Join Licensed Acupuncturist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioners for a 5-session, year-long exploration of an East meets West approach to restoring balance and regulation in survivors of traumatic stress.

• Follow the 5 Elements and the 5 Seasons of the Chinese agricultural calendar — and their interface with self-protective responses found in animal predator-prey relationships and described in western neuroscience in general and PolyVagal Theory in particular.
• Be amazed at the innovative approaches to support balance and regulation in trauma survivors that emerge out of this East meets West approach.
• Receive in-depth didactic and hands-on instruction and practice to help trauma survivors complete missing or thwarted steps in the Self-Protective Response.
• Acupuncturists, body-workers, medical providers, and mental health clinicians are welcome.

Central to The Tao of Trauma classes are the supervised clinical practice sessions in each module. Students “lend” their nervous system/energy body to fellow classmates to explore and practice the interaction, observation, and touch skills inherent in The Tao of Trauma model.

Dyadic practice merges cognitive learning with body wisdom, cultivates deeper somatic awareness in the therapeutic experience of both practitioner and client — and builds the fabric of the class. They are the heart and soul of the classroom model.

The full training schedule and registration can be viewed here.

Session 1: Metal Element – Awaken Arousal
1. September 26, 2025 from 9:30am to 6pm
2. September 27, 2025 from 9:30am to 6pm

Session 2: Water Element – Signal Threat
3. November 21, 2025 from 9:30am to 6pm 
4. November 22, 2025 from 9:30am to 6pm

Session 3: Wood Element – Mobilize a Response
5. March 6, 2026 from 9:30am to 6pm 
6. March 7, 2026 from 9:30am to 6pm 

Session 4: Fire Element – Restore Coherence
7. May 15, 2026 from 9:30am to 6pm 
8. May 16, 2026 from 9:30am to 6pm 

Session 5: Earth Element – Digest the Gristle
9. August 14, 2026 from 9:30am to 6pm 
10. August 15, 2026 from 9:30am to 6pm