LARA DUNKEL

SELF-EXPERIENCE OF EMBODIED NATURE

somatic trauma support & counseling


ITANCA means «inner guidance». It’s the idea of our inherent self-leading to more inner embodied freedom of being – being alive in connection with oneself, the body, nature, each other – and with what is. By acknowledging what is, the healing movement of regulation can re-emerge as antidote to trauma. With a somatic trauma- and feminist-sensitive approach I accompany your personal life journey. In the interconnected presence of body, nature and horses, I like to encourage to follow your own ITANCA towards a more embodied whole self. The invitation is to meet yourself in the here and now, to taste your own nature truth and to expand with it to new lively possibilities of yourself.

Let’s collect moments of inner shifts!

MY INVITATIONS TO YOU

My offerings include complementary accompaniment, psychological counseling and coaching elements. In a nervous system informed and resource focused way, it’s dedicated to somatic personal growth, learning, self-experiences and alternative trauma integration for PTSD and states of anxiety and high stress – all in the assistance and presence of the nature, the body and horses.

SOMATIC EMBODIMENT SESSION


Your Self is like a prism of embodied experiences. It transforms entering events into a spectrum of sensations, feelings, images and thoughts. A trauma response can disrupt this process. With the trauma integration approach Somatic Experiencing® we follow your autonomic nervous system to re-invite your embodied prism Self. This supports your inner leading towards more integration and self-regulation, resources and resilience in high stress and trigger situations.


60 min @ A Room To Grow Berlin, Schöneberg & Online - English & German


URBAN NATURE SESSION


Let’s rewild and renature together. Being in nature inspires its wisdom within you. Nature’s natural symbiotic connection and rhythm of expansion and contraction can be a transformative support to experience yourself as a contained part of nature. It offers a great exploration and learning framework to build a somatic bridge within. In its presence we may can allow ourselves to come back home to our own inherent wild nature, rhythm and collaborative breeding ground.

60 min @ Naturpark Südgelände (nature reserve) S Priesterweg


RURAL HORSE SESSION


Horses embody movement through states. Their presence can give great impulses for getting to know yourself, your nervous system and own truth. It’s a space for a mutual, explorative interaction and learning between two species. The horses decide how they like to share their presence and space with us. Thus it can be a meeting of primal nature and exchange from the ground, with no tools of domination. No horse experience is necessary.

60-90 min currently @ wild horse places around Berlin (no direct contact)


URBAN NATURE WORKSHOP

CURIOSITY’S CURE

SATURDAY 25TH OF JANUARY @ A ROOM TO GROW 3-5PM

This space is dedicated for cultivating your individual relationship and mutual co-creation with nature and its beings such as plants, horses and yourself. We invite a somatic conversation with nature by focusing on our body’s perception (ecosomatics). Interbeing means interconnectedness and -dependence with all things. It is inherent, unconditional wisdom of coexistence. With changing topics, this trauma-sensitive group circle offers explorative ground and tools to re-experience an access to that – so it can be supportive in all day life. For detailed information and updates, feel free to reach out or sign up my newsletter below.


TRAUMA-SENSITIVE

»Trauma is when we aren’t seen and known.«  – Bessel v. d. Kolk. Trauma is described as an internal unprocessed wound of a boundary. The antidote is completion to wholeness and connection. With Somatic Experiencing (SE)® we don’t go in conversation with the story, we talk somatically to the autonomic nervous system. We explore what is needed for sustainable regulation to complete and integrate stucked survival states. It naturally brings embodied repairing experiences in noticing nuanced differentiation from the past to the present. From trauma to resource swirls we navigate within your individual wheel of tolerance and capacity, so curiosity can appear in exploring yourself. My impulses are invitations to experiment with. Your own somatic truth will guide you to more aliveness and containment.


FEMINIST-SENSITIVE

My offerings provide queer feminist safe spaces for collective somatic growth. I acknowledges and am aware about (my own) internalised trauma wounds of patriarchy’s intersectional discrimination and oppression – such as colonization, misogyny, racism, classism, ableism, queer/trans phobia and the anthroposcene. This also applies to the relationship with nature and horses. Thus I’m informed about that safety and freedom is relative, not universally accessible. Individually and collectively we can hold space for these wounds. We can explore them towards more moments of safety and new embodied self-empowering narratives. I invite to support each other in un-learning, recognition and awareness. In acting from a state of being with ourselves we can invite more internal and external feminist shifts.

We shape a sustainable future by perceiving ourselves holistically as nature, by embodying its inherent interconnectedness and by falling in love with aliveness.

