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Integrated Somatic Release Therapy
7-Step Healing Process: Integrating DBT and IFS
Melissa Moreno - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Bridging body and mind through Somatic Healing, guided by the principles of DBT and the self-leadership of IFS.
Dive into healing with Melissa Moreno, LCSWR, at
Therapy and Treatment Services PC
With over 18 years of clinical experience, Melissa offers a trauma-informed and holistic approach that integrates Somatic Healing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) into a structured 7-step healing process—available through telehealth and in-person collaboration.
Melissa believes that lasting healing begins by reconnecting the mind, body, and spirit. Her somatic approach helps clients tune into the body’s natural intelligence—learning to recognize, release, and regulate the physical manifestations of emotional pain. By combining somatic awareness with DBT’s skills for emotional regulation and IFS’s compassionate parts work, Melissa guides clients toward deep nervous system repair, emotional balance, and inner harmony.
To further support physical and emotional recovery, in-person sessions are available as indicated with Mike Manzo, a Medical and Orthopedic Massage Therapist with over 45 years of experience. Mike specializes in chronic and injury-related pain, offering advanced bodywork techniques that complement Melissa’s integrative therapeutic process. Together, they bridge psychological and physical healing—helping clients release stored trauma, reduce pain, and restore embodied well-being.
Through this collaborative model, clients learn to:
- Regulate emotions and calm the nervous system
- Release tension and trauma stored in the body
- Heal internal conflicts and reconnect with authentic self
- Build lasting self-awareness, self-compassion, and resilience
Transform your life through mind–body awareness, evidence-based care, and compassionate support—all from the comfort of your home or through guided in-person healing as needed.
Licensed in NY, AZ, FL, CO, MD and NM
Integrated Somatic Release Therapy
Holistic Healing Through an Integrative Approach to Pain and Trauma
Integrated Somatic Release Therapy is a holistic and innovative program designed to address chronic pain rooted in unresolved trauma. Somatic Healing Works Without Words
Why Verbal Processing Isn’t Always Necessary
When trauma happens, it often bypasses the logical, language-based part of the brain (the prefrontal cortex) and imprints instead in the body and nervous system — in sensations, reflexes, and implicit memory.
Because of this, talking about the trauma sometimes:
- Doesn’t reach the part of the brain/body where the trauma is stored
- Can re-trigger distress by reactivating the memory
- Keeps people “in their heads” instead of helping the body feel safe again
Somatic healing takes the opposite approach — it focuses on what the body is saying, not what the mind can describe.
Mike Manzo, Medical and Orthopedic Massage Therapist with over 45 years of experience, specializing in chronic and injury-related pain combines the best medical massage, somatic therapy, Shockwave and Cold Laser treatments, physical therapy, and energy healing strategically integrated.
This program is ideal for individuals living with persistent pain that hasn’t fully responded to traditional medical or physical treatments, particularly when that pain may stem from emotional or trauma-based origins. By treating both the body and mind together, Integrated Somatic Release Therapy helps release what the body holds—and restore balance, strength, and relief from within.
The Healing Outcome
When you process through the body — without needing to relive or retell the story — you:
- Calm and re-regulate the nervous system
- Restore natural energy flow
- Reconnect to a sense of safety and embodiment
- Let the body complete what trauma interrupted
It’s not about remembering what happened — it’s about teaching your body that it’s safe now.
Somatic healing helps people:
- Release chronic body tension or pain
- Reduce anxiety, panic, and hypervigilance
- Reconnect to emotions safely
- Rebuild a sense of safety and presence in their body
- Feel more grounded, calm, and whole
Clinical therapy services are crucial for supporting mental
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Focus: DBT helps individuals manage intense emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and improve relationships.
- Key Components:
- Mindfulness: Increasing awareness of the present moment.
- Distress Tolerance: Developing skills to handle crisis situations without resorting to harmful behaviors.
- Emotion Regulation: Learning strategies to manage and change intense emotional responses.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Building healthy communication and relationship skills.
- Therapeutic Process:
- Learning and understanding DBT skills.
- Balancing between acceptance and change.
- Behavior modification and reaching goals.
- Common Applications:
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Chronic emotional dysregulation
- Self-harm and suicidal ideation
- Anxiety disorders and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Focus: IFS views the mind as made up of different "parts," each with unique roles and needs. The goal is to harmonize these parts under the leadership of the "Self"—a core state of calm, curiosity, and compassion.
- Key Concepts:
- Protective Parts: These include managers and firefighters that defend against pain or vulnerability (e.g., avoidance, anger, or over-control).
