My name is Amanda Richards and I have been in private practice as an RTC for the past 5 years under the name of Longtable Counselling.

I work both in Vancouver and Courtenay Vancouver Island.

My practice is somatically informed using touch skills having completed Kathy Kains touch skills training. I also incorporate Spacial Dynamics and other therapeutic transpersonal tools learned through my training with Clearmind International.

I look forward to being in service and deepening my awareness and skills in group work.

Amanda Sawatzky began her Somatic Experiencing journey in 1999 (just a baby then ????) and has been a SEP for 20-plus years.

She is also an RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor) and CCC (Certified Canadian Counsellor) and is an approved counsellor with FNHA, CVAP, Medavie and ICBC. She has a BA in Psychology as well as Masters in counselling psychology.

Amanda also completed Kathy Kain’s touch training in the early 2000’s and regularly incorporates this into her work.  She is also trained as a level 2 Gottman couples counsellor and EMDR. Amanda has a playful approach to healing and is willing to incorporate multiple ways of working with trauma.

Amanda works with both children and adults, and has a private practice as well as works part-time for a non-profit community agency.

Amanda has assisted at trainings helping others learn this work since 2001 (20+ years) and enjoys supporting others in their learning.  She is approved to do individual sessions and consults at all levels (beginner-advanced).

When Amanda isn’t working, you might find her out for a walk, rollerskating, on a beach somewhere, hanging with her kids, camping or travelling.

I have worked as a body-oriented and expressive arts therapist in Vancouver for many years in private practice, and formerly as a school counsellor. I have studied Dance/Movement Therapy, Process Work, and other body-oriented modalities.

Currently in my practice, I focus on working with developmental trauma, attachment, illness, loss, and spiritual issues. I completed the SE training in 2004, and since then one of my greatest joys has been to assist at SE trainings in many different countries and communities in Canada, the U.S., Asia, India, Australia, and New Zealand, including Diane Poole Heller’s Somatic Attachment Training. I have taken Kathy Kain’s Touch Skills for Therapists, Somatic Resilience and Regulation, Somatics of Emotion, and several of Peter Levine’s Master Classes.

My most recent interest is in Collective Trauma, and working to bring awareness of how the legacy of historic and societal trauma interfaces with individual healing.

I keep myself grounded with both sitting and movement mindfulness practices, and love spending time in the mountains and the forest. I bring a spirit of curiosity and play to my sessions, and look forward to supporting your learning in whatever way I can.

Hello ! I am from Romania, but I have called Canada my home for the last 20 years and have been on Vancouver Island for the last 6 years. I started my healing journey in parallel with going back to school and completing a BSC at the University of Toronto and a MA at Saint Paul University. From the beginning, I have been focused on understanding trauma and healing from trauma including all manifestations of trauma like addictions, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, etc.
For many years I worked in outpatient substance use programs. In 2020 I shifted from working in substance use programs to working with survivors of domestic violence and any other types of gendered violence. In October 2023 I started my private practice and I am enjoying splitting my time between by private practice and agency work.
I approach therapy from an anti-oppressive perspective, understanding intersectionality and my privileges. I am queer and endeavor to create a safe, collaborative and non-judgemental space for all folx. My belief is that through attunement and safety, healing can happen.
I integrate various therapeutic approaches including SE, Internal Family System, art therapy, and psychodynamic interventions that are tailored to fit personal needs.

I attended SE training from 2019 to 2022. During the period of my SE training, I also took the following trainings: (1) Advanced Strategies for Healing Sexual Trauma w/ Ariel Giarretto and (2) Somatic Strategies to Address the interplay between shock and developmental trauma with Peter Levine & Diane Poole Heller.
Following the SE training, I completed the following courses and trainings:
(1) Unlearning as a white settler,
(2) Foundations of Clinical Supervision,
(3) Developmental Trauma: Early Stages and Later Stages by Dr. Raja Selvam,
(4) participated in webinars trying to understand how to decolonize myself and my practice, IFS and ED, IFS and Shame and;
(5) completed an 8 weeks intensive training in Internal Family Systems tailored for my workplace on how to support better DV and trauma survivors.
I am registered for the Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapist by Kathy Kain starting in December 2025.

