Your local Neural-Somatically Trained Stress and Trauma Therapist in Brighton & Hove
If you need an experienced Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP); an expert stress and therapist who is neural-somatically trained; someone who is ethically regulated and insured; and you are happy to work online, email or call me to find out more about how I can help you feel much better!
About Penny Boyland BSc, Lic. Ac., SEP, mCThA
My journey into trauma healing
My fascination with dis-ease and healing began during childhood with the veterinary visits to my father’s farm. This led me to initially study and gain a BSc. (Hons) Pharmacology and embark on a successful career in different aspects of the Pharmaceutical industry. However, after 11 years I began to feel something was missing from the allopathic approach and so returned to 4 years, full-time education to gain my Licentiate of Acupuncture, (Lic. Ac.) at the International College of Oriental Medicine, (ICOM), East Grinstead. My acupuncture training was comprehensive, (Chinese Philosophy, Physiology and Pathology; Anatomy; Western Physiology and Pathology; and Massage) and included the advanced, four-dimensional knowledge of the Five Element Philosophy known as Stems & Branches, (S&B).
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) and Emotional Awareness
Concurrent with my Licentiate training, I also trained in Emotional Awareness for 7 years (2000-2007), learning how awareness of emotions in the body could heal emotional distress. Then in 2006 I undertook a further 3 years training to consolidate my experience working with stress and trauma, and qualified as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). My fervour for this therapeutic approach also led to the birth of the Somatic Experiencing Association UK (SEA UK) in November 2009, of which I was unanimously elected Chair (2009-2012). Thereafter I served as Treasurer (2012 – 2017) and focused on building SEA UK’s presence on Facebook, (2016 – 2018). In May 2012 I was also elected Secretary of the Board of EASE (European Association of SE), a position I held for the next three years. Since then I have championed support for European SE Training Assistants as a member of the European Assistant Task Force.
Subsequent to qualifying as an SEP in May 2009 I progressed as an SE Training Assistant and have supported SE Trainings internationally, (UK, Australia, Poland and Hungary). I gained approval as a Senior Assistant in Feb 2015 and am currently an approved Session Provider for all SE Trainee levels: Personal Sessions (since March 2014); Individual Case Consults, (since Feb 2015); and Small Group Case Consults (since Nov 2018). I also offer supervision to other SEPs. This journey has entailed hearing the SE training material delivered many times by different Trainers – a very rich experience that has deepened my knowledge and clinical application of SE theory.
Other Trauma Resolution Tools Used in My Work
My insatiable appetite for ways to help my clients heal trauma has led me to other post graduate trainings and certifications including:
- NeuroAffective Touch (NA Touch) 2020- trained by Aline LaPierre, NA Touch Pioneer
- The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) 2018 – trained by Dr Laurence Heller, NARM Pioneer
- The Comprehensive Resource Model, (CRM) 2017 – trained by Lisa Schwarz, CRM Pioneer
- The Alchemy of Shame Transformation Model (AST) 2017 – trained by Caryn Scotto d’Luzia, AST Pioneer
- The Grief Recovery Method (GRM) 2015 – trained by John James, GRM co-Pioneer and co-founder of The Grief Recovery Institute
plus understanding of Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory and Bowlby’s Attachment Theory.
I weave all of these into my work as required by the client’s individual needs.
In Practice
In practice, I have worked privately; both at home and at Clinics. I strive to ensure all my working spaces provide a safe and nurturing environment for my patients by; adhering to the Complementary Therapists Association, (CThA), codes of ethics and practice; regularly practicing space and energy clearing techniques; and using a caring, respectful, and empowering approach with my clients.
In summary, Somatic Tao offers a synthesised, holistic, clinical approach based on:
- the use of somatic felt sense: integrated with
- Western traumatology, physiology and neuroscience; and
- knowledge of disease according to the Taoist Philosophy of Chinese Medicine
Add to that:
- familiarity with medical terms and drug mechanisms gained from my previous pharmaceutical career;
- the deepening of my SE knowledge through my SE Assistant Approval process; and
- over 14 years clinical experience of working with stress, emotional distress and trauma
I am able to offer a unique and comprehensive approach to stress and trauma.
My promise
I promise to:
- Provide the highest quality of health care for every individual who seeks treatment
- Create an environment in which patients will feel secure, have relief of symptoms and become educated in their own personal health needs
- Work with patients so they may become an active part in the healing process, allowing them to grow with the treatments
- Continue professional development so that I can continue to grow & constantly provide my patients with new techniques to help them heal themselves
Arrange relief from stress and trauma in Brighton & Hove
Feel free to get in touch for an integrated, holistic, neural-somatically aware approach to stress and trauma in Brighton & Hove.
Just call 07730 683 181 for an informal chat or email me info@somatictao.co.uk