My Therapeutic Approach

I have trained extensively throughout my career in various psychotherapeutic modalities. But, my focus has been on experiential therapies (not to be confused with “experimental”; experiential means "based in experience") and trauma-focused approaches, because I have always believed that the root of many mental health struggles is trauma, and that the path to change is experience. While talking about problems can be helpful, I believe having a transformative experience can change us in much more profound ways.

As a Certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist, I work with people in mindfulness with present moment awareness to help them connect to their felt experience, so they don't just have insight into their patterns of being, but can contact and be present with them live in session with me. By working with these functional patterns while they are active, we can study them and understand them more deeply, and we can create new experiences that, over time, allow patterns that are no longer serving to be set free and replaced with more beneficial patterns that help individuals heal and move forward.

I began learning mindfulness and experiential therapy at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto, where I completed their one-year professionals training program. I then went on to achieve Level A certification in Emotion-Focused Therapy, trained in Internal Family Systems and now I have immersed myself in Somatic Trauma Therapy and the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy approach, which has become my primary modality of practice.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a gentle, compassionate, trauma-focused approach. It works with the whole person, including their thoughts, feelings, behaviours, bodies, and relationships with people and the world around them. Treatment starts from the inside out, initially focusing on building somatic (body) capacity and nervous system regulation, and then moving out, with safety being the true focus of treatment throughout. Safety within one’s body and safety within one’s life. Because only once we feel safe can we open up to the world and thrive.

With a foundation of safety, clients can then examine their various internal parts and patterns of being in the world that are limiting them, understanding that all patterns were once adaptive survival strategies that are simply no longer serving them in their current life. Once clients gain this awareness, we can work together to transform old patterns by creating new patterns or by gently processing out trauma that may have never left the body.

Common Q’s About Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the importance of experiencing emotions and situations in the present moment. Clients partake in exercises, role-playing, arts, outdoor activities, or other interventions in mindful present-moment awareness to gain insights and process emotions directly. This approach aims to uncover subconscious thoughts and behaviors, fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation. Experiential therapy enhances communication, interpersonal skills, and personal growth, making it beneficial for those with communication barriers, trauma survivors, or individuals seeking hands-on therapy. It promotes personal exploration, insight, and healing by facilitating meaningful experiences within the therapeutic setting.

Experiential therapy has many benefits:

Exploring and understanding past traumatic or conflictual situations, releasing negative emotions, and promoting healing.
Encouraging intense emotional processing, facilitating deeper exploration of feelings.
Confronting avoidance behaviors related to difficult experiences, fostering effective coping mechanisms.
Gaining altered perspectives through psychodrama, leading to acceptance, forgiveness, and empathy.
Expressing creativity through various forms of therapy like music, art, and drama, aiding in self-expression.

Experiential therapy operates on the principle from neuroscience that states "neurons that fire together, wire together". By activating somatic, emotional, and behavioural patterns live in sessions, it becomes possible to change those patterns by pairing them with new healing experiences. Over time, the more the healing experiences are paired with the old patterns, the more new brain pathways can form to support new ways of being. And eventually, these new pathways begin to replace the old pathways and become new automatic patterns. That is why simply talking about issues is often not enough to create lasting change, as people retain their old automatic habits. Experiential therapy enables more lasting change because it allows for positive patterns to become hardwired into the brain and body.

Common Q’s About Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, founded by Dr. Pat Ogden in the 1970s, is a body-centered approach targeting somatic symptoms of unresolved trauma. Unlike traditional talk therapies, it focuses on bodily experiences as a pathway to healing. Traumatic experiences, often buried deep within the body, can go unnoticed, making traditional therapies ineffective in addressing them. Therapists trained in the Sensorimotor method guide individuals to reconnect with physical sensations associated with trauma in a safe environment, facilitating healing.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy offers many benefits. Although the specific benefits experienced by each individual will differ based on their symptoms and therapy goals, some of the most common positive effects of treatment include:

A better understanding of the impact of mental health, emotional well-being, or past traumas on bodily sensations.
Increased awareness of triggers and their potential to evoke physical discomfort.
Acquisition of skills to regulate the stress response, fostering a state of calmness in times of distress or heightened anxiety.
Improved ability to concentrate on thoughts and emotions without feeling overwhelmed by somatic sensations.

In Sensorimotor Psychotherapy sessions, individuals are encouraged to embrace their somatic experiences, allowing their bodies to guide them on a journey of self-discovery. Through somatic interventions, this therapy empowers individuals to tap into their inner strengths, fostering dynamic and effective healing. Sessions also incorporate embodied relational mindfulness, where clients and therapists engage in mindful awareness together. Many individuals struggling to recover from traumatic experiences have found relief through Sensorimotor techniques. By indirectly accessing emotional and cognitive processing centers, this approach offers benefits to those who may have faced challenges with traditional methods. Treating the source of trauma through somatic experiences can lead to enhanced cognitive and emotional functioning.

Anna Lukomsky registered trauma therapist

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Experience the transformative power of experiential and Sensorimotor treatment with Lukomsky Therapy. Schedule a free consultation today to begin your journey towards healing and self-discovery. Discover how our personalized approach can help you overcome challenges and achieve emotional well-being.

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My Therapeutic Approach

Common Q’s About Experiential Therapy

What is experiential/mindfulness-based therapy?

What symptoms does it treat?

What are the benefits?

How does it work?

Common Q’s About Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

What is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

What symptoms does it treat?

What are the benefits?

How does it work?

Book A Consultation