Recovery/Life Coaches
Life coaches and other specialized coaching focuses on personal growth, guidance, and goal-setting. They help clients identify their aspirations, break down obstacles, and create actionable plans for success.
Registered Clinical Counsellors
Clinical counsellors are highly trained professionals with a master’s degree in clinical counselling. They are qualified to deal with diverse mental health concerns and are often covered by insurance.
Therapists
Therapists specialize in various therapeutic approaches designed to address specific emotional, psychological, or somatic concerns. Both coaches or clinical counsellors can be certified to practice a variety of therapies such as Psychotherapy, EMDR or Somatic Therapy.
Why Somatic Therapy Is One of the Best Treatments for Complex PTSD, Trauma, and Narcissistic Abuse
Understanding C-PTSD and Why Traditional Talk Therapy Isn’t Always Enough
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is a condition caused by repeated or prolonged trauma—often rooted in childhood abuse, relational betrayal, or narcissistic abuse. While traditional talk therapy can provide important insights, many survivors find themselves stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected even after years of cognitive work.
That’s because trauma lives not only in the mind—but in the body and nervous system (Van der Kolk, 2014). This is where somatic therapy comes in.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to trauma healing. Rather than focusing solely on talking through events, it helps clients safely reconnect with their felt sense, work through nervous system dysregulation, and complete unresolved trauma responses like freeze, fight, or fawn.
This method is rooted in cutting-edge neuroscience and includes approaches like:
- Somatic Experiencing® (Levine, 1997
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Ogden et al., 2006)
- Polyvagal-informed therapy (Porges, 2011)
- Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy
- Somatic Attachment Therapy
These therapies have shown particular promise for survivors of emotional abuse, neglect, and narcissistic relationships, where the trauma is relational and stored nonverbally.
Why Somatic Therapy Works for Complex Trauma and Narcissistic Abuse
1. It Regulates the Nervous System
C-PTSD often results in nervous system dysregulation—clients may feel constantly on edge (hypervigilance) or emotionally numb (shutdown). Somatic therapy helps restore balance by working directly with the autonomic nervous system (Porges, 2011; Levine, 1997).
2. It Bypasses the Need for Words
Survivors of narcissistic abuse or early trauma may not have a clear narrative or language for what happened. Somatic therapy allows for healing without reliving every painful detail. Trauma can be processed through body awareness, movement, and breath (Ogden et al., 2006; Van der Kolk, 2014).
3. It Repairs Attachment Wounds
Early relational trauma often disrupts our sense of safety in connection. Somatic therapy uses attunement and co-regulation to repair relational ruptures in real time (Schore, 2012; Ogden & Fisher, 2015).
4. It Rebuilds Embodied Self-Trust
For those who have been gaslit or chronically invalidated, especially in narcissistic relationships, somatic therapy helps rebuild connection to intuition, gut instinct, and the inner “yes” and “no.” This leads to increased agency and healthier boundaries (Levine, 1997).
5. It’s Rooted in Science
Modern neuroscience confirms what somatic practitioners have known intuitively for decades: talking alone doesn’t heal trauma. Somatic therapy helps reintegrate the fragmented parts of the self—body, mind, and emotions—into a coherent whole (Van der Kolk, 2014; Siegel, 1999).
Common Symptoms That Somatic Therapy Helps With
Somatic therapy is particularly effective for people experiencing:
- Emotional flashbacks
- Dissociation and numbness
- Hyperarousal or shutdown
- Chronic tension, pain, or fatigue
- Trust and intimacy difficulties
- People-pleasing and fawning
- Boundaries and self-doubt after narcissistic abuse
If you’ve said, “I understand it all, but I still don’t feel safe,” somatic therapy may be the missing piece.
Who Can Benefit From Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy is helpful for anyone with:
- C-PTSD or PTSD
- Survivors of childhood abuse or neglect
- Emotional or narcissistic abuse recovery
- Medical or institutional trauma
- Sexual trauma
- Chronic dysregulation or burnout
Why Somatic Therapy Stands Out
Somatic therapy doesn’t just help you understand your trauma—it helps you heal it from the inside out. By working directly with the body, breath, and nervous system, it allows you to finally feel safe, empowered, and connected—not just in your mind, but in your whole being.
If you’re a survivor of complex trauma, narcissistic abuse, or you’ve felt stuck despite years of traditional therapy—you are not broken. You may just need a different approach.
Somatic therapy may be the next step toward embodied healing and a reclaimed sense of self.
Specialized Support for Addiction, Trauma, and Neurodivergence
A Whole-Person Approach to Sustainable Recovery: We offer specialized, trauma-informed recovery coaching services for individuals navigating substance use, complex trauma, neurodivergence (including ADHD and autism), and attachment-related challenges. With a compassionate and grounded approach, her work bridges the gaps between traditional addiction treatment and sustainable, integrated healing.
Why This Matters: The Need for Ongoing, Personalized Recovery Support
Recovery doesn’t end at detox or rehab—it begins there.
Research shows:
- 40–60% of individuals relapse within the first 30 days after treatment
- Up to 85% relapse within one year without continued support or connection
- People with ADHD are 3–5 times more likely to develop a substance use disorder
- Over 75% of individuals with substance use issues have a history of trauma
- Secure, consistent relationships and attuned coaching significantly improve long-term recovery outcomes
These numbers highlight the need for second and third stage recovery supports that are personalized, relationship-based, and responsive to neurodiversity, attachment wounds, and trauma.
