Elena Mamatas | SEP, TCTSY-F, RYT-500
A central premise that guides my work is the deeply held conviction that trauma is not an illness or pathology. Rather, I think of trauma as a nervous system injury, or as a set of outdated adaptations that are no longer necessary. With the right support, these patterns can gently be digested and reintegrated into new ways of being that are liberating and expansive.
Body-based trauma healing modalities like Somatic Experiencing and Trauma Sensitive Yoga have been important parts of my own healing journey, and my lived experience with these practices are what primarily ignites my passion for sharing this work with others.
I have a deep interest in understanding the various ways that trauma moves through the generations and landscapes, rippling through time and culture. Exploring my ancestral legacies—both the gifts and the burdens—has been an important part of how I’ve come to understand myself and the ways that both trauma and resilience ripple through the generations.
I grew up in the unceded Penacook & Abanaki forests of Southern NH, and I’m the daughter of a Greek immigrant and a descendant of primarily English (as well as Scottish and French) settlers, many of whom arrived to New England during colonial times. Since 2015 I’ve lived on unceded Pocumtuck, Nipmuc, and Abenaki land in areas around Western MA and Southern VT.
When we work together, you are warmly welcome to show up in the fullness of your intersecting identities. If you have spiritual practices that help you anchor and feel supported, they are welcome in our sessions.
The core specialties of my practice are evidence-based and supported trauma treatment protocols. Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is recognized by SAMSHA as an empirically validated treatment for complex trauma and treatment resistant PTSD, developed and refined by leading researchers in the fields of trauma and psychology. Similarly, Somatic Experiencing is an evidence-supported trauma resolution approach that can be applied to traumas of all kinds as well as chronic stress.
When we work together, my role is to facilitate an experience supports your natural, innate capacity to heal and release outdated patterns, ultimately creating space for more ease and creative flow. To that end, I am here to share tools and to help create a supportive and compassionate container so your body’s deep wisdom can lead the entire process. Please feel free to be in touch if you want to talk more!
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
Somatic Experiencing International | Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP)
The Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI | Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F)
Yoga Alliance | RYT-500
Certifications & Trainings
Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF) (36-hours, in-progress) | Embodied Parts Work Academy, Dr. Maureen Gallagher
Integrative Somatic Parts Work (30-hours) | The Embody Lab, 2023
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) (216 group contact hours, plus 30 hours intensive 1-1 consultation) | Somatic Experiencing Institute, 2023
RYT-500 | Yoga Alliance, 2022
Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F) ( 300-hours) | The Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI, 2018
Usui Reiki I with Christine Bailey | Hilltown Holistic, 2018
Restorative Yoga Therapeutics (30 hours) with Jillian Pransky | Kripalu, 2017
RYT-200 | Yoga Alliance, 2017
Embodyoga® (200 hours) with Corrine Andrews and Patty Townsend: Yoga Center Amherst, 2016
Mentorships
TCTSY: I attend monthly TCTSY-F peer supervision groups; meet annually with a TCTSY faculty member to review and refine my practice; and attend a minimum of 13.5 hours of continuing education per year to maintain my certified TCTSY-F status
Somatic Experiencing: Regular 1-on-1 and group case consultations with SE Faculty members and Advanced Training Assistants: ongoing.
Education and Trainings
Somatic Experiencing Advanced Level Trainee | Somatic Experiencing Institute 2022-2023
Rituals for Healing Trauma with Dr. Daniel Foor | Ancestral Medicine, 2023
Somatic Experiencing, Intermediate Level Trainee | Somatic Experiencing Institute, 2021
Polyvagal Theory Seminar | The Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI, 2021
Sacred Wounds: Trauma Healing on the Spiritual Path | Science and Nonduality (SAND), 2021
Spice Rack Medicine, herbalism training with Jade Allicandro Mace | Milk and Honey Herbs, 2021
Somatic Experiencing, Beginning Level Trainee | Somatic Experiencing Institute, 2020
Ancestral Lineage Healing with Dr. Daniel Foor | Ancestral Medicine, 2020
Anatomy of a Centered Body: Resolving Structural Imbalances in the Core Body with Donna Farhi, 8-hour | Yoga U, 2019
Intergenerational Trauma and Epigenetics, personal research project | The Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI, 2018
Diversity and Inclusion Training for Yoga Teachers | Yoga Center Amherst, 2017
The Science and Art of Herbalism, online certification course with Rosemary Gladstar: Sage Mountain, 2017
Trauma-Based Treatments for Children | Friends of Children, 2016
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) (30+ hours of pre-service training): Friends of Children | 2016
Bio-Regional Herbalism with Jade Allicandro Mace: Milk and Honey Herbs, 2016
Bachelor of Arts, University of Vermont | Environmental Studies and Psychology, 2009
Work & Professional Experience
Private Practice SEP, 2023-Present
Private Practice SE Advanced-Level Student, 2021-2023
TCTSY Half Day Training Presenter, 2020-Present
TCTSY-Facilitator, 2019-Present
Ongoing group and private practice on Zoom, 2020-Present
Greenfield Community Yoga, 2023-Present
Shelburne Falls Yoga, Shelburne Falls MA, 2023-Present
The Recover Project, Greenfield MA, 2019-2021
The New England Learning Center for Women in Transition, Greenfield MA, 2020
Great Falls Yoga, Turners Falls, MA 2019-2020
Grief and Loss Training and Curriculum Development Consultant: The Recover Project, Greenfield, MA, 2021-2023
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Working Group Member: The Opiate Task Force, Greenfield MA, 2019-2021
Yoga Studio Owner & Instructor (TCTSY, Gentle Hatha, Vinyasa & Restorative Yoga Therepeutics): Great Falls Yoga, Turners Falls, MA, 2017-2020
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care: Friends of Children, Amherst, MA, 2016-2020
Hatha Yoga Instructor: Southampton Center for Healing Arts, Southampton, MA 2017