Session Guide
What to Expect in a
Shock & Acute Trauma Session
Overview
Early Support, Lasting Prevention
When something overwhelming happens, the nervous system can get "stuck" in a survival response — unable to return to its pre-event baseline. Early SE support is specifically designed to help the system discharge this activation before it becomes entrenched.
Sessions are 50–60 minutes. Jarrah is able to see clients on relatively short notice for acute support. Please reach out as soon as you feel ready.
Establishing Safety
Before anything else, Jarrah will work to help your nervous system feel safe in the current moment. This involves slowing down, orienting to the room, and noticing what is stable and supportive around and within you. This is not trivial — it's the essential foundation for all that follows.
Gently Assessing the State of Your System
Jarrah will gently explore where your nervous system is — highly activated (shaky, racing heart, inability to settle) or shut down (numb, flat, foggy). Understanding your current state guides how to proceed most helpfully.
Discharging Activation
SE uses specific techniques to help the body discharge the excess activation that accumulates during a shock event. This might look like noticing trembling or shaking (which is the body's natural discharge mechanism), or encouraging gentle movement that the body was prevented from completing during the event.
Orienting to the Present
After a shock, the nervous system can get stuck replaying the event. Jarrah will gently guide you back into present-moment awareness — using your senses, your surroundings, and your body — to help re-establish a sense of "that was then, this is now."
Leaving Settled
The session will always end in a settled, grounded state. Jarrah will ensure you feel ready to leave before the session closes and may offer simple practices to support your nervous system in the days following. She is available by email between sessions if anything arises.
Frequently Asked Questions