When I first started working with Mary Lou Davidson and the Chi for Two modalities in May 2024, I felt like it was the first time I had ever done therapy, and I’ve done therapy (more on than off) for over 30 years!

I was in deep shutdown from a recent traumatic experience and a devastating decade.  I did not know I was in shutdown and no one had ever named this.  I was in chronic pain with mobility issues.  I was depressed.

With gentle movements, that mirrored early childhood attachment phases, I felt my body waking up.  I freed my head and pelvis with “learning my no.” I expressed deep anger with “bitey mouth” and “$&@! You kicks.”  I saw and recognized myself with “space claiming.”  I crawled on the floor and pulled up to standing under the watchful guidance of Marylou and my brain created new neural pathways, filling in the gaps created by a neglectful, abusive childhood.  These gaps ran my life.

I’ve been able to synthesize and integrate previous therapeutic work and ground it into my nervous system, brain and body.  I became sober without even trying.  Ive lost weight because I’m not needing to soothe myself in that way, as I have better tools.  I am enjoying free time and solitude, which used to bring anxiety, as I had interpreted it as abandonment.  I’m setting boundaries and self advocating, with decreasing guilt.

Somatic coaching has helped all of me to integrate and more of me has become more available.  My self compassion has increased.  I feel like a different person.  I’m excited about my future.  Who is this talking?  I wish I knew about this sooner, but I’m grateful I know about it now.  Most effective trauma-informed modality I’ve ever done - like discovering you’ve been wearing the Ruby slippers all along, coming home to myself.  E.M.

“The training was incredibly helpful. It not only gave me strategies for helping my students regulate when they're feeling overwhelmed; it's also helped me be more attuned to noticing when they are in that "fight or flight" state. As a result, I'm able to be more patient and be a better support for them. I really liked learning such easy-to-implement and powerful tools”. 

— Caroline Sumners, CEO & Founder, Empower Academic Coaching

“I can look at one thing at a time.”

“It gets me tired and ready to learn.”

“It puts my brain in place.”

“It makes me feel relaxed.”

“It helps me because later I don’t have to wiggle.”

— Second Graders, after a 6-week Chi for Two Education experience