Energy Touch
A Trauma Release Program
Energy Touch is a hands-on, low-talk modality incorporating energy work, a secure personal nest, supportive heat, and intentional gentle touch to assist in releasing trauma from the body
Trauma is an emotional wound to the brain. Whether it is direct, secondary, witnessed, developmental, abusive, or neglectful, the result creates a “trauma response” in the body & mind Traumatic event(s) can alter brain chemistry and create a flood of stress hormones that affect the expression of genes in cells throughout the body. This is why we say trauma is stored in the body’s cellular tissue. The trauma experienced needs to be processed and sometimes reprocessed to change the underlying brain function.
A dysregulated nervous system keeps the body’s systems in a fight, flight, fawn, or freeze response; and can cause high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, weight gain/digestion issues, body aches, and arrhythmia.
Supportive Touch, A Nurturing Personal Environment,
Reiki, and Energy Work
I’m Leighsa, a licensed esthetician and energy worker with coursework and experience in trauma informed care. In my practice, I take a holistic approach to working with my clients to help them process and release stored trauma.
Combining energy work with subtle touch accesses areas of the mind and body that talk therapy may not be able to. Energy Touch is another treatment tool for the traumatized population to access and manage the physiological and underlying autonomic responses to past trauma and current challenges.
Each 60-90 minute session is meant to establish a sense of trust and security. At the start of each session, the client completes a pre-treatment questionnaire, followed by breathing exercises and stretches to encourage regulation of the nervous system.
The client is then settled into a treatment table, surrounded and supported by pillows and bolsters. Heated, lightly weighted herbal wraps are gently placed on or around the body and/or a weighted blanket is optionally placed upon the client.
With permission, I offer minimal touch on various parts of the body; each week focuses on a different section of the body. Sound baths of singing bowls, chimes, gongs, and other sound healing instruments are sometimes used in the treatment, as are heated stones and crystals.
The session concludes with a post-session assessment to help inform the larger treatment program.
Kind Words
Foundations of the Energy Touch Program
Touch is the first sense that humans experience. Research shows that gentle intentional touch can create a sense of support, care, and safety.
Energy Touch is based on coursework, readings, and research from touch-based therapies that support nervous system regulation.
Energy Touch is further informed by research and coursework related to the traumatized mind, body, and spirit.
Nurturing touch in a supportive environment helps the trauma survivor gain body awareness and experience a relaxed body state. I assist the client in accessing the stored trauma in a safe secure space allowing for healing and energy release.
