What is TCTSY?

TCTSY is an evidence-based adjunctive intervention for complex, developmental trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. Participants are welcome to choose when and how they'd like to practice, and for how long. They are welcome to change, modify, or make their way out of any shape, at any time, for any reason. The TCTSY facilitator (TCTSY-F) does not make hands-on assists, nor do they walk around the room while the participant is practicing. The TCTSY-F engages in the practice with the participants for a shared authentic experience, rather than make commands of the participants. 

The TCTSY methodology is based on central components of the hatha style of yoga, where participants engage in a series of physical forms and movements. TCTSY presents opportunities for participants to be in charge of themselves based on a felt sense of their own body. The TCTSY-F offers different variations (options) of the forms and movements, and the participant is free to decide which variation is best in their own body. The emphasis is not on the external expression or appearance (i.e. doing it “right”), or receiving the approval of an external authority. Rather, the focus is on the internal experience of the participant. With this approach, the power resides within the individual, not the TCTSY facilitator.

This is a practice of embodiment, in that we practice being in the body. Research suggests that this practice may restore functioning in parts of the brain that have been damaged from trauma. This blog post explains this process in more detail.

As functioning becomes restored, the participant begins to learn to listen to their own body as a source of wisdom, in that they learn to trust their intuition in terms of what is useful/not useful, or supportive/not supportive. While this is something we practice on the mat in ways that are specifically related to the practice of yoga, this skill can be extended off the mat in everyday-life situations as well. What's further, is that once a participant begins to welcome and befriend their physical sensations and feelings, they can begin to welcome and befriend their emotional feelings as well. This has important implications in terms of what can become available for the participant during cognitive forms of therapy. Whereas what one was feeling used to be blocked off, inaccessible, or foreign, now becomes interesting and familiar territory, which can then be explored with a talk therapist.

As mentioned, TCTSY has been shown to be effective for people who were living with treatment-resistant PTSD conditions. Therefore, TCTSY may be hope for people who have lost all hope. What's further, with restored functioning of the brain, forms of therapy that were previously ineffective (thereby making one's condition "treatment-resistant") may become a viable option again. However, TCTSY has been evidenced as an effective stand-alone therapy, the results of which out-performed the gold standard in treatment in one study (Kelly et al., 2021). Not only did the participants report a greater reduction in symptoms with TCTSY, but the symptoms stayed diminished or relieved entirely long after the study. Some participants no longer qualified for the diagnosis of PTSD after the TCTSY intervention.

The TCTSY program is the first to qualify for inclusion in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) database published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Research Behind TCTSY:

TCTSY trauma sensitive yoga model developed at the Center for Trauma and Embodiment is as effective as Cognitive Processing Therapy, the current gold standard of care, in providing symptom relief for U.S. women military veterans suffering from PTSD (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2023).

The TCTSY model has been utilized and researched since 2002 and has consistently demonstrated positive outcomes for trauma survivors. More broadly, TCTSY is part of a recent movement within the mental health field to engage the body in healing from psychological trauma and PTSD, especially for the most severe trauma where talk-based therapies may be less effective.

Reduction in symptoms were sustained over a long period of time and participants were less likely to drop out of the practice, compared to the control (CBT) group. (Campbell et. al, 2024).

How much does it cost?

Individual TCTSY 60-minute sessions are offered on a tiered level:

• $65.00 for a supported rate
• $85.00 for a usual individual rate around Athens
• $105.00 for a supporter rate

Group (3 or more) TCTSY 60-minute sessions are offered on a tiered level:

• $85.00 for a supported
• $105.00 for a usual individual rate around Athens
• $125.00 for a supporter rate

(Plus processing fees)

Here is a short TCTSY Preview:

Where are sessions held?

Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701

Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.

What if I need a time that isn't listed or I would prefer to meet at a different location?

If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.

I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.

What can I expect after signing up?

After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.

The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same, or modified as needed.

"More frequent yoga practice over extended periods may augment and sustain decreases in symptoms of both PTSD and depression" (Rhodes et. al., 2016). This means that the more often one practices over long periods of time, the more likely one is to experience a relief in symptoms. This also means that the symptoms are lessened more and more over a long period of time.

Disclaimer:

Trauma Sensitive Yoga is not intended to replace one-on-one treatment with a licensed mental health professional. I am not a clinician and I am unable to diagnose or treat anyone's mental health condition.

For more information about TCTSY (including the research behind it), please visit: https://www.traumasensitiveyoga.com/.

What are Individual/Private Group Sessions for?

Individual sessions may be for those interested in having a session that offers specialized instruction or advice as it applies to their unique body. You might try an individual session if you have questions about certain forms or alignment; or if you'd like to try yoga one-on-one before attending a public class.

Private group sessions are available for special events, specific groups, special interests, or just for fun!

