Ottawa Program
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Application to the current Somatic Experiencing Professional Training in Ottawa is now closed. Our next round of applications will begin in 2025.
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If you are a current student trying to access the portal, please click here.
Overview
The Somatic Experiencing® (“SE™”) Professional Training curriculum is a multi-year training program which enables practitioners to more effectively work with trauma symptoms. To learn more about the Somatic Experiencing method, visit the Somatic Experiencing International website.
This training is delivered through a combination of lecture, demonstration, and guided practice sessions with other students. Course material is taught in 8 training modules of 4 to 6 days in length, spaced out over 2½ to 3 years. Modules must be taken sequentially.
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In Ottawa, we strive to ensure folks beginning their learning are introduced into a new "cohort". This allows for students to continue their education with the same group of people they began with. While it is not a requirement, it is an expectation that participants will follow their cohort through the training program.
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Due to the length of completion for this training, application for the Ottawa program only happens once every few years. Application to our next program will begin in 2025.
Location
Our current venue for this cohort is Carleton University in Ottawa, ON. In exceptional circumstances, training modules may move online, however we strive for each module to be held in-person.
Eligibility
Those interested in taking the Beginning I training in Ottawa must:
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Have an active practice
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Work in the helping profession, specifically with trauma (this includes psychotherapists, bodyworkers, nurses, doctors, first responders, social workers, psychologists, community organizers, child and youth workers, and more)
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The Ottawa program is open to those who are local to Ottawa or those who live outside of Ottawa but will travel for trainings. Students from the United States are welcome to apply.
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Somatic Experiencing Ottawa reserves the right to approve or deny any application, and/or accept or reject the participation of any person in its sole discretion and in accordance with its policies and the law. Applications are used in two ways: to ensure that all participants have appropriate background to participate in the training, and to help familiarize us with the participant group. Participants in the Ottawa Somatic Experiencing Professional Training are responsible for working under their professional licenses, within their scope of practice, and in accordance with any of their governing body/bodies.
Application Process
Registration for the Somatic Experiencing Professional Training in Ottawa is completed through a process of application and approval. Successfully submitting an application to the program does not guarantee a space in the training.
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Due to the high demand of Somatic Experiencing training in general, as well as the increased interested across Ottawa, we typically have a large volume of folks applying for the program or requesting a spot in the program after completing modules in other locations. We do not have the capacity to accommodate for all those interested in taking the training in Ottawa. Because of this, we review applications individually so that we can ensure our program has participant diversity both in profession and demographics.
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Applications will require you to submit:
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Personal information (e.g. name, pronouns, city);
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Professional and personal development information (e.g. your practice details, what field you work in, personal development history);
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An up-to-date CV.
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No documents will be required beyond your CV; you will not need to submit transcripts or other professional development certifications. People who are in the process of receiving certification as a practitioner are welcome to apply. Proof of independent practice is not a requirement of the training.
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Disability Accommodation:
We have accommodations in place for those who are unable to submit their application in this way but still would like to apply. We are able to do interviews with folks in lieu of a written application for those who otherwise would be unable to, or would choose not to, apply to this program.
Ottawa Team
Our Ottawa SE Team is small but dedicated. Each team member brings with them a unique perspective on Somatic Experiencing, with each having careers outside of the Ottawa training. They are committed to working collaboratively to ensure that your learning experiencing in Ottawa is fun, thoughtful, inclusive, and valuable. Our Ottawa Team includes a Coordinator, Faculty/Teacher, Coordinating Assistant, Assistant, and Lead Assistant. You can read each of their biographies below.
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Ottawa is also supported by a large number of volunteer Assistants, who are previous students of the training. To read more about our Assistants and find each of their biographies, please click here.
Lauren Scarsella
MA, Psychotherapist, Canadian Certified Counsellor, SEP
Somatic Experiencing Ottawa Training Organizer
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Lauren Scarsella is a private practitioner who works in the Ottawa area. She works with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of different areas to support clients and their emotional health. Lauren has studied and now works extensively in the fields of body-oriented psychotherapy, interpersonal neuroscience, and attachment.
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Lauren will often be found in her Ottawa office with Tilly, her young French Bulldog, who is a regular source of support for her clients.
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Dea Parsanishi
Body-Oriented Psychotherapist, Canadian Certified Counsellor, SEP
Somatic Experiencing Ottawa Teacher
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Dea Parsanishi lives and works on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island where she has a private practice as a trauma therapist and counsellor educator. She has worked in the helping field for the past 20 years, and currently a large portion of her work is with early developmental trauma and attachment.
