ABOUT ME

My name is Amber (she/her) and I am an Occupational Therapist, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. I am also a daughter, a wife, and a mother. I have worked in the world of trauma for over 10 years, with a special interest in supporting women after trauma for the last 5 years. As an OT and somatic therapist, I have a unique approach to working with trauma. When I meet you, I want to get a holistic picture of who you are as a person. This work is not just about what happened to you; it is about who you are now, who you want to be, and starting to move a little closer to your hopes and dreams right now.

When our boundaries have been breached, whether sexually, medically, relationally, or in any other way, we can lose connection with ourselves. It can be harder to differentiate between what we want or don’t want. We may lose the ability to be feel our bodies and remain present in our own lives. We may start to live in fear of intimacy and connection, fear attending medical appointments, or feel disengaged from our loved ones and our lives. We may lose the ability to enjoy life’s wonders, comforts, and pleasures.

My work is to support your journey of accessing your own innate capacity to heal and reconnect with what is meaningful to you.

Amber Laing, MSc. OT, BSc. Psych

Registered Occupational Therapist
Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

I WANT TO HELP YOU:

Feel safe in your own body and be able to be present in your own life.
Be able to experience comfort, connection, joy, and pleasure.
Participate in the roles and activities that are important to you.
Have the capacity to move more seamlessly between life’s challenges and life’s joys.
Be able to choose and know that the choices you make are your own.

CREDENTIALS AND ENDORSEMENTS

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, 2011
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, 2007
Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Trauma-Sensitive Heartmath® Certified Practitioner
Alberta Fire Fighters Association Endorsed

FOCUS OF PRACTICE

My focus and interest throughout my career is and has always been trauma. As an OT, I have had the privilege of supporting hundreds of people in their journey of healing trauma and re-engaging in life. I have supported individuals in healing from workplace trauma, first responder trauma, military trauma, motor vehicle accident trauma, medical trauma, birth trauma, and sexual trauma, among others. I have learned that my passion is helping women reconnect with their bodies and sense of vitality following sexual trauma, boundary violations, medical trauma, and birth trauma.

TRAINING

I have had the privilege of receiving training from some amazing teachers in the area of trauma and sexual health, such as Peter Levine, Kimberly Ann Johnson, and Ariel Giarretto, among others. I love to learn and I am always seeking out learning opportunities. I have completed recent continuing education in the areas of Trauma, Polyvagal Theory, Sexual Health, Sexual Trauma, Postpartum Mental Health, Pelvic Health, Breastfeeding, Chronic Pain, First Responder Trauma, and ADHD. I offer a variety of interventions, including Somatic Experiencing®, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Exposure Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

ME OUTSIDE OF WORK

I am also a mom of two young girls. I am a wife, a daughter, a friend, and a sister. I have a dog and a cat. I love to camp, hike, and snowboard. I also love to read, puzzle, play board games, and curl up with a good movie or TV show. There are times that I strive for connection and activity, and there are times that I seek solace in soothing and quiet activities. We all need different things at different times, and it is my goal to help you get more in tune with these different pieces of yourself.

MEMBERSHIPS

Somatic Experiencing® International
Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
Registration: Alberta College of Occupational Therapists, Registration # 4005

“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence. Not only can trauma be healed, but with appropriate guidance and support, it can be transformative.”
― Peter A. Levine (Healing Trauma, 2006)