Exploring the Art of Self & Social Transformation

As a trauma survivor having done years of talk therapy, I was finally ready to try a more holistic and body centered approach. This work slows me down and grounds me in very profound ways.

I relate this work to the ecosystem of our bodies. That there are rhythms, seasons and cycles that must be respected. The word congruence comes to mind…. as well as curiosity. To cultivate a state of wondering and wandering.

This work has been a perfect complement to my years of talk therapy, nature based practices, as well as artistic explorations. This nurtures my inquisitive sensibility, keeping me open while keeping me resourced. The delivery has come in Ariane’s presence, accessibility and transparency as well as her extensive skill and knowledge of the various protocols and somatic techniques she teaches.

I feel more connected to my authenticity. My reactivity has lessened and I “bounce back” quicker from activating situations.

I’ve learned that it is not essential to tell a detailed story of what is going on with me to feel heard. That telling the story with words affirms the trauma and keeps me in that triggered state. Whereas to sit with the body, noticing sensations, talking a little, going back to body….I have learned to self-regulate and take refuge in my resourced self rather than in the suffering.

I was drawn to the alternative way of dealing with PTSD. The brochure described an approach that was gentle. Rather than re-living trauma, it promised to transform it. Going over and over the trauma hadn’t worked for me before. Re-living it just didn’t do it. 

The Ecology of Beind Human means growing back into myself because I’d lost something during that trauma and I’m trying to regain it, usually successfully so far. It says that you have to grow into being yourself.  It says that it’s a process, but in a natural way. It’s a natural evolvement.

It’s been delivered at a pace that I can undertake and in a way that I can actually see progress because Ariane is helping me to understand the process. It helps tremendously with day to day stress. I’m learning to understand myself and where I’ve recognized that the past is intertwined with my present situation. Just recognizing that has helped me deal with those problems. That way the healing can start.

I’ve managed to make peace with what’s happened in my early childhood, disentangling it from the current situation so that I am seeing it clearly. When it’s all jumbled up and it’s not sorted, you can’t really deal with it.

I’ve tried several therapists and I’ve learnt to recognize that if there is a personality clash, it’s going to be a problem. Ariane is very approachable. She has a gift of empathy but is also no nonsense. And she’s patient.

I now know that no matter how hard the situation might be at the time, no matter how difficult it is to care for my mother who is on hospice and let her go when the time comes, I will survive. I know it for sure now in my heart and in my gut.

When my 16 year old son was murdered by a police officer I struggled for months to stay on the planet and maintain my most primary relationships as mom and partner. After about six months I asked a good friend for recommendations. Ariane was one of three therapists she recommended. I was attracted to her because her pamphlet seemed to make sense to me in that we would be working with how my struggles were manifested in my body. I was interested in the cell to universe approach, the ecological approach. When I called Ariane, I liked the sound of her voice, the humanity and caring that came through even on the phone.The Ecology of Being Human means to me an exploration of myself as an ecosystem and as a part of a larger ecosystem which includes ever larger circles of relationships of self to others and self to the earth and self to whatever god might be.My inner work is learning to be human again after my son was murdered. It was learning to be able to acknowledge the pain, the overwhelm, the devastation, while feeling where I am supported. It is about learning that I am not just my grief. The role that Ariane plays in the work is one of asking me to notice where I am supported, what it feels like. It is to ask me to slow down and notice how things feel in my body. It is to acknowledge where I register stories in my body and to acknowledge old habits etc. Delivery is gentle, persistent, respectful. Sometimes support comes in the form of touch or physically holding an arm or shoulders and neck. Sometimes it is a suggestion or encouragement to stay present.The greatest healing that I have received is knowing that I have joy that exists side by side with grief. It is that I am supported, that I don’t need to carry it all alone, that I can notice where and how I am affected and reacting. What made me come back to Ariane each week? Her quiet, present way of being. Her joy in small things. Her ability to create a safe haven.I did not know that I could have joy again.  I did not know that I could be a part of a family, a community, anything bigger than myself again. I know now that I can, that I am