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Dea has been blessed to work in a number of isolated First Nations communities and was taught how communities survive multi-generational trauma, the importance of spirituality in healing, and the overlap between SE and some traditional ways of healing. This experience informs and affects her work with both First Nations and non-First Nations people.
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Dea works from a body-oriented perspective, incorporating SE, movement, touch and touch awareness in her practice. She also likes to play on a regular basis. To that end, she works and plays with a fabulous team of SE-affiliated people and can often be found at trainings making jokes in the back of the room and eating chocolate. She surfs, wanders around in the woods, builds parts of her house with her husband, and is part of the Canadian Knitting Co-operative.
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Learn more about Dea by visiting her website.
Nouha Ali Ahmed
Certified Yoga Teacher, SEP
Lead Assistant​
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Nouha is a Certified Yoga Teacher and Somatic Experiencing™ Practitioner. Her body-oriented multidisciplinary approach integrates yoga asana, mindfulness, Somatic Experiencing™ and SE™ touch to support the self-regulation of the physiological and emotional responses and build greater Coherence.
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Her practice draws on her trust, her ability to orient to the individual's inner capacity to heal as well as her deep appreciation for the power of connection. In working with clients, her intention and hope are to support them in connecting with their existing resources so that their healing process may be engaged and allow the change they desire.
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Nouha is a committed Assistant and Lead assistant for the SE™ training and takes great joy in sharing her experience and knowledge and in supporting students' learning and community building.
Allie James
Registered Social Service Worker
Assistant to Lauren Scarsella, Somata Talk Inc.
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Allie James is an assistant to Lauren Scarsella, supporting Lauren in both her private practice and her role as Coordinator for Somatic Experiencing Ottawa. While not an SEP or Somatic Experiencing student, Allie has spent the bulk of their professional career working in addictions, trauma, and mental health. Allie's guiding principles are health equity, harm reduction, and anti-oppressive & trauma-informed practice.
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Allie works in the not-for-profit sector and does not have a private practice. They are committed to the provision of a high-quality, accessible, and rewarding SE learning environment in Ottawa.
Fees & Payments
The Beginning and Intermediate level modules will each have a tuition fee of $1200 CAD +HST. There will also be a one-time application fee of $150CAD +HST. Those who are not accepted into the program will be refunded their application fee.
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There will be several options to pay tuition fees, including paying in full and paying in installments.
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Once applications have been reviewed and approved, successful applicants will receive more details on payment dates. For those who the tuition fee is a barrier, please review our Scholarship details below.
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Scholarships
For those who require it, we have scholarships available at both a 25% and 50% tuition fee reduction (pre tax).
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This scholarship is intended for students who would not be able to attend the training without it, and are a part of traditionally underserved communities/identities; with that said, we encourage folks to apply only if there is need. Applications for the scholarship will open alongside the application to the program; you are able to apply for both at once.
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Scholarship decisions are made by a small committee of folks affiliated with SE Ottawa, including previous recipients of the scholarship. When determining eligibility, we will look at:
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the applicants' financial need;
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the applicants' reach within their community;
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the applicants' frequency of work with traditionally under-served individuals and communities.
Terms & Conditions
Somatic Experiencing Ottawa reserves the right to approve or deny any application, and/or accept or reject the participation of any person in its sole discretion and in accordance with its policies and the law. Applications are used in two ways: to ensure that all participants have appropriate background to participate in the training, and to help familiarize us with the participant group. Participants in the Ottawa Somatic Experiencing Professional Training are responsible for working under their professional licenses, within their scope of practice, and in accordance with any of their governing body/bodies.
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Somatic Experiencing Ottawa is not responsible for any transportation or accommodation fees, or any other travel-related expenses, incurred in relation to registration for training and/or participation in workshops. It may be necessary in some circumstances to change or cancel the date of a training. All travel/accommodation plans should be made with this in mind.
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Each training module is videotaped/recorded. This is so that participants who are unable to attend a specific module are able to view the module’s recording. Participants may attend one module per level (once in Beginning level, once in Intermediate) in this way. Enrollment will automatically be transferred from in-person to video format once the participant has notified SE Ottawa or in the event that they are sick and unable to attend in-person.
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Due to overhead costs and administrative fees associated with the training, we are only able to offer a full refund if notice of cancellation is given 60 days prior to the first day of the training. If notice of cancellation is given between 59 and 45 days prior to the start date of the training, we are able to provide a 75% refund of the total fee. If notice is given between 30 and 45 days, you will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be provided for cancellations made less than thirty days before the training. This policy does not apply if we receive your tuition payment after reaching capacity for the training. You will simply receive a refund.