Workshop Description:
All of us work with clients who have experienced sexual trauma as a child, sexual assault as adults, with couples who grapple with sexual incompatibilities, or people who struggle with debilitating shame, sexual/gender identity, body image and just generally resist being in their bodies. This workshop is designed to tackle just these issues and aimed at helping practitioners acquire a variety of new and effective tools based on Somatic Experiencing principles to best serve these clients—even the toughest ones who come to address sexual issues with disconnected and disembodied selves.

Participants will learn about the basic principles and theory of the SE model. The SE approach offers a framework to assess where your client is “stuck” in the fight, flight, or freeze responses and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states that underlie so many trauma symptoms. This workshop is both theoretical and highly experiential, offering effective skills for restoring nervous system regulation and resolving sexual trauma and dysfunctions that can be immediately integrated into your professional practice.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Learn Basic principles of Somatic Experiencing and Sex therapy applied to sexual traumas and sexual issues in relationships
• Learn how to deepen and expand embodiment and pleasure in comfortable, titrated ways
• Understand the SE framework to assess where clients are stuck in the fight, flight, or freeze responses and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states
• Develop tools to help clients connect the mind and body in intimate settings

COURSE CONTENT:

• Basic Principles of Somatic Experiencing and Sex therapy
• Common mistakes made by practitioners when working with sexual trauma
• The SE Approach
  • Targeting ANS: “motor” that drives symptoms/behaviors
  • Working in slow, gentle way that does not overwhelm
  • Re-establishing the natural ability of the nervous system to shift between activation and deactivation
  • Unfreezing the body’s ability to respond appropriately
• Dual control model
  • Sexual Excitation System—(SES)
  • Sexual Inhibition System – (SIS)
  • How to adress sexual issues involving these 2 processes:
  • activating natural accelerator
  • noticing and deactivating the brakes
• A Few Basic SE Skills
  • Orientation
  • Felt Sense
  • Exteroception (“Orientation”)
  • Interoception (“Felt Sense”)
• Resourcing:
  • External
  • Internal
  • Titration
  • Pendulating
• Basic skills of working with Body Avoidance or Reluctance
  • Body Access Menu – for regulation
  • Titrated, body awakening exercises
  • SIBAM
    

Audience:

• Professional Counselors
• Social Workers
• Substance Abuse Counselors
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Psychologists

Biography of the Presenter

Ewelina Beardmore, LCPC,CST, SEP

Ewelina Beardmore is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and Somatic Experiencing Professional (SEP) who uses a relational, somatic and strength-based model to help individuals and couples gain awareness of the roles and the dynamics present in their relationships. She has expertise in helping individuals heal from traumas such as sexual assault, childhood abuse as well as physical and emotional abuse, and is passionate about helping individuals overcome the challenges of significant life transitions such as infertility, postpartum struggles and parenthood. Ewelina values the role and importance of sexuality in clients' overall health, and helps clients overcome challenges such as lack of intimacy, sexual and gender identity, desire discrepancy, postpartum recovery impacting sexual health, difficulties with orgasm, compulsive sexual behaviors, erectile dysfunctions and painful intercourse. She is sex-positive, kink-friendly and affirming of polyamorous relationships. Ewelina is a Certified Sex Therapist through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapist (AASECT). In addition, Ewelina has completed Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which allows her to assist couples improve their communication styles and explore goals throughout each stage of their relationship. She is also trained in a variety of treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients manage anxiety and depression. Ewelina's international background allows her to connect with individuals struggling with cross-cultural issues and assist in developing coping skills to manage life's obstacles. Additionally, she has offered guidance to clients on issues involving work-life balance and behavioral and emotional health in an employee assistance setting. Ewelina earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, graduating with honors. She is fluent in French and offers services in this language.

Accommodations:

• In-person participants, parking validation is available at the Mart Parc Wells garage at 401 N. Wells Street.  Anyone that will be driving will need to have their ticket validated at the reception desk on the 4th floor.
• Students enter code STUDENTS, your Student ID number, and institution affiliation to receive a discounted ticket.

Continuing Education Hours:

This program is recognized as providing 4.0 CE Hours for:

• LPC/LCPC (IDFPR license # 197.000360)
• LSW/LCSW (IDFPR license # 159.001584)
• Licensed Psychologist (IDFPR license # 268.000146)

Refund Policy: Soleil will provide a 50% refund for cancellation received at least two weeks prior to the workshop