Outside work, I enjoy spending time in nature and going for hikes, painting, reading, experimenting with new recipes and exploring new restaurants.

I am a registered social worker and somatic experiencing practitioner. I have practiced as a social worker for over 20 years, and have enjoyed learning and growing in the wide variety of roles and settings that I’ve worked in over the years. Currently I operate a private practice in Saskatoon, where I see mostly adults for individual therapy.

I am a registered clinical counsellor living in Whistler, BC

I am also a specialized yoga instructor having taught for 20 years a variety of styles including Yoga Teacher Trainings. I use many of those skills within therapy— these include Mindfulness, breathing, and meditations techniques.

I have trained in many specific therapies including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), The Gottman Method, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing and Kathy Kain’s Touch Skills Training. My areas of practice include depression, anxiety, self-esteem, grief and loss, life transitions, women’s issues, chronic pain, relationship issues, communication difficulties and trauma. I support both individuals and couples to work towards reconnection— improving the relationship they have with themselves and with others.

I consider myself more of a person-centred approach therapist who specializes in helping individuals heal from trauma. I believe it is important to have an understanding in how our family of origin and nervous system influences us, therefore I incorporate a psychoeducation component in therapy which includes Attachment theory and Poly Vagal Theory.

I have a collaborative and engaging approach to counselling, which encourages the client to set the direction and goals of therapy. Many clients consider me authentic, truthful and hopeful as I thoroughly enjoy connecting with people and helping them — through co-regulation techniques— to safely re-embody their core self. It is my experience, that once we can listen and honour the body again — without fear or shame — we can move forward with a stronger felt sense of safety and stability, allowing for a more positive and accurate narrative.
“

Coral Short (they/them) is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner based in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal. Born in 1973 on lək̓ʷəŋən territories (Victoria, BC) and raised in the Fraser Valley, they bring over 30 years of experience in art making, activism, and community building to their practice.

As a certified Community Dharma Teacher with True North Insight, Coral integrates Buddhist wisdom with somatic practices, specializing in trauma-informed approaches that centre marginalized experiences. Their work combines somatic principles with eco-somatic experiences, including guided nature immersion, embodied anti-oppression workshops and courses for white people, and mindfulness adapted for 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Coral co-facilitates Queer Sangha and leads online cohorts that blend somatic awareness with social justice, emphasizing both individual nervous system regulation and community-wide resilience.

Drawing on their extensive background in organizing and arts-based activism, Coral creates accessible, trauma-sensitive spaces that celebrate slowing down, following intuition, and exploring joy.

Dafne Blanco Sarlay, MA, RCC, SEP is Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Dafne earned her Masters degree in Expressive Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. Originally from Mexico, she came to Canada in 1996. Impacted by various types of trauma, her personal and family history inform her understanding of the interconnections of gender, ethnicity, violence, trauma and mental health, and impact how she supports others in their growth.

As a counsellor and facilitator, she has had the privilege of working with Indigenous communities in Canada and Mexico and immigrant women survivors of complex trauma, as well as with refugee survivors of torture. Throughout her professional career she has also provided direct support, outreach and advocacy services to diverse communities such as migrant workers, refugee families and youth, among others in one-on-one settings, as well as families and group facilitation.

Dafne is also an accomplished multidisciplinary artist, using visual arts and writing as her main media for expression.

I am a registered social worker with the BC College of Social Workers and also a certified addiction counsellor through the Canadian Addiction Counsellor Certification Federation. I have worked in a number of inpatient and outpatient facilities, which have helped me to hone my skills assisting others in navigating issues related to anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use. I am currently using these skills in my professional life as a contractor in private practice at Resilient Health. I am also part creator and owner of the online addiction support program Home Based Recovery. I am a founding board member of the Rewired Recovery Foundation. RRF is a charity that puts on substance-free events and uses the proceeds to send people in need to treatment.

