Being together in Boulder felt different from the start. There was a sense of arrival, not just physically, but in how we met each other. Conversations had weight to them. There was a willingness to slow down, to listen, and to stay with what was emerging rather than moving too quickly toward conclusions.
What arrived in our coming together was something that could only take shape by finally being in the same space. It came from being together, where something began to form through shared time and the way we found a rhythm with one another. From that, a clearer sense of direction began to emerge. There was a collective movement toward opening Somatic Experiencing beyond our professional circles and allowing it to reach people in a more direct and accessible way. We landed in something that now feels ready, even necessary for all of us to embrace.
At the same time, there was a real effort to bring that vision into the body of the organisation. Not leaving it as inspiration, but shaping it into something we could actually hold, track, and nurture together. There was care in how this is beginning to live across departments, across roles, and in the shared responsibility of making it real.
What has stayed with me most is how we stayed with each other. There were moments that were not seamless, and that mattered. We didn’t move away from those places; we worked through them. Not as impediments, but as opportunities for repair. There was an openness that allowed for coming together and for movement, reflecting the very principles we are committed to bringing into the world, where repair becomes part of how we move forward together. From here, relationships were formed, and longstanding connections were strengthened in meaningful ways.
I left with a sense of possibility that didn’t feel abstract; it felt tangible, something already beginning to move. Our organization is growing with a sense of clarity, direction, and a deeper alignment with what it stands for.
There is something deeply meaningful about being part of a community that is not only committed to supporting change in others, but is willing to embody those same principles in how we come together and move forward. Somatic Experiencing is a gift to the world, and we are honored to be its stewards.
Sergio Ocampo
SEI Board Director, SEP™, MA, LMFT, BEng, EMDR I, Marriage and Family Therapist