I have not done much work with a therapist and I was looking for an alternative non-judgmental approach where I could explore different happenings throughout my life, put them in perspective, heal and move forward. I heard about Ariane and the Ecology of Being Human and working with her felt like a very good fit for me at that time in my life. To me, the work means accepting myself for being human with my imperfections, memories, and feelings. Then, it incorporates recognizing that my emotions resonate in different parts of my body and that I can identify where I feel them. Through this tracking, I have the ability to either remember and cultivate the good feelings for future reference or let go of the negative ones that I do not need to keep reliving. The work I have been doing brings me to the present moment and helps me identify in my body where I feel an emotion right then and there. As I talk, Ariane keeps me focused on getting me to listen to my body versus to my head. I have learned to not continue to relive events that were hurtful many years ago. They are in the past and I have the ability to move on. Ariane is exceptionally skilled as a practitioner. She is completely present and non-judgmental which allows me to be as open and vulnerable as I need to be to get the most from what I am learning about myself. There really is no one else that I would rather have guide me on this exploration of myself. Her approach challenges me to discover the interweaving of my emotions throughout my body and that is the key to learning about me.

I thought about working w/ Ariane for a couple of months and finally came to the conclusion the only thing holding me back was fear. I did not even realize I was stuck in duality in regards to body awareness and mind awareness until after a number of sessions. When I first came to sessions I really had no idea how much they would impact me. But I knew from first blush Ariane was the one to follow and learn from as long as the path holds. I liked her voice, her humor and her insistence on being here now, from the moment I met her. Ariane is graced with a unique capacity to provide this approach.The Ecology of Being Human left me stumped for awhile, but I went to undergrad in the 70s and my school was nicknamed “eco u” because it was one of the first schools to offer a number of course paths including ecology and community development. So I had a suspicion that it had to do with some type of holistic approach. Eventually a little research showed me that somatics is focused on the body and mind integration, to minimize or eliminate the continual conflict.So…. a recent small epiphany. I have been longing for silence and assumed that I needed to separate myself from others, but I was wrong. What I need is to integrate my body, mind, emotions and spiritual dimensions. It’s like a vulcan mind meld. The level of integration potential is unlimited, and I mean that as fact. It brings understanding & awareness of the conundrum that every moment is one and every moment is unique. Having my values with regards to spirituality validated means the potential for my healing surpasses my ability to comprehend it, and it is OK.The greatest healing for me has been to understand “integration” in an entirely new perspective. It’s not what the body feels, it is what it distinctly says to the mind. (When you can get the mind to listen).Another part is much more personal. I am healing. How can I tell? There are many triggers and significant changes in my life, yet I seem much more at peace than I “normally” would be under these circumstances. My acceptance level is creeping higher and higher.My personal path has taken me in many new directions; I drift further from what is considered a western approach to spirituality but there are exceptions (Christ, Mary, Thomas). Awareness increases, mindfulness increases, wholeness seems supported and natural. All of my inner work of meditation,Taoism, Zen, Rumi; developing compassion forgiveness and tolerance as guides, completely merges.

I was referred to Ariane through someone whom I strongly trust and who understands the work of somatic therapy.I liked the idea of working through the sensations of the body instead of continually talking and telling stories. It’s a holistic model that takes into account all of the aspects of living in this human body, mind, and spirit. The inner work has given me the option and understanding of what is occurring within my body when in pain, in body & mind. It has been delivered through simply sitting and tracking the sensations within the body, as well as table and floor work when Ariane places her hands on the those places in the body that are in distress.I’ve come to the realization and wisdom that I don’t have to take care or be in control continually through the mind. I have learned that I can let go of the stories which I have been telling for years – letting the sensations of the distress come through the body, allowing me to track and breathe into those sensations, which results in a positive letting go.

After two unsuccessful meetings with other practitioners, what initially attracted me to working with Ariane was need and a trusted therapist’s recommendation. Ariane’s heart, pacing and intelligence worked for me.The Ecology of Being Human sounded intimidating to me at first. It’s hard enough to learn how to be, let alone what does the “ecology of it” mean?  Do I have to be an environmentalist?  Or an intellectual?  I just wanted to function better. The Ecology of Being Human means finding acceptance of (my) human condition. I’m learning through this work how to delineate and discard old limiting patterns of thought and behavior in my life.