Outside of work, I am a newly minted fly fisher person, who loves to cook, including smoking and grilling, as well as finding and polishing rocks. I like to be outside running or walking my wee dog Vanjie. When inside I am an avid follower of the Arsenal (soccer) and Vancouver Canucks. I am very fortunate to live as a guest on the Tsawout First Nation, and I work on the stolen lands of the WSANEC peoples on the Southern tip of Vancouver Island.

I work with groups and individuals, remotely and in-person, focusing on early surgical trauma, issues of self-worth, resilience, creativity-blocks, integration of plant-medicine experiences and life-meaning. Helping people to re-connect with their innate resilience and aliveness is vital to my own sense of wellbeing and meaning.

In my work, I use a variety of approaches (SE, IFS, Satir-Model, Psychodrama, Reichian bodywork, Focusing, etc.) all grounded in a ‘Bottom-up’, Body-Wisdom’ approach that is tailored for each client.

I’m a member of the core faculty at www.haven.ca and a Manitoba Satir Centre approved trainer / facilitator. I have worked cross-culturally in both North America and China and live on Gabriola Island, unceded territory of the Island Hul’qumi’num-speaking Snuneymuxw First Nation. I am approved to offer personal sessions at all levels.”

Heather Peddle is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner who bring her previous 25 years’ experience working with youth and individuals who have experienced chronic trauma and life events that have compromised their safety and ability to connect with safety.

Heather is originally from Newfoundland, and although she has called Alberta home for over 2 decades, the ocean is still in her heart and hold true to her roots.  In her downtime, Heather enjoys many aspects of life and may be found camping, in a hammock reading a book, in the boxing ring, playing sports or spending time with her with pups, friends & family. Heather is always looking for  what new adventure can support learning, exploration, and connection, and bring some fun.
Heather brings exploration of the spirit of being curious about what is “for you” vs what “you should do” through an SE lens.  She believes in the importance of the healing journey being one of patience, compassion for oneself and finding enjoyment.  Heather brings this to her practice through being creative in finding ways to explore and experience healing and health.  And some humour, we can’t forget about humor.

Heather completed her beginner and intermediate levels with Linda Stelte and her Advanced in 2023 with Dea Parsanishi.

Hello! I’m Jennifer McKeever. After a 15-year career as an acupuncturist and herbalist, I changed direction and dived into the world of understanding trauma’s impact on the mind and body. I obtained my SEP in 2018 and have been assisting SE trainings ever since. I have taken additional advanced SE courses, including Syndromes ~ Working with the Somatic Side of Trauma with Dr. Levine and Somatic Resilience and Regulation from Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell. Touch work forms a large part of my private practice.

Today, I facilitate transformational workshops worldwide, teach a breathwork modality called BioDynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release, and have a private practice. My goal is to provide a safe, heart-centred place of openness and acceptance in which individuals can develop greater awareness of their body, feelings, and strengths and connect to their own wisdom and joy. In private sessions and groups, I focus on releasing the trauma held in our bodies to create healthier, more authentic, and passion-filled lives.

I love Somatic Experiencing and am thrilled to be one of the organizers of the SE trainings in the Vancouver area! I look forward to working with you and helping build the SE community in Vancouver and across Canada.

Jessica is a dedicated registered acupuncturist with over a decade of experience, known for her trauma-informed approach and commitment to creating a safe, non-judgmental space for healing. A lifelong learner, she continuously enhances her skills, offering personalized and thoughtful treatments. Jessica graduated from the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and holds certificates in Acupuncture Detoxification, Advanced Cupping Therapy, Medical Qi Gong, and Yoga Nidra Meditation.

