About Dirk -
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner

Dirk Trachy is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Licensed Massage Therapist in Ithaca, NY. Dirk has also studied somatic approaches to developmental trauma from Nurturing Resilience coauthor Kathy Kain, assistant teaching for her Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapists. Dirk is certified at Level 1 by TRACC4Movements in working with the unique needs of social justice activists and organizers.

Dirk began his career supporting callers on crisis hotlines and has trained mental health workers in active listening and crisis intervention skills on both coasts. He has facilitated classes and groups on trauma, anger, anxiety, the mind-body connection, and nature awareness at cutting edge residential rehab centers. Dirk has offerred Somatic Experiencing in residential recovery, in private practice, and through a variety of grassroots community organizations.

Dirk’s appreciation for clients’ dignity, creativity, and choice is key to his approach. Client’s strengths, passions, and relationships are central to the work. He approaches trauma healing knowing that trauma and chronic stress occur within unfair social systems and often violent and unacknowledged historical contexts. Dirk is rooted in a love of the natural world and a commitment to intersectional visions of social justice.

Dirk offers Somatic Experiencing (SE) therapy and Somatic Touch therapy to help clients connect with their bodies and recover resilience in the wake of trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress. Clients recover choice and wellbeing in the face of triggers, uncomfortable physical sensations and hard to break patterns. They become more present and resourceful, more assertive and better able to feel the full range of their emotions.

Dirk loves being outside and enjoys making music, learning languages and being involved in his community. He tries to read too many books at the same time.