Ethics of Integrating Somatic Therapy into Intuitive Eating for Relational Nourishment
Date: Friday, May 1, 2026
Time: 9:00am - 3:30pm (5hrs Ethics Approved by LPCA of Georgia)
Location: Harbor of Dreams Art, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Address: 6570 James B Rivers Memorial Dr, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Program Description:
Current understanding of the vagus nerve, trauma patterning and attachment theory offers evidence-based support for somatic practices as relational nourishment. Somatic therapists Dee Wagner, LPC, BC-DMT, MSME/T and Caroline Gebhardt, LPC, RYT, RSME/T offer a deeper understanding of the vagus nerve and how it affects co-regulation and digestive functioning in their new peer-reviewed article “Chi for Two® developmental relational practices: A lens for examining how somatic therapy might resolve infant reflexes,” in Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy. Wagner and Gebhardt offer relational practices providing an ethical approach to integrating somatic therapy into Intuitive Eating.
Objectives:
1) Identify and describe the ethical guidelines that are followed when somatic practices are invitational and relational.
2) Increase ethical competency by gaining scientific understanding of deprivation/restriction as dorsal vagal Shutdown and invitational and relational somatic practices as the pathway to the biological functioning called our Social Engagement system.
3) Ethically offer clients somatic practices that are invitational and developmental, creating consciousness of multi-generational trauma patterns that have caused harm, and providing the co-regulation that supports the digestive functioning that heals systemic harm.
Presenters:
Dee Wagner, LPC, BC-DMT, MSME/T has worked as a counselor, dance therapist and somatic educator since 1993. Originator of Chi for Two® – a polyvagal-informed, multi-generational trauma healing method, Dee has written many articles on nervous system functioning. Dee has offered workshops for professionals on the use of somatic trauma-healing experiences since 1997. The ‘Map’ of nervous system functioning Dee created is one of the tools in Miller and Beeson’s Neuroeducation toolbox: Practical translations of neuroscience in counselling and psychotherapy. Chi for Two is an Approved Training Program for the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA).
Caroline Gebhardt, LPC, RYT, RSME/T, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, certified Chi for Two® embodiment coach/trainer, Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, & Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator. Caroline’s trauma training, decades of experience as a movement educator & expertise in eating disorders and early eating/feeding rhythms from an attachment-based lens contributed to her co-developing Chi for Two, a mindful embodiment method. Working in various levels of care for eating disorders treatment deepened her understanding of the need for more trauma-informed and relational approaches for sustainable bodily functioning and relational nourishment.
Fee: $155 (*Refunds available before April 24, 2026 minus $5.00 service fee)
Registration: https://www.chifortwo.com/ethics-somatic-therapy-intuitive-eating
Questions? Email Caroline@MBodiedTherapy.com