How much do Individual/Private Sessions Cost?

Individual 60-minute sessions are offered on a tiered level:

• $65.00 for a supported rate
• $85.00 for a usual individual rate around Athens
• $105.00 for a supporter rate

Group (3 or more) 60-minute sessions are offered on a tiered level:

• $85.00 for a supported rate
• $105.00 for a usual individual rate around Athens
• $125.00 for a supporter rate

(Plus processing fees)

Where are sessions held?

Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701

Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.

What if I need a time that isn't listed or I would prefer to meet at a different location?

If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.

I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.

What can I expect after signing up?

After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.

The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same, or modified as needed.

What is Prenatal Yoga?

During pregnancy, the center of gravity shifts forward, straining the back muscles and rounding the shoulders, causing back pain and other problems. The muscles along the core become lengthened and weakened, the pelvic floor is asked to carry increasingly greater amounts of weight, and breathing dynamics change as the diaphragm gets moved upwards.

This gentle yoga class strengthens and stretches key muscle groups to support your growing body and focuses on postural alignment to counteract the center of gravity shifting forward. It includes breathing, core, and pelvic floor exercises, which will be very helpful during labor and are crucial for women's health. This practice can support healthy hormone production, alleviate aches and pains, and reduce stress and anxiety.

How much do Individual/Private Sessions Cost?

Individual 60-minute sessions are offered on a tiered level:

• $65.00 for a supported rate
• $85.00 for a usual individual rate around Athens
• $105.00 for a supporter rate

Group (3 or more) 60-minute sessions are offered on a tiered level:

• $85.00 for a supported rate
• $105.00 for a usual individual rate around Athens
• $125.00 for a supporter rate

(Plus processing fees)

Where are sessions held?

Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701

Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.

What if I need a time that isn't listed or I would prefer to meet at a different location?

If you need a time that isn't listed, feel free to call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com and we can work something out.

I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.

What are Facility Oriented Services?

These sessions are trauma-informed, mindfulness based services for people in recovery, in the criminal justice system, in inpatient or outpatient mental health settings, in sober living environments, in rehabilitative or treatment centers, in domestic or sexual abuse shelters or centers, crisis centers, and other similar settings.

We can work together to decide what type of session would be best for your facility. Some facilities might benefit more from a Trauma Center - Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) session (a clinical intervention for the treatment of complex trauma or treatment resistent PTSD), whereas others might find practices for anxiety, stress relief, or emotional and nervous system regulation more useful.

How much do Facility Oriented Services Cost?

Cost will vary depending on need, location, and duration.

How can I schedule?

Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!

What are Corporate Wellness Programs?

These sessions are for companies who would like to offer their employees a wellness program that involves strength, flexibility, relaxation, and techniques for stress reduction. Sessions can also be curated for employees who engage in repetitive movements or who stay in one position for long periods of time.

The practice of yoga reduces not only one's level of perceived stress, but also the physical stress response. It can increase feelings of relaxation, reduce symptoms of anxiety, lower heart rate, and lower amounts of the stress hormone cortisol. After just 6 weeks of a yoga intervention, participants scored significantly lower in levels of burnout, interpersonal disengagement, anxiety, depression, and work exhaustion. They also scored higher in professional fulfillment (Workplace Health and Safety, 2020). Yoga improves one's cognition, performance on memory tasks, and ability to focus attention (Exercise Psychology Lab, 2012/2013).

"It doesn’t make sense to go into a stressful occupation without stress training." - Dr. Khalsa, Director of research for the Kundalini Research Institute and Yoga Alliance.

How much do Facility Oriented Services Cost?

Cost will vary depending on need, location, and duration.

How can I schedule?

Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!

What are Practices for Calming Stress & Anxiety?

Experience the holistic practices that can support us through stress, anxiety, & depression by instilling an embodied sense of stability, strength, and ease. These sessions explore body based practices such as yoga shapes and movements, breathing practices, and relaxation techniques.

This is a whole-person, integral perspective of health and wellbeing. It offers a new way of being with yourself, in a way that is inclusive of the entire mind, body, and spirit.

These practices stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can help lower heart rate, blood pressure, and stimulate the production of neurotransmitters that support one's mental and emotional wellbeing. Most of these practices can be done anywhere and do not involve the use of equipment or medication.

Yoga citta vritti nirodhah - "Yoga is a cessation of the fluctuations of the mind." - Yoga Sutra 1.1 Pantajali. Yoga is a practice intended to gain control over one's thoughts, i.e., gain freedom from suffering. The physical practice helps us find stability and ease, from there we learn to work with the breath, from there we learn to slow the mind.

