Matthew Whaley LCSW – A Better Way to Overcome Trauma

Trauma is a part of life. Consider the people in Aurora, CO who went to a midnight showing of The Dark Night Rises. No one imagined that a dozen people would be killed and many others would be wounded by a deranged gunman in the theater. The survivors of this massacre are all victims of a severe trauma. Sources of trauma include natural disasters, exposure to violence, accidents, serious illness, loss of a loved one, surgery, and dental procedures. Psychological trauma occurs when we are overwhelmed with too much happening too fast and our ability to cope and process the energy of the situation is compromised. Our bodies hold on to this experience, and some people who do not have the resiliency to move forward, are frozen in time, unable to cope and suffering with emotional, physical, and cognitive symptoms. Therapist Matthew Whaley LCSW, of Asbury Park, has specialized in an alternative method of dealing with trauma for over 7 years. Called Somatic Experiencing®, this form of therapy attempts to relieve and resolve the symptoms of trauma problems by focusing on the client’s perceived body sensations (or somatic experiences). Somatic Experiencing® is a body-awareness approach to trauma being taught throughout the world. It is the result of over forty years of observation, research, and hands-on development. Somatic Experiencing attempts to promote awareness and release of physical tension that proponents believe remains in the body in the aftermath of trauma. Matt will discuss this cutting-edge form of therapy and talk about how it is being used to restore lives and overcome the effects of trauma. After the interview, please check After Hours at Jersey Coastal Live for additional information.