The Trauma Vortex: What it is and how to meet it with care

"I know what to do, but I just can't do it." 

You know the theory, can be told what to do, but taking action to care for yourself is another story. 

Especially if you are juggling between life, family, grief, loss, trauma recovery, chronic illness, caring roles, neurodivergence, disability or systemic injustice.

During this workshop I'll invite you to explore the cultural, systemic, neurological and physiological barriers between yourself and care - with a focus on the trauma vortex.

All of us have a trauma vortex. The thing that sucks us into habitual patterns, postures, movements and addictions over and over again. Except we think it’s us.

That it’s our fault we can’t just move towards care. It’s our fault we don’t have the will power to stop. It’s our fault we can’t function in this world the way everyone else apparently can.

It’s painful - this vortex. And it’s very very addictive.

So what can we do about it?

Introducing: The Trauma Vortex – What It Is and How to Meet It with Care

This FREE workshop is designed to help you understand the "Trauma Vortex" and provide you with a foundational practice to meet it with care, compassion and confidence.

What is the Trauma Vortex?
The Trauma Vortex refers to the powerful force (including cultural, systemic, social, neurological and physiological) that can drive you into habitual postures, movements and patterns. 

What began as adaptive strategies to protect you from harm - can evolve into everyday ways of being in the world - and can ultimately stop you from accessing care and connection.

It’s easy to feel like you’re stuck in a whirlwind that you can’t escape from. But there’s another way —and this workshop will guide you through.

In This Free Workshop, You Will Learn:

🔹 Foundational somatic tools of Scanning, Orienting and Grounding - We begin by bringing more ok’ness into your system before sharing information

🔹 What the Trauma Vortex Is – Understand the core imprints of the trauma vortex - without drowning you with too much information
🔹 Why It Happens – Gain insight into the root causes of these cycles, including intergenerational trauma, cultural context, past experiences, physiological responses, behavioural patterns of protection
🔹 Noticing the Vortex – From a grounded place, get to know how you experience the trauma vortex
🔹 Meeting the Vortex with Care – Experience a guided practice to meet the trauma vortex with care
🔹 Introduction to the CareWeaver process– Get to know how the CareWeaver process can support you rewire your habitual patterns in grounded and aligned movements towards care 

🔹A walk through of the CareWeaver program  - For those who are ready to experience more workshops like this, you can stay to hear about the upcoming paid 7 week CareWeaver program.

Learn how to meet the trauma vortex with care so you can take aligned and coordinated movements towards the world you want to create.

Why Attend This Workshop?

✔ Free and Accessible – This is a completely free resource designed to offer clarity, hope, and accessible strategies to anyone who needs them.
✔ Practical Tools You Can Use Right Away – Walk away with actionable steps to begin shifting your mindset and emotional patterns.

✔ Integrating intellectual knowledge with embodied experience- all knowledge will be shared with a focus on your embodied experience - so you walk away with a clear sense of your personal experience above the facilitator’s expertise

Who Should Attend?

• People navigating the worlds of chronic pain, chronic health, neurodivergence and/or complex trauma
  
• People who are feeling stuck in a trauma response
  
• Frozen and unable to make a move
  
• Frantically trying to do anything to avoid discomfort
  
• Frantically trying to do all of the right things, eat the right food, 
  
• Individuals navigating stress, burnout, or emotional overwhelm
  
• Anyone who wants to cultivate more care, ease, and energy in their life, but doesn’t know where to start

Important information and acknowledgements

Disclaimer: The information provided in this workshop is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While I strive to offer valuable insights, ideas and useful resources, the content should not be used as a basis for any therapeutic decisions or interventions.

Always seek the advice of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding a psychological condition or mental health issue. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or heard on this site or workshop.

If you are in crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis hotline.

I am committed to building an inclusive space. My spaces are open to a wide range of identities and experiences, including but not limited to: race, nationality, sexuality, gender, (dis)ability (physical and mental health), neurodiversity, body size, religion, socioeconomic background, parenthood, and caregiving responsibilities. I endeavour to do my best in creating brave spaces that honour and include experiences other than my own - and encourage all people in my spaces to do the same.

I recognise that inclusivity is an ongoing journey, and I strive to continually embrace and celebrate diverse perspectives in every aspect of my work. If you have feedback on how I could do better, please feel free to contact me and let me know!

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land I live and work on, Jagera country. I honour the Jagera people's unwavering devotion to earth, sea, community and culture and extend my deepest respects to elders past and present who have tended to these relationships with care. 

I acknowledge that my work has emerged from the roots of traditional and indigenous knowledges from all over the world and endeavour not to appropriate from cultures that are not my own, but rather support others to connect to their own.

About the Facilitator

Claire Stephensen (she/her) is a trauma-informed Music Therapist, somatic therapist (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy), Neuropsychotherapist and Mother living, working and playing on Jagera Country in Australia. She brings together her clinical background in music therapy and neuropsychotherapy together with her passion for somatics and embodiment - exploring what it means to be well through music, creativity, movement and brain-based techniques. 

Informed by her clinical background and own experiences with recovery and healing, Claire’s work helps people move through shame, grief and trauma. Her passion is helping people find compassion and care for themselves, re-discover their capacity for expression and deepen their sense of belonging to self, place and community.