I very much believe in and have faith in Somatic Experiencing as a modality that can help one find…read morenervous system regulation, heal from trauma, and more. Dr. Peter Levine is amazing for creating this healing modality.
I have C-PTSD ( Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ) and found an SEP ( Somatic Experiencing Practitioner ) to work with during 2020. Her name is " Lynne Maclean " and she and her practice is based out of Oregon USA. This was my first time working with a SEP, so it was brand new to me.
During sessions with Lynne Maclean, she began calling me " Dear " and " Hun " and " Hunny " repeatedly, both during and at the end of 90% of the sessions with her. The truth is that the way that she said those words to me, and her tone of voice and facial expressions were much more like she was whispering sweet nothings to me than offering terms of endearment. I didn't know what to think of this as it was my first time to practice SE with someone, and I was grateful for the opportunity.
Then as sessions went on Lynne Maclean would ask me to tap into my body sensations, during which time she said the words " sexual arousal " and " sexual excitement " in a very suggestive way. I did not know what to think of this, as SE was new to me and for all that I knew talking about this was a normal part of SE. I didn't know. But she continued to ask me to tap into my body sensations the next session, and she again suggested " sexual arousal " and " sexual excitement " again. I felt very strong red flags and a very strong intuition of being unsafe and honestly very disturbed by her conduct. However at that time, I was living in a very toxic shared accommodation household with roommate/strangers that did hard drugs and drank alcohol excessively, all while I was trying to stay clean and sober and to save my life.
So, at that time, having someone to talk to on a regular basis felt necessary for me to survive.
During a ~ 3 week break of sessions, in the holiday season of 2020, I decided that I had to talk to her about what she said. In early 2021 during my last session with her, I asked why she kept calling me " dear " and " hun " and " hunny " and she shrugged it off as to say that she did not know what I was talking about.
Then, when I asked her why she chose to talk about sexual arousal and sexual excitement while asking me to tap into my body sensations, she became very defensive, very uptight, and she tried to deny saying those words to me. And that was enough for me, I recognized that what she was doing was sick and that I could not connect with her again. I told her that she really disturbed me and that I cannot work with her. That was that.
After about 2 months of reflecting on that experience, and feeling damaged and exploited by her, and mostly by the fact that she denied her conduct, I decided to talk about what happened with professionals in the field SE. From them, it was suggested that I talk with this institute in the USA ( Somatic Experiencing International ) SEI.
I spoke with many of the faculty of SEI about my experience with the SEP Lynne Maclean, in the early Spring of 2021. And after being transferred to the legal department of SEI, I learned that at that time they did not have a complaint process in place for grievances against Somatic Experiencing Practitioners.
However, with my advocating and encouragement they decided that it was a beneficial idea that they implemented a greivance policy within their institute. I don't think I was the only client of a SEP to inquire with them about complaints, but I know for sure that I was an impetus for that change for them.
I was a big part of the reason they chose to acquire a new legal team ( a board ) for their very first grievance policy.
I did the same thing with the USABP ( United States Association of Body Practitioners )
SEI is a training institute for Somatic Experiencing students. They are not a licensing organization for the SEP's
The USABP is a licensing organization for SEP's and for other body-based practitioners.
In my conversations with the USABP they also decided to implement a brand new grievance policy.
This all began in early April of 2021.
So, for the next NINE MONTHS, I kept in contact with both organizations as they formed their new legal team of board members and went through their legal required red tapes. All the while, they were fully aware that I had no expectations of my complaint being accepted, nor of any legal consequences for the SEP.
SEI knew that, if my complaint about Lynne Maclean was not accepted, I had already drafted a final letter to the SEP Lynne Maclean to let her know how my dignity was affected by her sexually exploitative misconduct.
SEI knew for 9 months that my appropriate complaint would not be accepted because they can't sanction a private practice, yet they chose to IGNORE telling me so. Had they just told me intially, then no harm to me would have been done by them. SEI damaged me.
