Somatic Zen
Counseling & Therapeutic Services
Located in Monroe, CT
Mindfulness Meditation Consulting
Drawing from over a decade of personal practice and training and certification from mindfulness leaders Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, I offer guidance in cultivating present-moment awareness, enhancing well-being, and improving relational dynamics through mindfulness and focusing techniques.
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Professional Individual Counseling
Utilizing a blend of mindfulness, somatic approaches, and developmental attachment theory, I provide a compassionate and supportive environment to foster self-awareness, emotional regulation, and personal growth, informed by 20+ years of experience in education and behavior analysis.
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Professional Couples Counseling
With specialized training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, I help couples navigate relational challenges by enhancing communication, resolving conflicts, and rebuilding intimacy through a mindfulness-based, somatic framework tailored to each couple's unique needs.
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Trauma
Treatment
Given my Beginning and Intermediate Level Trainings in Somatic Experiencing and varied trainings related to polyvagal theory and interpersonal neurobiology, my trauma-informed treatment approach centers around supporting one's nervous system in returning to a state of regulation to promote feeling a sense of embodiment and empowerment.
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Alternate Healing Modalities
As a certified Consulting Hypnotist and trained shamanic practitioner, I offer hypnosis and shamanic journeying to expand consciousness, alter subconscious patterns, and explore spiritual self-realization, providing transformative experiences for those seeking deeper healing and connection.
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Michelle L.Caruso
Licensed Professional Counselor,
Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher,
Somatic Experiencing Practioner-in-Training,
Consulting Hypnotist
M.A. in Special Education
M.S. in Professional Counseling with an Emphasis in Trauma
Michelle L. Caruso is an accomplished licensed professional counselor (LPC) with over two decades of experience related to human development, behaviorism, and education. Upon realizing the benefits of mindfulness meditation, she shifted careers from special educator to professional counselor, fueled by her deep commitment to helping others navigate the complexities of life, enhance self-awareness, and foster a deep-rooted sense of well-being amid day-to-day life.
Michelle’s holistic approach integrates mindfulness, polyvagal theory, and a range of evidence-based clinical practices to foster self-compassion, integration, and resilience. Michelle's approach also acknowledges the impact of relational traumas. She seeks to support individuals with complex post-traumatic stress disorder to increase their understanding of the impact of their symptoms and establish tools to enhance emotional regulation and overall well-being.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
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Do you accept insurance?I do not accept health insurance and am an out-of-network provider. If your insurance policy provides out-of-network benefits, I will provide you with a Superbill monthly that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. The best first step would be to reach out to your health insurance and ask about your out of network benefits.
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What kinds of treatment do you specialize in?As a licensed professional counselor, I specialize in treating trauma (PTSD, complex, relational, acute, shock), anxiety, and depressive disorders. I also provide trauma-informed treatment to individuals with attentional and "borderline personality disorders." Having worked in substance use disorder treatment for several years, I use a mind-body and polyvagal-informed approach with roots in behaviorism to support the attainment of both physical and emotional sobriety. Given my background in education, I also specialize in treating children and adolescents. Having worked with exceptional learners, I also provide individualized treatment to children and adolescents who may be considered by themselves or others as neurodivergent.
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What's the length and cost of a counseling session with you?All sessions are one hour. Individual professional counseling sessions cost $200. Couples+ professional counseling sessions cost $250. The pricing for both mindfulness meditation & alternate healing modalities services varies depending on individualized wants and needs. Please contact us directly for more information.
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What does "somatic" mean?Given that the Greek word soma means "the body," the word somatic means "of the body." Our somatic-based approach emphasizes the mind-body connection and the need to intentionally integrate nervous system dysregulation to promote balance and well-being. Michelle has completed Beginning & Intermediate level training in Somatic Experiencing, which is a multi-disciplinary body-oriented therapeutic model for healing trauma and other stress disorders from a nervous system-based lens. For more information about this specialized approach, please visit: www.traumahealing.org