Transforming Touch
Transforming Touch is a body-based therapy approach that was created by Dr. Stephen Terrell, a renowned trauma therapist.
Developmental trauma is understood as the traumatic physical responses that were created in a sustained nervous system state of fight/flight/freeze/fawn in the critical stages of development of the body, starting as early as the fetal period, followed by the infant stage, then toddler and finally the crucial childhood/adolescent years.
TT was created to address the symptomatology and outcomes of clients who have endured developmental trauma. Trauma therapists have long understood that talk therapy is very limited in its scope to treat and heal developmental trauma.
What Happens in Transforming Touch
In Transforming Touch, somatic safety is created using intentional, attachment focused touch. Oftentimes, those with developmental trauma do not have the words to describe what has happened to them, or why they may feel unsafe in their own bodies, even when they are living in safer relationships and environments. TT addresses these nonverbal concerns and symptoms, treating them in a gentle, “underwhelming” manner. Safe touch introduces an internal “felt sense” safety in the body much more effectively than traditional talk therapy. Clients as young as 5 years old can experience this modality with effective results, as it is a very gentle and safe approach to therapy.
All touch sessions (in person) will be done only on professional massage tables, always over the clothing, with explicit consent every session. Virtual sessions are also available for TT.
Accommodations are available upon request.
What Evergreen is Offering
We currently have 3 clinicians who offer Transforming Touch somatic therapy for clients. If you would like to know more, or schedule an appointment for TT, head over to our Contact Us page and request this type of therapy.
Common Questions
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No. Transforming Touch somatic therapy is considered outpatient therapy treatment, and will be billed as outpatient therapy treatment to your insurance company, if you use insurance benefits for therapy services. Your typical fee (copay, co-insurance or cash rate) will still apply.
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There is no need for you to pause therapy with your primary therapist while you participate in TT somatic therapy. We encourage all clients to stay with their current therapists for ongoing processing and support. TT does not typically include much verbal processing, so time for verbal processing will be limited in these TT sessions. If you choose to continue seeing your primary therapist, it could provide the optimal amount of support for continued processing for whatever comes up for you in the TT treatment sessions.
Still have questions? Email Evergreen Founder, Priscilla Dean, LCPC.
