Jessica Moolenaar

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Somatic Experiencing with Jessica Moolenaar

Due to my own injury history as a former dancer I was always interested in how we heal and why we sometimes get stuck in that process.

I started noticing that some of us do not recover so easily from stress and overwhelming situations, or traumatic events, even years down the line. In some cases we might have begun developing chronic symptoms and pain, affecting our life in multiple ways.

I wanted to unlock those symptoms and help relieve suffering and found that Somatic Experiencing did just that.

Trauma resolution and resilience

Somatic Experiencing aims to safely release traumatic shock held in the body, allowing for a natural transformation of the symptoms of PTSD. Children are equally affected by shock trauma and developmental trauma.

The reason for working with SE need not necessarily be an obvious traumatic event but can be purely the presence of a symptom or symptoms (see below for a list of symptoms of traumatic stress).  Trauma is not in the event but in one’s physiological reaction to it; the response is very individual.

The experience of practising SE with a therapist establishes greater resilience within the autonomic nervous system and can prevent future symptoms from developing, thus being a support for you and others around you.

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How do we work?

Somatic Experiencing is not primarily a ‘talking therapy’; our main focus in a session will be the moment to moment experience and awareness of sensations in our body.

We will work with processes aiming to release the ‘frozen’ physiological states of overwhelm, tracking sensations, feelings, images and movement in your body.

I will also teach you simple and effective skills to activate your body’s innate self-healing and self-regulating abilities. Sometimes simple exercises will be done and homework given. Sessions may require therapeutic touch.

We both gauge the pace of what you can work with and will slowly work towards re-establishing the natural flow of your life force energy.

My approach is one of deeply listening to what you bring. I offer gentle and caring support coupled with a belief in your inherent ability to heal.

Please contact me if you need to by e-mail. I’m very happy to answer questions and discuss your concerns.

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Areas I work with:

• Anxiety, phobias, fears and panic attacks
• Anger, rage and conflict
• Obesssions & OCD
• Insomnia, nightmares, night terrors
• Abrupt mood swings, shame, lack of self-worth, depression
• Feeling stressed and feeling overwhelmed
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Psychosomatic illnesses, particularly some headaches, migraines, neck and back problems
• Severe menstrual problems potentially affecting fertility
• Digestive problems, IBS
• Immune system problems and certain endocrine conditions
• Skin disorders and environmental sensitivities
• Avoidance behaviour, avoiding places, activities, movements, memories or people
• An inability to love, nurture or bond with – or commit to – others

I specifically work with the symptoms of ‘Trauma’ such as some of the behaviours above and the following:

• palpitations, shallow breathing and breathlessness
• involuntary  tics, jerking or grimacing
• inexplicable reactions to everyday events
• being over alert, on guard or over excitable
• being attracted to dangerous situations, addictive behaviours such as smoking, alcohol dependency, drug abuse
• extreme sensitivity to light and/or sound
• self-harming
• feelings of emptiness or feelings of being ‘spaced out’
• amnesia and forgetfulness
• exhaustion, chronic fatigue
• muscle weakness and pain

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My Background and Training:

I have always been interested in holistic health and art. After a career in Contemporary Theatre Dance I became a Remedial Pilates teacher, working with dancers and the public. I studied Thai Yoga Massage, did a Foundation in Zero Balancing and Cranial Sacral Therapy and finished an MSc in Advanced Professional Practise in the school of Integrated Health of Westminster University.

I had my own Teacher Training Institute in Pilates (Mindful Pilates) and presented professional workshops nationally. I certified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and have recently completed a 4 year training in a developmental Body Psychotherapy modality called Bodynamic Analysis

I’m a member of the Pilates Foundation since 1999 and adhere to their code of practise, I’m a member of The Somatic Experiencing Association UK and a student member of the European Association of Body Psychotherapy.

• Certificate Pilates teacher by Alan Herdman Pilates Teacher Training Institute, London
• Pilates teacher trainer accredited by the Pilates Foundation, London
• MSc Advanced Professional Practise in the school of Integrated Health of Westminster University, London
• Certificate Foundation Zero Balancing, London
• Certificate Thai Yoga Massage with Howard Evans, London
• Certificate Foundation Cranio Sacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute, London
• Certificate Somatic Experiencing, London
• Certificate Foundation Bodynamic Analysis, Bodynamic International Greece
• Certificate Practitioner Training Bodynamic Analysis. Bodynamic International Denmark

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Contact:

Please contact me if you need to by e-mail. I’m very happy to answer questions and discuss your concerns.

jessica@jessicamoolenaar.com

Rates:

Sessions are 50 minutes and are £85

Sessions:

I have a London practise at Barnsbury Therapy Space and see clients on Tuesdays from 5.15 – 10pm and Fridays from 12:15 – 5pm
Directions to Barnsbury Therapy Space

I also practise in Folkestone, Kent on different days. In certain cases, I can offer online consultations.

Please let me know in your e-mail which location you are interested in.