M Y V I S I O N


Hey there

MISSION
I’m Lara Dunkel (she/her) based and born in Berlin with Swedish childhood roots. Nature and horses have been a resource in my life since ever. In order to share this acess and resource, ITANCA emerged. My heart and wounds of patriachy guided me from advertisement agencies to an ongoing somatic healing and self-discovery journey. It encouraged me to connect humans with nature such as the body and horses. I got to know various trauma-sensitive nature and horse assisted approaches internationally. I thrive for a mutual beneficial support with nature, as nature. Horses taught me to communicate in a feminist non-dominant language. I love to creatively connect worlds, contrasts, observe and to feel. I invite to renature each other towards more embodiment of interweaving, equality and freedom with nature.

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✦ QUALIFICATIONS
admission as naturopath for psychotherapy «Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie« (2025) • Somatic Experiencing® (SE) training (2021-25) • horse assisted coaching (2019-22) • trauma therapy with horses & SE® Equimotion (2020-22) • nonviolent communication (GfK) training (2020) • B. A. mediadesign (2016)

✹ SELF-EXPERIENCES & COOPERATIONS
Salus rehab clinic • Elsa Sinclair Freedom Based Training clinics • MiMer Centre workshops • Equinimity Tucson AZ • Holistic Horse Academy SA

CONTRASTFUL

Being with what is, can invite to simultaneously perceive different nuanced qualities. Observing this both-ness on a spectrum widens the capacity to hold and flow with life’s inclusive diversity and paradox complexity.

CONNECTING

In connection happens wound and repairing. It inherently owns disconnection. By attuning to this both - andness experiences of more moments of interconnectedness with the body, mind, soul, each other and inherent nature can emerge.

COURAGEOUS

Exploring the inner world somatically and being vulnerable with what is, is brave! Meeting yourself there and turning towards seeming discomfort can be more sustainable for the inner freedom of completion.

CURIOUS

Curiosity and playfulness supports in encountering the unknown self. In learning and inner exploring it’s invited by the safety of the individual vessel of tolerance. This can replace judgement with curious inquiries about what is and oneself.

CONSENSUAL

One key in repair and completion is consent and choice. Consent with the past, present and mutually with each other – whether a horse or human. Consent can be about finetuning to the truth of individual boundaries and its re-negotiations. This re-nourishes self-efficacy in being with what is.

CIRCULAR

Growing, learning and healing are non linear processes. Cycles of expansion and contraction are human’s nature, just like nature itself. This regulative movement invites to trust an ongoing self-discovery journey, rather than focus on specific outcome.

Let’s get
more
specific.

  • For arranging a first meeting, directions, any questions or further requests, email me:

    hey@itanca.com

  • ✹ Intro Meeting – free á 30min
    ✹ 1:1 Session – 80€ á 60min*
    ____

    * 1:1 Session Bundles
    ✹ 3 Session Intro Bundle: 195€
    ✹ 5 Session Process Bundle – 355€

    Please feel free to reach out, if the fees exeed your current financial situation. We’ll find a solution.

    There’s also a solidarity option to pay more and support sessions for people in any social and financial situation.

    Please note, cancellations after 24 hours will be charged as compensation. No billing by health insurance

  • ✦ Somatic Session • Berlin A Room To Grow (10829 Schöneberg) Tuesdays 9-12pm & Fridays 5-8pm
    & Online Mondays & Wednesdays (Germany CET)
    ✦ Urban Nature Session • Naturpark Südgelände S Priesterweg
    ✦ Rural Horse Session • currently at wild horse places around Berlin

MAIL LETTER TO YOU!

I’d love to keep touch base with you through this mail letter. Three times a year I share about new offerings, inspiration of ecosomatic, trauma sensitive and feminist topics, impulses and exercises.

To join the mailing list, follow the link to a sign up form.
I keep your data confidentially.


GUIDE TO NOTICE WHAT IS

 We experience ourselves holistically on different interconnected levels. Paying attention to them already can shift our perception. Explore with me: Which levels are present right now for you?

SENSATIONS ✹ SENSES ✹

SENSATIONS ✹ SENSES ✹

IMAGES ○ FEELINGS ○

IMAGES ○ FEELINGS ○

THOUGHTS ✦ MOVEMENTS ✦

THOUGHTS ✦ MOVEMENTS ✦



FAQ


  • At the beginning of a process we meet on a free 30 min first intro meeting online or in person. I’ll listen to your needs and see if and how they can be met in an accompaniment with me. I’ll introduce you into my work approach more specifically, such as Somatic Experiencing™. You can sense the vibe of the space, between us and decide afterwards if this resonates with you.

    If it hopefully does, I’ll send you a small voluntary questionnaire to reflect e.g. about your intention to start a process. I prefer long term accompaniments for experiencing an embodied progress. Thus I recommend to start at least with five sessions to get a sense of your nervous system reactions and core topic(s) we like to look at together. I’ll offer a 5 session bundle for this case.

    I usually meet in a rhythm of two to three weeks, to be sure that there’s enough integration space in between. There are exeptions we can clarify in individually and you also can book a one time experience of course. What kind of session (somatic embodiment, urban nature, rural horse) supports best, we can decide individually each time we meet.