Beyond her private practice, Jessica actively volunteers in the community, collaborates with wellness professionals, and shares her expertise through community events. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, reading, biking, gardening, and watching movies.
“

Trained as a Clinical Psychologist in Warsaw, Poland. Trained in NPL in England. Certified facilitator of Mindfulness-Based Symptom Management with Ottawa Mindfulness Clinic. Trained in SE with Berns Galloway ( beginner and intermediate) and Dea Parsinishi ( advanced). Completed Syndromes, Eye of the Needle, Generational Trauma and other courses with Peter Levine. Practicing as a Registered Psychotherapist in Ottawa, Ontario.

OM and Prem! I have been living in the Yukon Territory for more than 30 years. I was born in Quebec City and still hug and kiss abundantly!

Initially I was trained as a Rolfer and a yoga teacher and then became interested in CranioSacral therapies. I am now a Clinical Supervisor doing a doctoral degree. My interest lies in better training future counsellors and therapists with self-awareness of the functioning of their nervous system, the inter-related connection of mind and body (psychosomatic therapies) and the power of co-regulation.

I am blessed to have in my life my husband, three youths, two Chihuahuas (actually more than that, but that is another story!), and a beautiful, rich community that has been interwoven with all my developmental stages and spiritual pursuits.

I love finding myself on the land, and the quality of the light in the North Pole keeps me astonished and in awe.

I look forward to sharing and learning from all of you individually and as a collective.
Juliette ;)

I am a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner® (SEP), and Tao of Trauma & Co-Regulating Touch/Table Work Practitioner. My practice is grounded in Somatic Experiencing® and an embodied understanding of nervous-system regulation, resilience, and trauma healing.

For those training in Somatic Experiencing, personal sessions offer an opportunity to experience the work from the client’s side—to deepen your own embodied awareness, expand capacity, and develop a felt understanding of SE principles that can enrich your practice with others. I work collaboratively and gently, attending to sensation, activation, impulses, resources, and the nervous system’s natural movement toward greater regulation, flexibility, and coherence.

My approach integrates Somatic Experiencing®, Internal Family Systems, attachment theory, and developmental trauma perspectives. I am attentive to the ways our nervous systems and protective adaptations have developed in response to experience, while also recognizing the resilience, intelligence, and capacity already present within each person.

My intention is to create a grounded, supportive space where you can slow down, listen inwardly, and deepen your relationship with your own embodied experience – both for yourself and for the work you offer to others.

I have been in love with movement since the moment I was conceived:) Somatic experiencing, being a somatic being, is a way of life, something that makes me more me. My educational history includes a B.SC in Rehab Medicine in 1984 (physiotherapy and occupational therapy) and a Master’s in Clinical Counselling with an emphasis in depth psychology in 2013. My play history includes constant exploration of the sacred space of my body container and how it moves and connects to the rest of the planet. I have been trained in craniosacral, visceral manipulation and other osteopathic techniques, working with a gentle hands-on approach for the past 35 years. My personal and professional journey led me to Self- Regulation training and then to Somatic Experiencing. Kathy Kain and Steve Terrell have inspired me through Touch Training, Somatic Regulation and Resilience, and the Somatics of Emotions(Tony Richardson). I have explored Continuum movement with Emilie Conrad, Susan Harper and others, Spatial Dynamics with Jaime Macmillan, Contact Improv, Authentic Movement, 5 Rhythms, and other movement practices. We are living at such an exciting, creative time when bringing our most whole expressive self is what the world is calling for. I look forward to holding a space where that can unfold.

I’ve been involved with SE for 22 years, and an SE Practitioner since 2004. I went on to take Kathy Kains’ Post-Advanced “Touch Training for Psychotherapists” in 2009, and “Somatic Resilience and Regulation: Early Trauma” training with Steve Terrell and Kathy Kain in 2016. Also important in my SE journey have been Peter Levine’s SE Master Classes (“Eye of the Needle” and “Aggression, Depression and Life Force”). The SE Touch work forms a significant part of my approach.

