“I was referred to Jeffrey after scheduling foot surgery. I expected a discussion on pros/cons of surgery, but was not prepared or ready for what happened during our first meeting. After acknowledging my podiatry problems, Jeffrey asked me for more detail about my life. I was, and am, in a transitional time of life and have been dealing with death, conflict, stress and change. Jeffrey requested we explore emotions, which I agreed to. I have somewhat of a cynical, literal, suspicious nature, and only Jeffrey’s steady, grounding and calm demeanor allowed me to overcome my hesitation at participating in exercises I had previously dismissed as not helpful. 

I don’t pretend to understand the process. It is new and uncomfortable. However, it has produced lasting change that was noticeable immediately. During the first session, a weight seemed to lift from my shoulders. After several days, I noticed the widow’s hump that had formed where the base of my neck meets my back had started going away. It was as if the emotions had been stored there, and after release during my session with Jeffrey, it started disappearing.  

I have been working with Jeffrey regularly. I am more attuned to my body’s signals and able to correctly identify what it means. Feeling out of place at a work event was really a deep realization that my morals do not align with my job and I am desperately sad about it. Certain relationships trigger deep-seated anxiety because of behavior patterns that cause fear. Those are not safe relationships for me, and that is ok. 

I have become more aware that I physically carry my emotions in my muscles. The way I walk, stand, sit is affected by my emotions and how I process (or not process) them.

The actual work done in sessions requires allowing your body to feel emotions without analyzing, rationalizing or questioning. Jeffrey is an excellent guide for this process, and has endless patience as I work on letting go of control and the societal belief that I need to fit in a certain box. 

The biggest realization I have had is that this process is working for me, and so I have stopped questioning it. I have been in talk therapy for years, and have made more progress in the last month or two with Jeffrey than endless rounds of discussing the same problems. There has also been an acceptance of myself that I did not anticipate. It is truly ok to not fit in, to not buy into whatever society is telling us is normal. I also recognize I have absolutely no idea what I am doing in life, my career, in therapy, but physically I am feeling better, lighter and am trusting what my body is telling me. 

A great way to look at this process has been recognizing that I have the space to take a different direction in life. Instead of floating along, doing what I think is right, I have taken a decisive step towards doing what I feel is right.“

— Alice L.