    In addition my accompaniment also includes educational parts, so you can gain same expertise about and support for yourself.

  • I often hear the questions “Do I have to have experienced trauma to work with you?”
    No, you’re super welcome as you are - with and without any trauma diagnose. My offerings address people who are interested in new self-experiences with the body, nature and horses - who are interested in mindfulness, general personal growth, nervous system self-regulation and alternative trauma integration support and psychological counseling for e.g. PTSD or states of high stress.

    In addition I like to point out that small and big trauma are omnipresent. The somatic responses can appear anytime in the process to some degree as stucked energy of survival mode activation. If so - I trauma sensitively navigate you through it to more somatic wholeness. Your body will tell us, which kind of support is needed and how we can meet it there.

    Learning about your nervous system and training regulation with me can be beneficial for everyone. My trauma-sensitive and self-leading approach definitely can be enriching for you to experience a complementary to other services. Please reach out for any further individual questions.

  • “Somatic” in my sessions means focusing on the body’s perception and nervous system responses. This can be expressed e.g. by feelings, sensations, behaviour movements, sensual impressions and also images or thought of the mind are included.

    During our sessions we mainly will invite the body’s language and give space to listen to and witness its words in the here and now, which in all day life may always allows.  It doesn’t mean that we only focus on the body and you don’t need to have great connection to it. Trauma responses can smartly protect that somatic access. That’s why we will listen precisely and move in your individual pace and capacity.

    In doing so, somatic integration of experiences and self embodiment - consciously experiencing yourself somatically - is happening.

  • No. It’s about having your unique exploration with the horses - also if you do have experience. The invitation is to be open beyond anything you might know. I’ll give general safety instructions. I’ll be aware and with you all the time. In the process we decide together with the horses which distance or closeness is comfortable. This also can mean that we do a session with a front of the fences with a distance. This is your choice and your indivual experience.


  • Yes. Horses are very sensitive like us and our animalic autonomic nervous systems commune with each other. And 
there’s nothing wrong about sensing respect or fear. It’s our compass of safety and boundaries. In order to feel safe as horse and human it’s important to authentically be with what is. So, we will address any fear and negotiate what’s needed for more safety and regulation. I’ll guide you through this activation and we’ll see what emerges from there. Also the horses are free of choice to join us or to leave for their comfort. This is a big difference that prevents reactions from oppressed emotional states.

  • My feminist-sensitive approach is an orientation for you which values, focus and ethics are important to me. This doesn’t need to be framed as feminist for you. There are many past and current images and meaning connected to this term. If this resonates with you, it’s perfect. If not, it’s perfect, too and we may don’t match. You always can book an 30 min free intro session to get a first taste and also in the process we will regularly check in with each other.

  • Firstly, I’d like to point out that, like all doctors, psychotherapists and Heilpraktiker:innen, I don’t make any promises of cure and healing. Psychological counseling and trauma support (according to HPG) does not replace trauma psychotherapy or any medical and psychiatric treatment.

    My offerings can provide you with complementary care in the form of somatic trauma support and psychological counseling. I support in in self-regulation, integration of experiences and self embodiment. I’m obliged to provide counseling and support only according to my professionally trained standards. If the treatment exceeds my professional know-how, I cant’ accompany you. In this case, I’m able to explain diagnoses and what suitable treatment options are generally available.

    For complementary perspectives and support I prefer a multimodal network of care. I recommend to have an additional psychotherapist or psychiatrist accompaniment.

    For immediate support cases, please contact Berliner Krisendienst, Frauenkrisentelefon (women’s emergency support), dial emergency number 112 or police 110 (Germany).

SHARED EXPERIENCES

»Lara always gave me the feeling that everything was allowed to be there. With this incredibly beautiful attitude, there was no pressure and it was totally okay to simply not feel anything. I really took a lot away from SE and Lara. It gave me a whole new perspective on certain things. I was able to reflect on some of the experiences I had. I finally understood some of my feelings and patterns. I am incredibly grateful to Lara for this new experience.«


»The great thing about this approach is the switch between one aspect and another - between when I feel good and feel safe and where I don't feel good and feel safe. What I find so impontant in this, is the stepping out of the energy and being aware that I can do that. This also creates a stepping back, so I can look at it fnom a distance and not being exposed to these feelings, this inner experience. And what happens by switching fnom one energy to another, is movement and thereby a change in yourself.«

»Thanks to Lara and her practice I learned about my nervous system and how to react to its needs. She did not just practice exercises with me but also gave me a framework to understand what was going on.  I feel like I have now more courage to work with my inner world and explore it deeper instead of escaping its unknown depths. «

Join the journey!

This is my digital experimental space and hub where I share offerings, feminist, trauma-sensitive impulses and self-experiences. 

strong back ✦ soft front ✹ wild heart ♥

strong back ✦ soft front ✹ wild heart ♥

Brené Brown