Recovery Coaching Services Offered
All services are virtual and available across Canada. No housing is provided.
- Second & Third Stage Recovery CoachingFocused support after detox, treatment, or self-guided recovery to build stability and momentum.
- Weekly Planning & Recovery Rhythm GuidesScaffolded routines that support executive functioning and self-trust.
- Private Weekly Coaching SessionsTrauma-informed, neurodivergent-friendly, strengths-based support.
- Daily Regulation Tools & Somatic Check-InsNervous system support through somatic and mindfulness-based practices.
- Relapse Prevention & Identity WorkCoaching on boundaries, emotional regulation, shame resilience, and life design.
- Family Recovery & Codependency CoachingSupport for loved ones navigating trauma bonding, enabling, or narcissistic abuse.
- Sober Collective Facilitation: Autumn works in close collaboration and facilitation with the She Recovers Foundation to support spaces rooted in autonomy, curiosity, and self-compassion for women and non-binary folks who relate to women’s issues.
Meet Autumn Rock Recovery Coach, Interventionist and Addiction Awareness Facilitator
After overcoming substance use disorder, codependency, and complex PTSD rooted in her own lived experience, Autumn now supports others on their paths to recovery and wholeness.She is an Internationally Certified Professional Life and Recovery Coach, Interventionist, and Dependency Awareness Facilitator, with additional training in Somatic Attachment Therapy and Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy. With over 25 years of experience in mentoring and coaching, Autumn’s work lives at the intersection of addiction, trauma, neurodivergence, and attachment. She helps individuals and families move beyond substance use, codependency, trauma bonding, narcissistic abuse, domestic violence, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), disordered eating, and attachment wounds.Grounded, compassionate, and deeply attuned, Autumn brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work—creating safe, empowering spaces for transformation and growth.
Specializations
Autumn’s work is primarily focused at the intersection of ADHD, Addiction, Trauma and Attachment. She works with individuals experiencing
The need to rebuild identity, boundaries, and purpose after active addiction
ADHD, executive dysfunction, or emotional dysregulation
Complex PTSD, trauma bonding, and attachment wounds
Recovery from codependency, domestic violence, or narcissistic abuse
Trauma Therapy with EMDR
If you’re looking for trauma therapy that goes deeper than talk, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) may be a powerful path forward. EMDR is a research-supported trauma treatment that helps the brain and body process painful memories so they no longer feel overwhelming. Many people come to EMDR therapy feeling stuck—haunted by past experiences, struggling with anxiety or PTSD, or trapped in patterns that no longer serve them. EMDR can help create real and lasting change.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR therapy works with the brain’s natural healing systems, using gentle techniques like bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) to reprocess trauma safely. You won’t be asked to relive everything in detail. Instead, we’ll work together to build a strong foundation of emotional safety before beginning any trauma reprocessing. Sessions are paced with care, so you stay grounded and supported throughout the healing process.
Whether you’re healing from childhood trauma, recent events, complex PTSD, or experiences that don’t have a name yet—EMDR can offer relief. As a trauma-informed therapist, I use EMDR alongside other somatic and strengths-based approaches to support deep, sustainable healing. You deserve to feel safe in your own body again. If you’re ready to explore trauma recovery through EMDR therapy, I’d be honored to walk that path with you.
Our EMDR specialist is Monica Dragos. To book with her please click here:
“”Working with Autumn has truly changed my life. She possesses a rare, intuitive ability to gently uncover and make sense of whatever I am carrying, offering compassionate support, practical tools, and somatic practices that have guided me toward a sense of wholeness I’ve long been searching for. From our very first session, I felt safe, seen, and deeply understood. What I love most about Autumn’s approach is how she walks alongside you, empowering you to reclaim parts of yourself that had been dimmed and helping you move forward with clarity, courage, and self-compassion. I’m forever grateful for her kindness and support—the healing I’ve experienced has been profound.””
Eliza: Somatic Trauma Therapy Client
“Working with Autumn has been a game changer for me. I’ve been in traditional therapy for three decades, and although it has given me insight into the why’s of my current struggles, I have not been given specific strategies to manage my life on a daily basis. Autumn is gifted at sifting through the chaos and getting to the root of the issues in a way that is compassionate and supportive, and most importantly, not overwhelming. She knows more about trauma than all of my previous therapists combined. I highly recommend her.”
Susan: Trauma Recovery Coachee
“Autumn is so good at what she does. I think it’s because she’s been there. She has experience. I’ve never met anyone who can help me like this. And she doesn’t tell me what to do. There is no hierarchy. She simply guides me to my own truth, my own healing. With her I feel confident that I can get better. I’ve had five therapists and never felt that way before. I believe that working with Autumn can save you years of therapy.””
Y.S.
Trauma Recovery Coachee
““Autumn has been my trusted advisor for many years. I have come to count on her sound wisdom and leadership as something that I now could not, and would not want to be without in my life. She is consistent, compassionate, and focused, and offers straightforward tools to assist me in moving forward both personally, emotionally, and professionally. I value the many gifts that Autumn has shared with me and would recommend her, with utmost sincerity to anyone looking to achieve balance, while moving forward with positive momentum and clarity.”
Miranda de Jesus