- Graduate degrees in Counseling and Education
- Certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- Approved CE provider and clinical supervisor by Maryland Board for Professional Counselors and Therapists
- Approved Positive Neuroplasticity Teacher
- EFT/Tapping Practitioner Certification by EFT Universe
- Free mE EFT Teacher Certification
My formal training
Somatic Installation is an innovative therapeutic technique designed by Elena to help individuals internalize positive experiences deeply into their bodies.
This method draws on Rick Hanson's Positive Neuroplasticity approach and integrates various therapeutic modalities, including talk therapy, mindful concentration, storytelling, expressive arts, movement therapy, and EFT/Tapping.
Somatic Installation is...
What is Somatic Installation?
the foundaton of what i do
how it works
The core idea behind Somatic Installation is to embed positive somatic markers within the body, creating lasting emotional and physical well-being.
Somatic markers, as theorized by neuroscientist Antonio Damasio, are bodily responses linked to emotions that guide our decision-making processes and behaviors. By focusing on positive experiences and using somatic methods during therapy, we can reinforce these beneficial markers, making positive emotional states more accessible and intuitive in everyday life.
This technique combines cognitive restructuring with acupoint stimulation to reduce stress and enhance emotional regulation.
EFT/Tapping:
Physical movement helps release stored tension and reinforces positive somatic states through body awareness and kinesthetic engagement.
Movement:
Creative expression allows for the externalization and reinforcement of positive emotions, aiding in the internalization process.
Storytelling and Expressive Arts:
Engaging in meaningful conversation and focused attention helps in identifying and reinforcing positive experiences.
talk Therapy, Conversation and/or Mindful Concentration:
Techniques Involved
Benefits
Built on expert research in neuroplasticity, ensuring effective, long-term positive changes.
Scientifically Supported
Clients experience increased peace, happiness, and fulfillment in everyday activities.
Enhances Daily Life
Enhances emotional stability and resilience through a balanced approach to mental health.
Balances Well-being
Scientific Explanation of Somatic Installation
Somatic Installation is a novel therapeutic technique designed by Elena to embed positive somatic markers through a combination of talk therapy, mindful concentration, storytelling, expressive arts therapies, movement therapy, and EFT/Tapping. This approach is grounded in Rick Hanson's Positive Neuroplasticity method, particularly the "installation" stage of his HEAL process, which emphasizes the internalization of positive experiences to foster enduring changes in the brain. By engaging somatic methods, we facilitate the embedding of these positive experiences into the body's memory, creating intuitive and natural responses to future stimuli. The foundation of this technique draws heavily on the somatic marker hypothesis, first proposed by Antonio Damasio, which suggests that bodily states significantly influence decision-making by associating emotions with specific bodily responses
(Frontiers) (Frontiers).
Peer-reviewed research supports the efficacy of the components integrated into Somatic Installation. For instance, studies have validated the somatic marker hypothesis, demonstrating how emotions and bodily states guide decision-making processes by creating intuitive, automatic responses to familiar situations (Frontiers). Additionally, Hanson's Positive Neuroplasticity method, particularly the installation stage, has been shown to effectively transform temporary positive states into long-lasting traits through repeated and focused internalization (Springer). Moreover, the integration of techniques such as EFT/Tapping has been supported by research highlighting its ability to influence somatic markers positively, thereby enhancing emotional regulation and overall well-being (Frontiers). By combining these validated approaches, Somatic Installation provides a comprehensive and effective method for fostering deep, positive change in clients.
read the references
back to explanation
Scientific Explanation of Somatic Installation
References
Aharoni, E., Vincent, G. M., Harenski, C. L., Calhoun, V. D., Sinnott-Armstrong, W., Gazzaniga, M. S., ... & Kiehl, K. A. (2013). Neuroprediction of future rearrest. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(15), 6223-6228. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1219302110
Damasio, A. R., & Carvalho, G. B. (2013). The nature of feelings: evolutionary and neurobiological origins. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(2), 143-152. doi: 10.1038/nrn3403
Damasio, A. R. (1996). The somatic marker hypothesis and the possible functions of the prefrontal cortex. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 351(1346), 1413-1420. doi: 10.1098/rstb.1996.0125
Farb, N. A. S., Segal, Z. V., & Anderson, A. K. (2013). Attentional modulation of primary interoceptive and exteroceptive cortices. Cerebral Cortex, 23(1), 1-16. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhs003
Holzel, B. K., Lazar, S. W., Gard, T., Schuman-Olivier, Z., Vago, D. R., & Ott, U. (2011). How does mindfulness meditation work? Proposing mechanisms of action from a conceptual and neural perspective. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(6), 537-559. doi: 10.1177/1745691611419671
Schmalzl, L., Crane-Godreau, M. A., & Payne, P. (2014). Movement-based embodied contemplative practices: definitions and paradigms. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 205. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00205
