Private Session —

Equine-Facilitated Somatic Healing™

90 minutes | Initial Session $275
Packages available at reduced rates

Equine-Facilitated Somatic Healing™ is a gentle, body-based approach rooted in Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) and informed by Polyvagal Theory. This work understands that when protective responses are interrupted or incomplete, the nervous system may continue to organize around protection.

Rather than focusing on retelling events, we attend to the physiology of regulation — sensation, breath, posture, and subtle shifts in autonomic state. By working at a pace the body can sustain, protective responses are supported in completing, allowing the nervous system to gradually settle.

Sessions unfold outdoors within the living environment of the herd. We begin seated, often just outside the corral. Conversation is present, but the emphasis remains on tracking internal experience and supporting steady regulation.

This pacing is especially important in recovery from traumatic brain injury, where overstimulation can further destabilize an already taxed nervous system. By prioritizing safety and capacity, the work supports stabilization, reduces overwhelm, and increases resilience over time.

The horses remain at liberty throughout the session. Their presence offers subtle, nonverbal feedback that supports regulation in a shared mammalian environment. In person, there is the option to transition to the table, where SE™ Touch — the hands-on application of this work — supports regulation through gentle, attuned contact.

Complimentary Consultation

Or reach out by email to learn more and sense whether this is the right fit.

Regulation after Brain Injury

The nervous system shapes how we process sensory input, regulate emotion, respond to stress, and orient to safety.

Following trauma or traumatic brain injury (TBI), the autonomic nervous system may remain organized around protection. Patterns of hypervigilance, shutdown, overwhelm, sensory sensitivity, or dissociation are adaptive responses of a system attempting to stabilize.

In brain injury, these patterns often reflect an overstimulated or taxed nervous system working to regain equilibrium.

When protective activation persists beyond the original event, it can interfere with sleep, cognitive clarity, relational connection, and the physiological rhythms necessary for recovery.

Somatic Experiencing® supports the gradual completion of interrupted protective responses and strengthens autonomic regulation through titration and resourcing. As regulation stabilizes, energy previously allocated to chronic protection becomes available for integration, repair, and increased functional capacity.

At Congruence, this work unfolds within the living presence of the herd and desert environment. The horses offer consistent, nonverbal feedback to shifts in autonomic state, reinforcing regulation through real-time relational cues. Their presence supports stabilization without increasing cognitive load — an important consideration in brain injury recovery.

What to Expect in a Session

Sessions are held outdoors on the land at Congruence, within the presence of the herd.

We begin seated, often just outside the corral, orienting to the present moment and gently tracking sensation, breath, and shifts in autonomic regulation. This allows the work to unfold at a pace your nervous system can tolerate and trust.

If appropriate, we may transition to the table inside the corral, where the work can deepen through SE™ Touch — the hands-on application of Somatic Experiencing®. Contact is gentle and attuned, offered in response to changes in autonomic state.

You remain aware and engaged throughout. There is no pressure to revisit past events. The focus is on stabilizing regulation and gradually increasing capacity — particularly important in recovery from traumatic brain injury, where overstimulation can quickly overwhelm the system.

The horses remain at liberty and move freely within their space. At times they may graze nearby; at other moments, a horse may approach or stand close. Nothing is directed or required. Their presence offers consistent, nonverbal cues that support settling and regulation.

Working with your care team

Healing after brain injury often involves multiple providers. When desired,
I collaborate with your existing team — neurologists, physical therapists,
occupational therapists, neuro-optometrists, and mental health providers
to ensure our work supports your broader recovery goals.

With your written consent, session summaries or progress reports can be provided.

The next step

Recovery is not a straight line, and it does not look the same for any two people. Some are
supported by a team of providers. Others are quietly finding their way forward on their own.

If you feel called to explore whether this work could support you, I offer a complimentary consultation.

Schedule a call

FAQs

  • Yes, virtual sessions are available for those who cannot travel to the Sanctuary. While the work at Congruence is is designed to unfold within the relational field of the herd and land, Somatic Experiencing® can also be effective remotely. Virtual sessions focus on nervous system regulation and capacity-building at a pace appropriate for recovery from brain injury.

    60 minutes | $150 | Packages available with reduced pricing. Reach out for more information.

  • I am a fully certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), having completed the multi-year professional training through Somatic Experiencing International. This training includes foundational, intermediate, and advanced levels, as well as personal sessions, case consultation, and supervision.

    Somatic Experiencing® was developed by Dr. Peter Levine and is a recognized body-based approach to trauma resolution. My work is also informed by ongoing study in nervous system regulation and my lived experience recovering from brain injury.

