tapping, vibration and/or sound), which has proven effective in reducing the charge of painful memories and triggering events. EMDR enhances the flow of information between the Brainstem, Limbic Regions and Neocortex, and supports integration between the left and right hemispheres. My goal as an EMDR and Somatic Psychotherapist is to provide you with tools and experiences to create a more integrated life of internal and interpersonal health and wellbeing.

Somatic Psychotherapy is the foundation of my work. It is an integrative approach that brings awareness to the entirety of an individual and includes the experience of the physical body along with one's thoughts, emotions, and essence or soul. The brain does not only reside in the head, neural net processors around the heart and the gut are part of the larger concept of brain. Somatic Psychotherapists work with the body while working with emotions and thoughts because optimal health emerges from an integration of body and mind. The experience of trauma is not about the past, it’s about a body that continues to behave and organize itself as if the experience is happening in the moment. For this reason working in the present, somatically, is key to healing from trauma and restoring a sense of safety, creative expression and vitality. As a Somatic Therapist I support the safe release and integration of overwhelm and trauma, along with self agency and playful discovery.

It has been said that our essence, our soul, is ever present like the sun, yet like the sun, it can become obscured by clouds. These clouds represent the wounds and trauma you've experienced throughout your life, along with the defenses that have helped you survive, yet these defenses (the inner critic, depression, anxiety...) may no longer serve you. Together we can bring awareness to and begin to relax these defenses allowing more of your gifts, your ever-present essence to shine through.

In this challenging political climate many sexual harassment, assault, and abuse survivors are finding themselves triggered on a weekly if not daily basis. If you are a survivor I want you to know that you don't have to experience this discomfort alone. I support survivors in individual sessions designed to help you heal from the trauma and any symptoms and/or relational issues that may have resulted. Sexuality Recovery and Discovery is my ongoing weekly therapy group for female identified survivors of sexual assault and harassment aimed to facilitate, share, and support in the transformation of relational, emotional, and somatic symptoms resulting from sexual trauma, within a safe and empowering space.

A tendency toward anxiety can be the result of our genetic inheritance, or can grow from the attachment relationship formed with our parents or primary caregiver in our early years. It can surface at any time as a symptom of unresolved trauma, and of unmanaged stress. Anxiety can mask suppressed emotions that may not have been allowed expression such as anger, and often shows up as perfectionism. Neuroscience has shown that the brain changes in response to our focus of attention. There is an often-quoted phrase "neurons that fire together, wire together", whatever you repeat, good, bad or indifferent, is strengthened. I will give you physical, emotional, and cognitive tools to help you form and strengthen neuropathways that promote calm and ease.

A tendency toward anxiety can be the result of our genetic inheritance, or can grow from the attachment relationship formed with our parents or primary caregiver in our early years. It can surface at any time as a symptom of unresolved trauma, and of unmanaged stress. Anxiety can mask suppressed emotions that may not have been allowed expression such as anger, and often shows up as perfectionism. Neuroscience has shown that the brain changes in response to our focus of attention. There is an often-quoted phrase "neurons that fire together, wire together", whatever you repeat, good, bad or indifferent, is strengthened. In our work together I will give you physical, emotional, and cognitive tools to help you form and strengthen neuropathways that promote calm and ease.