On this week’s episode, Melissa interviews Katie Asmus of the Somatic Wilderness Therapy Institute. They discuss somatic work, adventure, EMDR and how to wrap it all up in one.

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Special Guest Katie Asmus 

  • Specializes in somatic psychotherapy 
  • Including EMDR nature-based therapy
  • Mentor, ceremonialist, and rites of passage guide
  • Katie is passionate about teaching people about trauma through a body-centered perspective 

Somatic orientation of EMDR

  • While some prefer EMDR, some find it overwhelming 
  • Katie uses her training in somatic therapy to guide her work
  • Using the body as her anchor, she can estimate how present clients are
  • Because when we can feel and tolerate the feelings and sensations in our bodies
  • That signifies that we are in the present moment
  • Staying present with a positive sensation helps grow tolerance for staying present with negative sensations 
  • Further, this can strengthen interoception 

Interweaving EMDR, Somatic, and Nature-based work 

  • Rather than focusing on the story or fear
  • Use somatic awareness as an anchor to stay present and focus on the sensations 
  • Ask, “What are you noticing in your body?”
  • This can help the client stay with the sensation and make things more tolerable
  • Additionally, encourage movement to help with tension
  • Culturally, dancing is an important way to embody and release emotions 
  • Also, nature imagery is something you can bring in no matter where you are 
  • And the relationship with nature is more stable and predictable than relationships with humans

Katie’s work

“The essence of my work as a therapist is to normalize humanness”

Did you know?  After full completion of Beyond Healing Institute’s Somatic Integration and Processing training, each participant can receive 21 NBCC hours. 

Beyond Healing Center

Beyond Healing Media

Interested in supporting a child? 

  • https://www.patreon.com/BurntOutEducator
  • 100% of the proceeds donated to the Burntout Educator will provide therapy for a child in the public school system. 
  • Not therapy capped at a certain number, but an open-ended relationship with a highly qualified therapist in the BHC network. 

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Credits 

Executive Directors: Jennifer and Ryan Savage, Melissa Bentinnedi, Bridger Falkenstein
Hosts: Jennifer Savage, Melissa Benintendi, and Bridger Falkenstein
Filmographer: Tyler Wassam
Podcast Producer: Jamie Eggert
Original Music Composers: Bridger Falkenstein and Caleb Boston
Show Notes: Jordan Murray-Harper