Even long after the experience is over, trauma can stay with you – reshaping how you move, breathe, feel, and respond to the world. This is not a personal failing; it’s your body’s way of protecting you. At Restore with Awareness,
we offer a path back to safety, presence, and resilience.


Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.
— Peter A. Levine, PhD, Creator of Somatic Experiencing®

What is Trauma?

Trauma isn't solely about a distressing event, but about how the body and nervous system respond to and store that experience without sufficient support, leading to lingering physical and emotional effects.

Trauma can result from:

  • Accidents or injuries

  • Medical procedures

  • Chronic illness or pain

  • Emotional neglect or abuse

  • Sudden loss

  • Developmental disruptions

  • Collective or historical trauma

Some people know exactly when trauma entered their life. For others, it lives below the surface, showing up as anxiety, chronic tension, or a sense of disconnection.


Signs Trauma May Be Affecting You

  • Hypervigilance or feeling constantly on edge

  • Trouble sleeping or relaxing

  • Chronic pain or unexplained physical symptoms

  • Emotional numbness or reactivity

  • Digestive or immune system challenges

  • Feeling “stuck,” foggy, or overwhelmed

  • A sense that “talk therapy hasn’t been enough”

These are not just symptoms—they’re signals. Your body is trying to tell its story.


A Somatic Approach to Trauma

Unlike traditional talk therapy, our work focuses on how trauma shows up in the body.
Through gentle movement, breath work, and body-based awareness practices, we help you:

  • Reconnect with your body in a safe, supported way

  • Learn to regulate your nervous system

  • Unwind chronic tension holding patterns

  • Build a new sense of safety, agency, and aliveness

We don’t force or fix—we create space for your system to complete what it couldn’t at the time.

How We Work Together

Healing trauma is not about reliving the past—it's about restoring the present.

Depending on your needs, our work might include:

  • The Feldenkrais Method® for re-patterning neural pathways associated with musculoskeletal pain and tension and movement

  • Somatic practices for nervous system regulation

  • Gentle trauma-informed hands-on bodywork to support release and integration

    Online or in-person sessions tailored to your unique body, nervous system and history, at your own pace


We begin with a conversation. From there, we build trust—slowly, steadily, respectfully.

Are you ready to begin – on your terms?


The Results are Real

The best I feel is when I’m working with Susan. She will work with your body so that you can be pain free and at your most comfortable and moving with the most ease. She knows what she’s doing and she’ll listen to you and take time to find out how she can best help you. Highly recommend!
— KW, Washington, DC