SE™ TODAY | March 7, 2022 Somatic Experiencing® International Newsletter
VOICES
Letter from SEI Board Chair
Rebecca Stahl, SEP
5-minute read
Rebecca Stahl, SEP
"In this letter, I want to take a lesson from Mr. Rogers, the beloved television star in the United States, who famously said, 'When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” While we all know this cannot be complete advice in these difficult times, it is still helpful as part of a larger pendulation strategy."
The SEI staff has experienced a steady evolution over the past two years, which has led to many great strides in growth and capacity. One of the results of this evolution is the formation of the official Communications department. Comprised of six employees, Laura Kitzmiller, Senior Manager of Creative Services; Rebecca Schwartz, Senior Manager of Engagement & Marketing; Caroline Thompson, Events Manager; Amanda Lormand, Communications Coordinator; Abigail Hofweber, Membership & Marketing Assistant; and the newly hired Director of Strategic Communications, Sarah McAfee, this department has been developed with many goals in mind.
SEI is excited to announce its newest faculty member, Debra Clydesdale, SEP. Debra has completed certification training in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (Masters Degree), Hellerwork, Acupuncture Detoxification and Addiction (NADA), is a Registered Somatic Movement Educator/Therapist (RSME/T) and has been recognized as a Qualified Medical Evaluator by the State of California.
Debra has always been an active member of the SEI community in the US, dedicated to her work as an assistant, coordinator, and Basic Principles presenter. She successfully completed her training and is now faculty for the Beginning module. Senior Faculty Dave Berger, MFT, SEP, says about Debra, "the SEI teaching teams and students sing her praises and I, as a mentor, enjoy her pursuit of knowledge and in teaching."
ASL Interpreted Module Now Available
The upcoming Beginning I training in Silver Spring, Maryland (April 29-May 2) is being offered with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for deaf and hard of hearing students who may benefit from having interpreters available. Please help spread the word about this opportunity!
In 2021, SEI focused on shifting our perspective to see the minutiae and the global perspective together. This report reflects how we have done that.
We hope you’ll take the time to read our 2021 Annual Report – “A New Perspective” – and watch the highlights video. As always, we invite you to get in touch at listening@traumahealing.org.
2022 Peter A. Levine Somatic Experiencing Research Awards
The Peter Levine Somatic Experiencing Research Awards are annual awards for research into the Somatic Experiencing model. Two research awards for $1,000 each will be given annually: one for dissertation or thesis research and the other for research conducted by professionals in education or practice settings.
Awardees will be selected via blind peer review by a group of jurors with training in the Somatic Experiencing model and significant research experience. Each application will be reviewed by at least three independent jurors.
Please submit your application form and your research paper to research@traumahealing.org by 6:00 PM MT, March 31, 2022. You can find more details on our website about the award, application process and past winners.
If you are a researcher, wanting to be a researcher or just interested in learning more about research outcomes within the field of Somatic Experiencing practices, tell us about yourself! The SEI Research Committee wants to hear from you and offer support.
With Dr. Abi Blakeslee, PhD, MFT, CMT, SEP and Dave Berger, MFT, LCMHC, PT, MA, SEP
Dave Berger, MFT LCMHC, PT, MA, SEP
Dr. Abi Blakeslee, PhD, MFT, CMT, SEP
Thursday, April 28 - Monday, May 2, 2022 Limited Space Available
We are pleased to be offering this in-person SE Master Class in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, featuring Dr. Abi Blakeslee, PhD, MFT, CMT, SEP and Dave Berger, MFT, SEP. Dave and Abi have been mentoring under Peter A. Levine, PhD, to teach Somatic Experiencing Master Classes so that post-advanced work can spread to new areas.
Our learning and knowledge library has a wealth of valuable, relevant webinars from leaders in the SE field. All webinars in the membership portal are free for members to stream. To take advantage of this learning library, join SEI.
"There have long been major blind spots in conventional Western approaches to treating mental illness in African American and Native American communities. Centuries of living under the psychological stresses of slavery, Jim Crow segregation, settler colonialism, and genocide are bound to have an impact on cognitive functioning and manifest in what we now term 'mental illness.'"
"Every therapy client experiences some degree of trauma. Therefore, an understanding of trauma and an ability to engage in healing are imperative for every clinician. As a trauma psychotherapist, I’ve chosen my top six trauma treatment book recommendations for clinicians."
Hidden Mental Health Professionals: Educators and Teachers
Friday, March 11, 2022 12 PM MT
Educators have been tasked with responsibilities that far exceed teaching in a classroom, not the least of which is identifying behavioral or mental health concerns and connecting students with the appropriate resources. While teachers take on these responsibilities, some experts say that traditional training for educators does not adequately prepare them for these additional duties.
Join this month's Community Conversation as Mina Roustayi, PhD, MSEd, SEP; Carol Hodson, LMHC; and Michael Simard, RTC, SEP explore this impact on teachers, considering ways mental health professionals can support educators, methods for peers to support each other, and access to tools to minimize and avoid burnout.
Find us – and engage with us – on our social media channels or by email. We’d love to connect.
RESOLVING TRAUMA. FOR GOOD.
Somatic Experiencing International is dedicated to supporting trauma resolution and resilience through culturally responsive professional training and education, research, and outreach around the globe.
