Greetings! I am dually licensed as a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (LMBT) and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Associate (LCMHC-A) and am welcoming new clients into both wings of my practice: Bodywork, Massage, and Movement Therapy and Somatic Psychotherapy.
My BODYWORK practice uses touch, movement and experiential education to help with:
Pain in any area of the body (including musculoskeletal, headache, and digestive system pain).
Injury recovery, whether recent or old/chronic.
Reclaiming mobility, flexibility, and strength, especially as we get older.
Addressing mental health issues related to nervous-system dysregulation including high-activation states like stress, anxiety, and overwhelm and low-activation states like feeling frozen, depressed, or numb.
Connect with and feel more vulnerable states and emotions to build self-compassion and digest and process challenging experiences.
Trauma-informed bodywork for those who might be triggered by touch or want to feel safer in their bodies.
Relief from symptoms of developmental trauma-- old patterns of feeling unsafe developed in infancy and childhood.
A deep reset from chronic or acute stressors like
Transitions - Losses and changes in relationships, career, parenting, health status, etc.
The stress of modern life - Overstimulation, ecological crisis, social injustice, etc.
Somatic education to understand the “why” and “how” of your embodied experience.
Learn to notice and release tension as it arises instead of unconsciously carrying it, as well as to identify thinking patterns and situations that trigger tension.
A more positive "body-image" through learning to live with love and presence from the inside instead of through external judgements.
Developing a holistic wellness plan which may include referrals to allied providers and self-care at home.
Save money and time by doing truly holistic work that often reduces the need for other appointments and investments in your health.
ENJOY being embodied instead of your body being an inconvenience or problem.
Preparation and integration for experiences with psychedelics/entheogens.
Experiencing states of deep peace and relaxation.
Cultivating more positive moods and feelings over time.
*** Here are some testimonials from clients I've worked with at the intersection of bodywork and mental health!***
My SOMATIC PSYCHOTHERAPY practice is strongly influenced by the Embodied Recovery model and uses embodied, creative, relational, and purpose-driven methods to help clients:
Find more clarity about what they want, their boundaries, and how they want to feel.
Move towards what they want with effectiveness.
Enjoy the nourishment that life has to offer.
Rest, recuperate, and let things be as they are.
And many of the things listed above....
The main difference in the two wings is that psychotherapy focuses more on integrating what happens in a person's life outside of the session with what's happening in the room, and touch is used very minimally or not at all. The work is still embodied and experiential. Bodywork is a deeper dive into the present embodied moment and typically includes touch. Both wings integrate "top down" (cognitive) processing with "bottom up" (sensation-based) processing. We can talk about which wing is most appropriate for you in a consultation!
PRACTICAL THINGS:
My bodywork practice is mostly in person, though I also offer online appointments focusing on embodiment including meditation, movement, self-care exercises, somatic tracking of emotions/thoughts/sensations, etc. Somatic psychotherapy sessions can be online or in person Monday through Thursday. I work 9-5 Monday-Wednesday in Durham and 12-6 on Thursdays in Raleigh.
CONNECTING:
There's much more detail on my offerings, philosophy, and background on my website. I offer free 30 minute phone consultations to anyone interested in working with me and am also happy to communicate via email (tonicraige@gmail.com). Or if you are ready you can schedule an appointment for massage/bodywork/movement online at your convenience.