Saying goodbye to a community member is one of the most challenging things we do. Maggie Phillips passed away recently, at her beloved lake home in Maine. Maggie touched every single person in the Somatic Experiencing community, whether we knew her or not. She was one of the first SE faculty members, and in that role, she taught countless students and mentored new faculty members.
She integrated Somatic Experiencing into her work in hypnosis and chronic pain, writing a book with Dr. Peter Levine called Freedom from Pain: Discover Your Body’s Power to Overcome Physical Pain.
Maggie’s professional bio is, of course, incredible, but her compassion and kindness and heartfelt connection to others were her guiding light. Everyone who met her could feel her compassion in everything she did. She embodied a Somatic Experiencing presence that touched everyone who interacted with her. Her loss will be felt in this community, and in the profession, forever. We will miss you, Maggie. Thank you for your support, your expertise, and your heart.
“As I reflect on Maggie’s life, our teaching together, our comradeship, and her quick wit and love of teaching, I feel such gladness and appreciation. She was one of the cleverest of SE teachers and therapists … really a psychological aikido master … and always with a pervasive compassion and gentle kindness. Maggie, we will miss your bright and playful spirit.” – Peter Levine, PhD