Welcome to my practice ~ Here, I’ll share a bit of my journey and what inspires the work I do.
Since I was young, I had the inkling to look out for others. As a ten year old, I’ll never forget the moment my mother pointed out to me: “Gunnar, I love how you always make sure Johnnie touches the ball!” Johnnie was the least skilled player on my basketball team and everyone knew it.
It was perhaps the first moment I grasped the feeling and meaning of compassion. I felt warm and proud to care more for Johnnie’s experience than to win the game or score myself.
Fast-fowarding through the blur of puberty, this instinct to care for others drew me to UW-Madison where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Nonprofit Leadership. This served as a springboard into my time at the Upaya Zen Center in New Mexico where I completed a Master’s Level Chaplaincy Program.
Thereafter as an interfaith chaplain in a level 1 trauma center in Iowa, I supported individuals in their most vulnerable moments. I shared empathy and presence with those in the depths of grief, fear, and upending change.
Trying to come to terms with my own suffering, I then spent two years at Buddhist and Christian monasteries in America and Southeast Asia. Although I had initially aimed for ordination, an unsuccessful foot surgery in Vietnam brought me back to America to heal and rest. This paved the way for a new chapter back home.
I’ve since discovered a fascination with naturopathy, embracing a return to a more natural way of living. This includes sunbathing, sun-gazing, thriving on raw, plant-based foods, fasting, camping, and grounding barefoot in nature.
I also served as a suicide crisis counselor in Illinois this past year. I’ll never forget a crisis call in my last months that inspired the touch work I do now. A husband called in because his wife was having a “mental breakdown”. She agreed to connect with a crisis counselor (me) to see if that could help before going to the ER.
The wife trembled in anxiety and overwhelm as she described her inner experience. After listening and settled into the conversation with her, I invited the husband to hold her in a comforting way. They laid side by side on the couch as I was put on speaker phone nearby. Amidst the quietude, I softly assured and encouraged them. I felt the co-regulation slowly deepening as the wife’s sniffles and distress resolved.
After ten minutes, the wife calmly and confidently speaks up: “I’m going to be okay.”
As a crisis counselor, I deepened my understanding of human resilience and our need for co-regulation. Struck by the pervasive trauma of those suffering from suicidality, I saw touch work as a trailblazer in the world of trauma and therapy. It’s breaking taboos and getting to the heart of the matter – the nervous system!
This last year, I had the privilege of learning Transforming Touch® directly from its creator, Stephen Terrell. It’s transformed my world and the lives of so many struggling with complex trauma.
I invite you to join me in experiencing the power of safe, gentle touch. Together, we can explore how co-regulation can open up your world, soothe your nervous system, and bring well-being to the very core of who you are.
~Gunnar
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