Samuel Lewis Balka

Samuel Lewis Balka

I am a queer Somatic Experiencing and Rites of Passage Guide with a deep belief that our bodies know what they need to heal if we learn to listen. Each body is capable of the type of deep listening, loving, and visioning necessary to know deeply who we are, what we desire, and how we fit into the ecosystems we are a part of. I believe that the return to authentic connection with the world around us requires us to acknowledge, trust, and express the full wild nature in our own selves; that a soul-fulfilled self requires connection, belonging, and purpose to fully be whole. I believe the collective liberation from toxic systems of structural power that is necessary for human survival begins with a re-meeting of our individual bodies and a re-recognition of these bodies as the same nature we so deeply need to heal and protect around us. I hold these principles and beliefs at the core of my SE and guide work with individuals.

I invite working with and have deep love for the full range of bodies, identities, and life experiences. I have particular experience in working with queer folks; individuals, especially men, with histories of sexual trauma and discomfort with intimacy; youth and young adults looking to find and know themselves; folks experiencing chronic syndromes, especially gut issues; and individuals recovering from developmental trauma from childhood and adolescence. I identify as a queer gender expansive gay man, and I am deepening into the practice of my ancestors through Earth-based Jewish spirituality.

As well as being trained through SEI, I am trained and working within the lineage of the School of Lost Borders, and facilitate rites of passage and wilderness solo experiences for both youth and adults. If this type of healing journey rooted in the wisdom of your body and the wisdom of the land calls to you, please reach out for a consultation! Currently, I see clients outdoors on my land in Occidental, CA, or virtually with folks from anywhere in the world. My practice includes a mix of SE touch bodywork (I set up my massage table outdoors!), along with seated or moving dialogue and body-based work.

Specialties

• Adolescents
• Adults
• Adults abused as children
• Complex PTSD
• Depression
• Developmental Trauma
• Early Childhood Attachment Disturbances
• Gender Dysphoria
• Grief and Loss
• Hospice
• LGBTQIA+
• Medical Procedure Trauma
• Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse
• Perpetrators of Domestic Violence
• Birth Trauma
• Refugees
• Relational/Relationship Issues
• Self-Esteem
• Sleep/Insomnia
• Spirituality
• Intergeneration Trauma
• Sexual Abuse