I have been counselling adults and facilitating groups for 24 years, including 15 years in a non-profit agency for women who have experienced sexual trauma. While with the agency I developed and ran groups in conjunction with the local addictions clinic, where of course trauma shows up as the root cause of many concurrent issues.

Assisting with SE trainings in many locations in Canada, America, Australia and Japan has helped me hone my SE skills and keep apace of developments in the work. And meet hundreds of amazing people! I value counsellor education and have supported many practicum and internship students, and I’m clinical case consultant for a number of local agencies. I now devote my time to private practice in counselling, consultation and supervision in Victoria, BC, and any spare time I have is spent with my dear horse Abe.

I am a registered psychologist in Alberta. I am able to provide one-off personal sessions up to the advanced level (for residents of Alberta only).

’m grateful to be part of the S.E. learning process with you. A bit about me, I’m of Irish decent and respectfully acknowledge that the land I live, work, and play on is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I enjoy taking part in activities in the nature that surrounds Vancouver.

I am a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor- RTC and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner-SEP, in private practice in Vancouver, BC. My work integrates Somatic Experiencing® trauma healing (including early developmental trauma from pre-verbal periods), Therapeutic Counselling, Hakomi (a body-centered system of psychotherapy) and Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release. My passion is leading group processes including facilitating a men’s group.

My educational background includes a Masters in Counselling and a PhD in Human Ecology. I am certified as CCC with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapist Association (CCPA) and have a private practice, where I work with adults who feel impacted by anxiety, depression, relationship issues, stress, and trauma. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life, particularly with seniors, caregivers and fellow practitioners.

I am originally from Germany and have called Canada my home since 2005. I worked as a nurse for 10 years in Germany in family medicine and pediatrics and was involved in a chronic disease prevention research project in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta for 10 years. SE is my main modality in my work alongside with my training in attachment research and EMDR. More recently I have become interested in working with hoarding and am an active member with the hoarding disorder foundation Alberta (HDFA). I completed Kathy Kain’s Coupling dynamics training and her first two levels of Touch Skills Training. I enjoy drawing from different frameworks and continuing to learn about our nervous system and different ways of healing and growing. When not working, I enjoy getting lost in a good book, riding horses and learning about horsemanship, hanging out with my family and 2 kitties, and more recently, playing pickleball.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), and I am a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP). I am also a retired Acupuncturist and co-owner of a wellness clinic. I have over a decade of experience in the health and wellness field as an acupuncturist, yoga teacher, crisis line volunteer, and craniosacral therapist.

I am mindful and compassionate. I am willing to be vulnerable but firm at the same time. Clients seek me out because they know I have done the work. I have been through a difficult journey, which helps me understand your struggles.

I have worked with clients from diverse backgrounds and identities. I am keen to support clients from all backgrounds, especially those who identify as Asian and, more broadly, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour).

Robert is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Registered Psychotherapist based in Toronto. He is trained in Gestalt Therapy, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Pre- and Perinatal Therapies, and Visceral Manipulation. Coming to somatics through backgrounds in contemporary dance and bodywork, Robert integrates relational and somatic work to support clients holistically. He works with developmental trauma, attachment, dissociation, complex PTSD, chronic illness, medical trauma, gender and sexuality, and intergenerational trauma. He emphasizes safety, presence, responsiveness, and humour in his practice.

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Registered Arts Therapist in Vancouver, BC, with long-term work experience in inner-city mental health care, with a focus on all aspects of marginalization.

In private practice, I now work with complex trauma in combination with chronic illness, impact of oppression, complex mental health and addiction issues, as well as with relational availability and resilience development.

And, I love to play by carving spoons, walking with a camera, and cooking!

Hello! I am a Registered Dietitian, SEP, and an Intuitive Eating Counsellor. I help folks find more ease in their relationship with food & body.

In my private practice, I support individuals with concerns around eating, digestion, and body image as well as those who are curious about eating more intuitively and living more fully in their bodies.

