My Approach
I use Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy (PTG), where the emphasis is on GROWTH. We see our clients have profound realizations and growth that comes from within and not particularly from the words and expertise of the therapist. Client's love this, when they are discovering their own insights and making their own connections not merely being told by another. We will explore how sensations in your body are connected to emotions, memories, and meanings. When we bring our attention to these body sensations, it often brings a profound understanding about their subject, our lives, and direction forward. This is a gentle practice that typically leaves people feeling lighter and with greater awareness, direction, and connectedness after a session.
Aaron Belson, LCSW specializes in working with Adults 18 and over who have experience in mindfulness or meditation, or want to try something new. If you are dealing with issues related to anxiety, depression, traumatic experiences, changes and adjustment in life, relationship problems, difficult upbringing, or stress, you should definitely give this a try. Individual and couples therapy sessions will go at your pace, where Aaron will invite and teach you to feel into your body to explore the profound wisdom that is already inside of you, yet often unrealized or not given space for.
Somatic Therapy is about really experiencing our emotions in our bodies, rather than thinking about them in our mind. By really going towards our feelings, difficult ones AND nice ones, we settle our nervous systems, calming the self. Using different techniques, we can work through the issues and increase our resilience, making it easier to resolve it in the future.
It's not all about the hard stuff either, we find that it is incredibly important to acknowledge and feel the resilient or "good" feelings too. This actually helps us to process the difficult stuff and not stay stuck there. This is incorporated into every session we do.
Post Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy (PTG) is a melding of cutting edge science and research from top therapist researchers in the field such as Seven Porges, Bessel Van Der Kolk, Deb Dana, Ruby Jo Walker, and more. It incorporates information from Polyvagal Theory and other Somatic Therapies such as Hakomi Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing with Mindfulness to explore ourselves in a different way than traditional talk therapy alone.
My Story
I have lived in Durango, CO for 10+ years now and have a Family here, love to adventure here, and love to serve the community here with meaningful therapy that works!
I spent several years after college trying to "find myself", this included working in remote places, reading self-help books, and lots of adventuring. What I determined is that I have a passion and a skill in connecting with people. I furthered this mentality working for years in Wilderness Therapy where I honed my art of working with people from my heart, this made me want to become a therapist. I earned my master's degree in 2017 from Simmons University where I learned the science of helping people too.
I have worked in Community Mental Health, Wilderness Therapy, Family Wilderness Therapy, for the Fort Lewis College Counseling Center, and in Private Practice. I have pursued additional training and supervision in Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy and have found it to be the way that I Love to work with people the most. I receive this type of therapy too! It has helped me immensely and so I truly believe in it, and would love to use it to help you! I am truly passionate about the work that I do, I find it meaningful and love to chat with the folks I serve.
When I'm not doing therapy you can find me with my Family, Snowboarding, Skiing, Mountain Biking, Camping, going to the Farmers Market, Cooking, Hiking, Dancing, Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking, SUP-ing, Canyoneering, Backpacking, Tinkering in the Garage, Exploring, Playing, Gardening, and Relaxing. I love to share about my own stories and hobbies so feel free to ask.
More about Somatic Therapy
Find out more...
Somatic Therapy uses mindfulness to bring attention to places in the body where emotions are held. Through guided techniques you are able to release these traumas and access your innate resilience to bring you down from high levels of stress or burden. Here are some key points about somatic therapy and its principles:
Mindfulness and Body Awareness: Somatic therapy uses mindfulness and body awareness techniques to help individuals tune into their bodily sensations and emotions. The belief is that our bodies hold onto past traumas and emotional experiences, and by becoming more aware of these sensations, we can better understand and process them.
Emotional Release: Through guided techniques and exercises, individuals are encouraged to release the emotional and physical tension stored in their bodies. This can help them process and let go of unresolved emotions, traumas, and stress.
Resilience and Healing: Somatic therapy aims to help individuals access their innate resilience and capacity for healing. By addressing and releasing stored emotions and tensions, individuals can better cope with stress and emotional burdens.
Identifying and Healing Wounds: Somatic therapy seeks to identify and address deep wounds from the past and upbringing that may be influencing an individual's current mental and emotional well-being. It helps individuals work through these issues in a holistic way, acknowledging the mind-body connection.
Self-Insight and Clarity: Somatic therapy is designed to empower individuals to become the source of their insights and clarity. It encourages self-awareness and self-discovery, enabling individuals to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotional responses.
Positive Outcomes: Individuals who engage in somatic therapy often report leaving sessions feeling lighter, less burdened, more motivated, calmer, and with increased clarity. The therapy seeks to integrate these positive gains into the individual's daily life to improve relationships, coping mechanisms, communication, and self-expression.
Holistic Approach: Somatic therapy takes a holistic approach to mental and emotional well-being, recognizing the interplay between the mind and body. It's not just about talking through issues; it's about physically processing and releasing emotions.
Somatic therapy can be a valuable approach for individuals who have experienced trauma, stress, or emotional difficulties that may be affecting their overall well-being. It offers a different perspective on therapy and can complement other therapeutic modalities. It's important to work with a trained somatic therapist who can guide you through these processes and techniques.