This can be offered in one of two ways:

1.) As a 90-minute workshop in which the theory and philosophy of Eastern and Western teachings are intertwined to offer a holistic perspective of physical and emotional wellbeing. The presentation looks at what emotions are from a neurobiological perspective and how they are affecting us. It explores how anxiety and other challenging emotions are held in the body and how body-based practices can help us welcome them, be with them, understand them, and let them go. It then moves into the physical forms and breathing techniques. The workshop is helpful for anyone who wants an educational approach as to how and why these practices work.

2.) As a 60-minute yoga class, without the presentation. This will be offered with the movement sequence, breathing practices, and relaxation techniques being specifically tailored toward releasing anxious energy, regulating one's nervous system, and easing into a more relaxed state.

How much do Practices for Calming Stress & Anxiety Cost?

Cost will vary depending on need, location, and duration.

How can I schedule?

Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!

Where are sessions held?

Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701

Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.

I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.

Disclaimer:

Trauma Sensitive Yoga is not intended to replace one-on-one treatment with a licensed mental health professional. I am not a clinician and I am unable to diagnose or treat anyone's mental health condition.

What is iRest ®?

iRest ® is a way of meeting life. It is "a proven-effective approach to using yoga nidra meditation and deep relaxation techniques to overcome trauma." - Richard Miller, Ph.D., founder of iRest®. Its full name is Integrative Restoration Yoga Nidra Meditation. It is a multi-faceted self-management approach well-suited for trauma survivors and chronic pain patients to manage their condition and improve quality of life. Veterans Affairs studies have found clinically significant improvements (<20%) in symptoms with iRest participants vs. control groups who received standard care alone (Nassif et al.). iRest ® helps participants regain a measure of subjective control, achieve symptom relief, and regain feelings of self-efficacy (Stankovick, 2011).

It is a practice for deepening mindfulness and resilience. It is a process of inquiry, listening, being with ourselves and life in a connected, rich, welcoming, grounded way. It is a connection of the outer with the inner. 

Yoga nidra is to have an embodied sense of interconnectedness with all that's within you and all of life throughout changing states of consciousness. It is a comprehensive path of meditation, but it is not a guided meditation. It is to pause and be aware, to be curious-- what's beneath this? It is a journey through the subtleties of our essential nature; beyond description and words. It is the essence of wholeness. Through iRest, you learn to experience yourself as a unique individual who is, at the same time, interconnected and not separate from the wholeness of life. 

This can be offered as a seven week series that can be useful for individuals, healthcare workers, first responders, and people who are currently or have been in the military. It can also be offered as a one-time workshop or on an as-needed basis.

Its core principles include:

• Learn to be welcoming
• Stop judging yourself
• Know that everything is a messenger
• Accept what is
• Know that you’re always doing your best
• Understand the law of awareness
• Discover your non-separate wholeness

What people are saying:

• "iRest profoundly changed my life." - T.L., cancer survivor
• "Instead of feeling like something's wrong with me, iRest helps me feel like something's right with me." - Iraq War veteran
• "This was some of the most profound work I'd ever do." - iRest participant
• "The more I practiced, the more I experienced my life changing for the better. I truly believe that iRest saved my life. It gave me the hope and strength I needed to reconnect to myself and the world again." - U.S. Marine

How much do iRest® Sessions Cost?

Cost will vary depending on need, location, and duration.

How can I schedule?

Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!

Where are sessions held?

Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701

Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.

I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.

Disclaimer:

iRest® is not intended to replace one-on-one treatment with a licensed mental health professional. I am not a clinician and I am unable to diagnose or treat anyone's mental health condition.

For more information about iRest® (including the research behind it), please visit: https://www.irest.org/.

What is Integral Yoga for Autoimmune Diseases?

Integral yoga for autoimmune diseases is best practiced on a 1-1 basis, as each person's needs are unique according to their individual diagnosis. The goal of this practice is to bring one into balance, or harmony, within oneself. It offers a way of managing one's condition to improve one's quality of life through holistic practices and methodologies.

This is a practice of inquiry. The person who is practicing is the arbitrator of their own healing. We begin to awaken our body's own innate sense of wisdom and ability to heal by engaging in practices and lifestyle changes, and then noticing how these practices and changes are making us feel. As the facilitator, I do not offer medical or dietary advice. Rather, I invite you to notice what is happening in your own body as it responds to practices or lifestyle changes that I may invite you to try.

The practices or changes I offer will depend on your particular condition, needs, and interests. They may include breathing techniques, yoga sequences, Ayurvedic modalities, dietary options, or other modalities that have been recommended in the management of autoimmune diseases. My education on these conditions comes from my training with Dr. Sangeeta Sahi, M.D., MBA and my Yoga Therapy training with Soul of Yoga in Encinitas, CA.

How much do Integral Yoga for Autoimmune Diseases Sessions Cost?

Individual 60-minute sessions are offered on a tiered level:

• $65.00 for a supported rate
• $85.00 for a usual individual rate around Athens
• $105.00 for a supporter rate

(Plus processing fees)

Where are sessions held?

Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701

Or, online through Zoom. If an online session is needed, schedule as normal and call/text 740-586-4181 or email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to let me know it is an online session.

I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed.

What can I expect after signing up?

After signing up, you'll be emailed a questionnaire. It is optional, but the more information I have, the better I am able to design a practice that can best suit your specific needs.

The first session involves a consultation, and then we can begin the practice. Subsequent sessions can be the same, or modified as needed.

Disclaimer:

These sessions are not intended to treat or cure any disease. I am not a medical provider. These sessions are intended to increase a sense of wellbeing and offer a way of managing one's symptoms and overall health through holistic methodologies. These sessions should not replace the care of a licensed medical professional, however, they can work well in conjunction with allopathic medicine in many cases.

What is Gentle Yoga?

Each monthly series we practice a different breathing technique, movement sequence (physical postures/asana), and meditation or relaxation technique. This is a beginner-friendly, trauma-informed series that focuses on creating a felt sense of groundedness and centeredness in the body. This practice uses the breath in conscious, intentional ways to soothe the nervous system, allowing us to enter a state of rest and relaxation. One is given the option to link their breath with their physical movement throughout some of the sequence. Throughout other parts of the sequence, one is invited to be in the forms in more stillness. A state of presence is welcomed to be explored through both the stillness and the movement.

This series welcomes participants to explore their practice from a state of being. The practice isn't about doing, it's not about achieving an external form or posture. Rather, it's about experiencing the form from the inside out. It is a non-judgmental, non-competitive practice. There is no right or wrong way to practice (as long as there is no discomfort or pain). One is welcomed to change, modify, or make their way out of the form at any time, for any reason. Gentle yoga invites participants to explore ways in which they can support themselves, rather than pushing themselves to their limits.

How Much does the Gentle Yoga Series Cost?

$45 (if there's 4 Tuesdays in the month) or $60 (if there's 5 Tuesdays in the month) for the whole series (Get one free!*)

* Please note, this is a discount incentive to sign up for the whole month. It's to encourage you to attend all 4 or 5 classes (since new habits are hard to create!) and also to give back to those who keep coming. If you need to miss one, it's the free one that gets used. I don't transfer the free credit, but you will have another opportunity to get a free session the following month. However, if you need to miss more than one, let me know and I can transfer that. <3

How much does it cost for Drop-ins?

$15 (if you want to try just one session, or prefer paying one session at a time)

Do you offer alternate ways of paying?

My website charges a small processing fee. Venmo (@Erin-Finck) does not. Cash is also accepted at the door. If you choose Venmo, please email traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com or call/text 740-586-4181 with your name and email address so I can register you.

What time are the sessions held?

5:30-6:45pm on every Tuesday

Where are sessions held?

Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH 45701 (former Bodhi Tree).

What to Bring?

Please feel free to bring your own props and water bottle, but we do have props at the studio if you need (mats, blocks, bolsters blankets, and straps).

What is a TCTSY Half Day Training?

This TCTSY Half Day Training is an introduction to the core concepts and applications of Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga. It is designed for yoga teachers, social workers, educators, mental health professionals, and other service providers. Yoga Teachers will be eligible for 3 hours continuing education credits with Yoga Alliance. At this time, there are no CE credits for other providers.

This Training Includes:

• TCTSY Practice
• Trauma theory
• Attachment theory
• Neuroscience and Interoceptive Theory
• Complex trauma
• Domains of impairment for children of complex trauma
• Key Elements of TCTSY Methodology
• Overview of Studies on TCTSY

This Training is Not:

This seminar does not qualify participants to facilitate Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga. It does provide the foundations for making your current scope of practice more trauma-informed.

Additional TCTSY Info:

TCTSY trauma sensitive yoga model developed at the Center for Trauma and Embodiment is as effective as Cognitive Processing Therapy, the current gold standard of care, in providing symptom relief for U.S. women military veterans suffering from PTSD (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2023).

The TCTSY model has been utilized and researched since 2002 and has consistently demonstrated positive outcomes for trauma survivors. More broadly, TCTSY is part of a recent movement within the mental health field to engage the body in healing from psychological trauma and PTSD, especially for the most severe trauma where talk-based therapies may be less effective.

How much does TCTSY Half-Day Training Cost?

Pricing is on a sliding scale basis and will depend on location.

How can I schedule?

Call/text 740-586-4181 or email me at traumasensitiveyogaproject@gmail.com to schedule!

Where are sessions held?

Serenity Roots Yoga & Wellness Center, 8950 Lavelle Rd. Athens, OH, 45701

Zoom is not available for this offering per the request of TCTSY team.

I can also travel locally with no additional pay, or out of town with pay, if needed