I offer a non-diet approach where I believe that all bodies deserve adequate nourishment and care. The ability to eat and digest food is intricately linked with the body’s nervous system and I use this knowledge to help individuals meet nutrient needs while respecting body cues.

Aside from Somatic Experiencing, my approach is guided by my training in mindfulness, yoga, and Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders. Overall, I love helping folks develop a kinder relationship to their bodies and move towards embodiment.

If you have any questions about my work or approach, please don’t hesitate to contact me, I’d love to connect.

The entirety of my practice is devoted to helping people reconnect to their whole selves, and to come into coherence through all of their layers – body, mind, spirit, and the subconscious. I blend my training in Somatic Experiencing, Hypnotherapy, and Psychedelic Facilitation with years of experience as a Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher to create a container that can hold – and support – each person as the complex, multifaceted human being that they are. I believe that the most valuable thing we can do for anyone is to show up as a fellow human being – to meet them on a level beyond modalities and interventions, and create the space for them to come into contact with their Innate Healing Intelligence.

I firmly believe that underneath all of our life’s experiences, we are whole. There’s a part of you that knows how to find and live the life that’s meant for you. The part of you that knows how to be who you are in a way that’s clear, coherent, and unyielding. That’s the part of you I’m in service to – my calling is to help you find it and watch you take root in that fertile soil.

I am honored to be one of the many people to hold this beautiful container, and I look forward to supporting your evolution in any way I can.

In 2005, after 25 years in private practice, I began training in Somatic Experiencing.

My personal life and my work with individuals and couples have been dramatically transformed by the training. The addition of Kathy Kain’s SE touch skills training and Nancy Napier’s embodied parts work has made the work even more exciting. Assisting at SE trainings keeps the work alive for me. In my spare time, I tell stories in boxes by making dioramas.

I am a Counsellor in Private Practice in Yukon, Canada.
I completed the Somatic Experiencing training  in 2015 and stayed engaged with the SE community as an assistant and session/consult provider because I love the work!

Currently, my leading practice focus is women and trauma. I have also spent many years working within First Nation communities, both as a Counsellor and  as a Coordinator of a host of community led healing projects. This work has deeply influenced both my practice and my personal development.

I spend a lot of time in the wilderness because it nourishes me; and because I feel that nature holds so much Wisdom…immersing myself helps connect me to my own knowing. I often use nature-based therapeutic tools in sessions.

I love (and hate :) ) my learning edges, and love supporting others to navigate new and old territory.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

“

ducation and background:
Physiotherapy, Feldenkrais Method®, SE and over 25 years experience as a movement educator, neuro-developmental therapist and certified life coach.

As someone who has lived with pain, I’ve dedicated my professional career to assisting others in moving beyond barriers and toward the lives they want: optimum mobility, purpose and a better understanding of themselves and their unique strengths.

Post Advanced trainings:
“Somatic Resilience and Regulation: Early Trauma” as well as “Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapists” with Kathy Kain, “Eye of the needle” (working with anesthesia, surgical procedures and other near-death encounters), “Depression, Aggression and Life Force” with Peter Levine. I’ve been particularly interested in intergenerational and early developmental trauma.

When not working, I spent time in nature: kayak, run, grow vegetables, play the cello or assist SE trainings…

I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor who enjoys working in private practice.  I work collaboratively with my clients to develop our way of working together that feels safe and comfortable, always striving for sociocultural attunement.  I access an eclectic group of modalities (Self-Compassion, CBT, etc.) to help inform our time together, but the main modality I draw from is Somatic Experiencing.  (Somatic Experiencing is the lens I look through for my work, but also for my life!)    Although folks may arrive in counselling with a multitude of life struggles, I specialize in the areas of trauma, grief, and anxiety – including working with individuals who struggle with hoarding.  I educate professionals, facilitate groups and provide one-on-one counselling with adults. I’m looking so forward to being here with you all at the Advanced training in Vancouver!!