Feel like a walking stress ball? You’re not alone! Have you ever wondered if your stress is trying to send you a message? Join us for a panel discussion that unpacks the connections between stress, body awareness, and healing. 

Drawing on the wisdom of Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, and Gabor Maté, we’ll discuss how to tune in to your body’s distress signals. Learn how mental-emotional stress and past traumas show up physically, and discover practical tools for managing them. Explore how these dynamics shape your thoughts and actions. 

This panel discussion took place on March 31, at Wrong Way’s River Lodge.

Speakers:

Patti Elledge is a trauma healing specialist who has served as a therapist and somatic mentor for thousands of individuals over the past 25+ years, and prior to that as a child development specialist serving infants, children and families.  She trained directly with Drs Peter Levine, Raja Selvam and Steve Hoskinson in Somatic Experiencing and assisted more than 40 SE trainings.  Patti also served as faculty for Dr Diane Poole Heller’s groundbreaking attachment training, DARe, for 9 years and then in 2020 launched her own 3-month online Somatic Mentoring.  She continues to teach, most recently participating in a weeklong event at Blue Spirit Costa Rica with Bessel van der Kolk and Dick Schwartz.  Patti weaves cutting edge therapeutic strategies from the fields of somatic experiencing, attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, parts work, relational inquiry practices, deep ecology and the felt sense of embodiment.  By utilizing attunement, presence and the blending of these techniques, over-coupled survival energies (fight-flight-freeze) that appear so seemingly intractable with the essence of loving/bonding and attaching, can be shifted and healed.  By accessing all parts of our nervous system and moving out of dysregulated and early fear-based patterns we can embrace who we truly are meant to be and embody our True Essence in these amazing, evolving times.

Tricia Renshaw, a Delaware native born and raised in Newark, has lived along the east coast throughout her life. After earning her BS in Dance from Skidmore College in 2008, she pursued her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of North Florida. Following her 2011 graduation, she relocated to Western North Carolina’s mountains, where she has worked across various healthcare settings from acute care to outpatient clinics. Her expertise grew through certifications in Clinical Neuromuscular and Structural Bodywork, dry needling, and as a Level 1 NeuFit Practitioner. In 2020, she completed her Level 2 Emotional Intelligence Mastery from Satori Prime, incorporating subtle energy work for holistic patient care. Beyond her clinical practice, Renshaw serves as both a professor at Western Carolina University and Assistant Artistic Director at the Asheville Ballet. In these roles, she teaches, choreographs, and performs regularly. She maintains an active lifestyle outside of work, enjoying hiking, yoga, and photography. She cherishes time with her partner Andrew and family, while pursuing her interests in personal growth and wellness. Her diverse background in both healthcare and dance allows her to bring a unique perspective to her work with patients and students alike.

Facilitator:

Ariana Figueroa is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach trained by Duke Integrative Medicine. She works to help patients bridge the gap between personal goals, expert medical recommendations, and the ability to incorporate both into their daily lives. Ariana has previously facilitated panel discussions for Integrative Family Medicine of Asheville. She is passionate about moderating conversations that yield helpful insights, resources, and information.