Coherence creates a bigger container

Hello, Reader!

I'm excited to share that last month, I earned my SEP™ Certificate 🎉 and I'm now officially a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner 🙌🏽! Woohoo!!!!

Below, I share about my own growing edges during the final training along with an exploration of how Coherence creates a bigger container.

Coherence Creates a Bigger Container

During the final module in SE we covered SE touch work to support Coherence and I deepened trust in my own skills as a practitioner and in the power of SE, the healing that happens beyond words.

Coherence is when systems of our biology are working harmoniously together and when we're able to feel more of our life force energy.

When we start to meet activation, Coherence helps our system to expand (rather than contract).

This creates more space in our system to hold things that are painful or uncomfortable.

Imagine if you had a thimble and in it was red liquid representing pain, discomfort or distressing emotions. If you pour that thimble of red liquid into a glass of water, the water in the glass gets tinted red. But if you pour that same thimble full of red liquid into a bigger container, let's say the ocean, the ocean would remain the same because it's so vast compared to a couple of drops of red liquid. In other words, the pain or discomfort is still there (this isn't about bypassing!), but we don't become it or get overwhelmed by it. Rather we can hold it and be with it.

Coherence helps us create a bigger container so when something difficult arises, we can meet the moment with our own vitality and healing capabilities.

Keep in mind that Coherence isn't about feeling good vibes, although, you might experience pleasant sensations a good amount of the time. Coherence is responding in a way that is aligned or makes sense. So for example, if you experience a violation or injustice, anger would be a Coherent response (versus, just smiling and saying that everything is okay, and of course, there's nuance to that because sometimes you need to keep the peace to stay safe).

Some reflection prompts:

• When have you felt a sense of Coherence? What was happening? What sensations did you notice?
• If you need help recalling when you might've felt Coherence, think back to a time when you felt alive or most like yourself or most like how you want to be feeling more of the time.
• On the flip side, when have you felt yourself constricting or tightening? When have you felt a sense of disorganization in your system? What was happening?
• What helps you connect back to more Coherence?

SE Touch Work Supports Coherence

With SE touch work, we go slowly, following the pace of the nervous system. Through intention, attention and gentle placement of hands (or virtual hands/attention), SE touch helps the body access more spaciousness, aliveness, congruence, connection and ease (all elements of Coherence).

I often times feel powerful energy radiating from my third eye in meditation or massage. In an SE touch session at the training, the practitioner had her hand on my shoulder and invited me to direct some of that third eye energy to tightness I felt in my jaw. I started to feel vitality circulating through my face and head as it softened my jaw and spread down through my chest. Coherence in action! I proclaimed “I can receive my own energy!,” something I understood at a cognitive level but, through SE touch, really got at a cellular level.

Throughout my training, each of the SE module's teachings and practices supported new levels of feeling comfortable in my own skin. So much so that, at this last class, I surprised and stretched myself by volunteering to be a SE touch demo client on stage with one of the teachers in front of the entire class of maybe 100+ people (something I never considered doing)! That was a huge milestone to be visible in such a vulnerable way. To be witnessed and held as I was moved to tears by the power of my own energy and my ability to use that energy toward my own healing.

I have felt the power of my own energy before, in the creative force that burst forth in writing books, reaching goals and such and in showing up for other people, but this was different. I softened into simply being with the pulsations and aliveness flowing through my entire being as I felt myself fill up with my own vitality. No need to give it away to be productive, "helpful" or to achieve external success. I could simply be present, receive my own energy and allow healing to naturally unfold, thanks to... you guessed it... Coherence!

A significant part of my work as an SE Practitioner is to track Coherence in my clients. The primitive part of our brain has a built in negativity bias that tries to keep us safe by constantly tracking for danger. And that means it often overlooks when parts in our system that are working well, when we feel safe or when there is alignment, congruence and connection. A somatic coach can help you widen your perspective and access more Coherence.

I’m excited to bring virtual SE touch into my work with clients (it's not something we'd jump into right away as we need to lay the groundwork with some foundational somatic skills first but it's subtle and powerful work!).

If you're interested in working with me to access more of your own Coherence and to create a bigger container, please check out my 1:1 Somatic Trauma Recovery Coaching offering and book a Discovery Call.

1:1 Coaching w/ Jenn

Wishing you a restorative, nourishing and Coherence-filled close to the year!