Our Vision
Playing with Power is a nonprofit rooted in the belief that those with the wisdom of embodied healing, shared lived experience, precise training, and a commitment to transformational justice can offer the much needed nurturing and attunement for those holding trauma in the body. We believe the best care must be available now to reach those most in need through our innovative and value aligned community-based partnerships regardless of status, privilege, ability, access, or capacity. We are deeply committed to providing safety, empowerment, and the highest level of care to those we serve through our core ethical values, continuous training and dedicated practice in consent, power dynamics, as well as trauma-informed care and culturally-responsive practices.
Somatic advocacy, pioneered by our founder, is a model of community-based, relational, trauma-responsive care built on
the belief that consent, safety, and connection are the preconditions for transformational healing. Somatic advocacy utilizes current research and practice from across traditions and invokes the deep conviction that healing from sexual trauma, intimate relational harm, and coercion is not only possible, but can become a powerful force for transformation when dignity is restored and self-wisdom is honored.
We work at the edge of what is known: integrating somatic and tactile practices, applying predictive processing, neuroscience and psychotraumatology research, along with the collection of biomarkers to support individuals in reclaiming safety, play, and sovereignty…from the inside out. Our ongoing research on touch, biomarkers, and the C-tactile afferent system lives on the Research page if you’d like to go deeper into the evidence behind this work.
What is somatic advocacy?
Somatic advocacy is an emerging model of care that sits at the intersection of sexual and intimate partner violence advocacy and body psychotherapy. Somatic and tactile practices, rooted in neuroscience, movement, consensual affective touch, and the body's innate capacity for regulation work directly with the nervous system and the relational field to provide healing. These practices have not traditionally been embedded in advocacy settings, or made accessible to those most impacted by coercion, sexual violence or trauma.
Traditional community-based advocacy, the kind offered by sexual assault and domestic violence organizations across the country provides crisis support, safety planning, legal accompaniment, systems navigation and safehouse placement. It is essential work. However, there is rarely time, training, or capacity within these models to evolve toward more innovative and preventative ways to address what the body is holding before and after harm.
Somatic advocacy bridges the gap to provide an avenue for deeper healing. At Playing with Power, our somatic advocates are trained in NeuroAffective Touch, different styles of movement education, and attuned care —integrating the body's wisdom with mental awareness. We walk alongside you in your process, often from a place of deep lived experience.
Highlights
Advancing somatic advocacy through scholarly inquiry and data-driven discovery.
EVIDENCE-BASED • SOMATIC SCIENCE • EMPOWERED DATA • EVIDENCE-BASED • SOMATIC SCIENCE • EMPOWERED DATA •
Neural Consolidation
Investigating the neurological pathways through which somatic and tactile practices facilitate prior processing and emotional regulation. Coming soon...
Advocacy Framework
Developing a comprehensive framework for somatic advocacy that bridges research with community empowerment. Coming Soon
Empowered Data
Utilizing advanced data analytics to validate the long-term impact of somatic advocacy on individual resilience. Coming soon.
Begin Connecting
-Please complete the inquiry form to request a consultation, book a session or to reserve a retreat space. We request that you complete the inquiry form before reserving a retreat space to help us understand how we might best support you.