- Wounded Parts: Often referred to as exiles, these hold hurt, fear, or shame from past experiences.
- The Self: A compassionate and wise internal presence that facilitates healing and balance.
- Therapeutic Process:
- Identifying and understanding the roles of inner parts.
- Building trust with protective parts.
- Healing wounded parts by addressing their underlying needs.
- Common Applications:
- Trauma and PTSD
- Anxiety and depression
- Self-esteem issues
- Substance use
Transform Your Life with Melissa Moreno, LCSWR
7-Step Healing Process: Integrating DBT and IFS
The 7-Step Healing Process: Integrating DBT and IFS integration of DBT and IFS lays out a powerful, step-by-step framework for healing that addresses both emotional regulation and deep, internal transformation. This process combines the strengths of DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and IFS (Internal Family Systems) to guide individuals through stabilization, self-awareness, and deep emotional healing.
Here's a concise summary and how each step contributes to personal growth and transformation:
1. Emotion Regulation (DBT Focus)
- Goal: Empower clients to identify, manage, and reduce intense emotional responses.
- Strategies:
- Recognize emotional triggers and patterns.
- Use "Opposite Action" (acting contrary to unhelpful impulses) to shift emotional states.
- Purpose: Helps clients create a stable emotional baseline for deeper introspection.
2. Distress Tolerance (DBT Focus)
- Goal: Provide tools to handle immediate crises or overwhelming emotions without harmful behaviors.
- Techniques:
- Grounding exercises: Focus on the present through sensory awareness.
- Distraction methods: Temporarily shift focus to something engaging and neutral.
- Purpose: Builds a safety net for managing emotional spikes, supporting readiness for internal exploration.
3. Mindfulness Practice (DBT as Foundation for IFS)
- Goal: Enhance awareness of thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment.
- Application:
- Observing inner experiences with curiosity.
- Laying the groundwork for identifying and engaging internal parts in IFS.
- Purpose: Bridges DBT’s practical skills with IFS’s introspective work, encouraging a non-judgmental stance.
4. Interpersonal Skills (DBT Focus)
- Goal: Strengthen relationships and reduce relational stress that can trigger emotional dysregulation.
- Skills:
- Assertive communication.
- Balancing priorities in relationships.
- Purpose: Reduces external conflict, creating a supportive environment for internal healing.
5. Identify Parts (IFS Begins)
- Goal: Recognize and label internal "parts" (e.g., protector parts, wounded exiles).
- Process:
- Use mindfulness to tune into internal experiences.
- Identify the roles and feelings of different parts.
- Purpose: Helps clients gain clarity about their inner world and prepare for self-compassionate engagement.
6. Build Relationships with Parts (IFS Deep Dive)
- Goal: Develop understanding and trust between the "Self" and internal parts.
- Approach:
- Approach each part with curiosity and empathy.
- Explore how parts are trying to protect or express unprocessed pain.
- Purpose: Fosters internal harmony and creates pathways for healing.
7. Self-Leadership Activation (IFS Transformation)
- Goal: Empower the "Self" (core inner leader) to guide the healing process.
- Actions:
- Reassure protective parts so they can step back.
- Encourage "Self" qualities like calm, compassion, and courage to take the lead.
- Purpose: Promotes sustainable internal balance and resilience.
Transform Your Life Today
Personal Coaching
I offer personalized coaching services to help you identify and achieve your goals. Together, we will develop a plan to transform your life and create the future you desire. Create a life worth living!
Substance Abuse Assessment
OASAS (Office of Addiction Services and Supports) Substance Abuse Assessment is a standardized evaluation tool used in New York State to assess individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders.
Relationship Coaching
Relationship Coaching
I provide relationship coaching services to help individuals and couples improve their communication, deepen their connection, and create a more fulfilling relationship.
Health and Wellness
Relationship Coaching
I offer coaching services to help you improve your overall health and wellness. We will work together to create a customized plan that includes self-care strategies.
Mindfulness and Meditation
I can teach you mindfulness and meditation techniques to help you reduce stress, increase focus, and improve your overall well-being. Let's explore the benefits of mindfulness and meditation together.
Group Coaching
I offer group coaching sessions for individuals who want to connect with others and achieve their goals together. Join a supportive community and transform your life with like-minded individuals.
Contact Information
Virtual Therapy Sessions
Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NY, AZ, CO, FL, MD, NM
Office hours - by appointment
(845) 665-1234
Melissa Moreno, LCSWR
