Ashleigh Johnston-Barton LMFT Somatic (SEP)Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, SEP, EMDR (she, her)

About

It’s REALLY not all in your head! Cognitive insight or logical thinking can not help our body FEEL safe after trauma. We are capable of extraordinary things in times of stress. People have survived, defying what is possible, lifting cars to save a child, escape or fight danger. These responses are intended to be temporary as they utilize a tremendous amount of resources or create states that do not serve us in daily life. We want safety, not to constantly feel the need to fight or flight. Stress responses can become stuck, in our body; often outside of our awareness and show up as relational, physical or emotional symptoms. When sustained and suppressed in our nervous system we can feel numb, fragmented, broken or unfulfilled, i.e. trauma. It can be uncomfortable to integrate or complete our nervous system response to intense experiences causing many to feel unable to relax or safe, trust others or health issues, anxiety, depression, CPTSD, gastrointestinal, chronic pain etc.

Specialties