  • Yes. A concussion affects the nervous system, not just the brain. Even when imaging is clear or symptoms are labeled “mild,” the autonomic nervous system can remain organized around protection.

    Persistent symptoms such as fatigue, sensory sensitivity, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or sleep disruption often reflect a system that has not fully settled.

    This work supports regulation and capacity-building following concussion, particularly when symptoms linger beyond the expected recovery window.

  • Many individuals diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome experience persistent symptoms such as fatigue, sensory sensitivity, headaches, cognitive overload, anxiety, or sleep disruption. These patterns often reflect a nervous system that remains organized around protection following the initial injury.

    Somatic Experiencing® supports regulation and stabilization of the autonomic nervous system. As capacity builds and the system settles, symptoms related to chronic activation or shutdown may gradually reduce.

    This work does not replace medical care, but it can be a meaningful component of recovery when symptoms linger beyond the expected healing window.

  • It is common for brain imaging to appear normal after concussion or mild traumatic brain injury, even when symptoms persist.

    Clear scans do not necessarily reflect how the autonomic nervous system is functioning. Fatigue, sensory sensitivity, cognitive overload, anxiety, and sleep disruption can continue when the nervous system remains organized around protection.

    Somatic Experiencing® works with regulation and capacity-building at the physiological level. When the nervous system begins to settle and reorganize, symptoms that are rooted in dysregulation may gradually reduce — even when imaging has shown no structural damage.

  • It’s not uncommon for individuals to look back and recognize symptoms that may have followed a head injury, even if a formal diagnosis was never made.

    Persistent fatigue, sensory sensitivity, brain fog, irritability, sleep disruption, or feeling “not quite like yourself” can reflect a nervous system that has remained organized around protection.

    While this work does not diagnose or replace medical care, it focuses on supporting nervous system regulation and increasing physiological capacity. If you suspect a past head injury, it is always appropriate to consult a qualified medical provider for evaluation. Regulation-focused work can be a meaningful complement when symptoms continue to linger.

  • For some individuals navigating brain injury, leaving home can feel overwhelming due to fatigue, sensory sensitivity, anxiety, or fear of symptom escalation. This is not a sign of weakness — it is often a nervous system that feels overloaded and protective.

    Virtual sessions are available when in-person work is not yet accessible. We move at a pace your system can tolerate, with the goal of gradually building capacity rather than pushing beyond your limits.

    For some, beginning remotely can be a supportive first step toward expanding tolerance over time.

  • No. While I specialize in supporting those recovering from brain injury, I also work with individuals navigating stress, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, or those simply seeking a deeper connection to themselves and their nervous system. This work meets you where you are—whether you’re healing, growing, or remembering what safety feels like in your body.

  • No. Some people come to this work alongside neurologists, therapists, or rehabilitation providers. Others are navigating recovery on their own.

    You do not need a formal care team to begin. We start with where you are and build from there.

    If additional support would be beneficial, I can help you think through appropriate next steps.

  • Recovery from brain injury is not linear, and the number of sessions varies depending on your history, current symptoms, and capacity for regulation. Some individuals begin with a series of 4–6 sessions to establish stability, while others choose to work more consistently over a longer period.

    Rather than committing to a fixed number, we assess together as your nervous system builds capacity. The focus is not on speed, but on sustainable regulation and integration.

  • In-person sessions with the herd are 90 minutes in length, allowing spaciousness for settling, co-regulation, and integration. Virtual sessions typically last 60 minutes.

  • No prior horse experience is required. Sessions are not about riding or horsemanship. The horses remain at liberty, and your role is simply to notice your internal experience within the relational field.

    Many individuals navigating brain injury find that being around horses in this way feels grounding rather than overwhelming. The focus is on nervous system regulation and attunement — not skill or performance.

  • If you feel uncertain or nervous around horses, that is welcome information. We work at a pace your nervous system can tolerate, and there is no pressure to interact beyond what feels safe.

  • You’ll be invited to sense into the herd and notice any particular connection, and you may be guided to make an energetic ask. But in deep respect for their autonomy, it’s the horses who ultimately choose whether or how they engage. Even when not physically close, they’re always participating in subtle ways.

  • No. Out of respect for the herd’s healing journeys and agency, all sessions take place on the ground. The focus is on relational presence, not performance or control.

  • Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes appropriate for walking outdoors. A hat, sunscreen, and water are also recommended, especially in warmer weather.

Have another question? Reach out to info@congruencetucson.com