Ana Mael

Hi, I’m Ana Mael, Founder of Somatic Trauma Recovery Center.

As a Somatic Experiencing Therapist (SEP, TST, TEB), I specialize in helping adults with trauma histories, particularly those who have experienced personal, relational, social, or authoritarian abuse within their families of origin or carry the weight of war trauma, systemic hate and human rights violations.

I support people in releasing their deepest traumas and grief from their nervous systems through a holistic approach that includes Somatic Experiencing, somatic touch, polyvagal-informed education, practical neurosensory techniques, and mindful, compassionate support.

 

At Somatic Trauma Recovery Center, I understand that trauma lives in the body, manifesting as chronic pain, emotional dysregulation, and stress. My unique approach, rooted in experiential somatic work and somatic workouts, addresses trauma at its core, allowing for a holistic recovery. I offer personalized therapy, group experiences, and educational resources that empower you to heal from trauma and live a life of balance and resilience.

By combining movement, touch, voice, and consciousness, body-centered therapy, and nervous system regulation, I guide you through a recovery process that’s not only effective but sustainable. My center is a place for you to reconnect with your body, restore your mind, and reclaim your life.

 

This page will list my degrees and credentials later, but first, I want to focus on something more important: whether we can truly connect. I believe that understanding who I am and what drives me can help you make an informed decision about whether I’m the right person to walk with you on your healing journey.

What You Want to Know

You probably want to know: Do I know what I’m doing? The answer to that is simple—my degrees and certifications will back up my knowledge. But beyond that, what inspires me to work with trauma survivors? What makes me capable of holding your pain, understanding your trauma, and helping you heal?

My experience isn’t just professional—it’s personal. I’ve lived it.

I believe in transparency because you deserve to know that there’s someone who genuinely understands your pain. Someone who’s been through it and has emerged stronger. We won’t talk about me during our sessions, but it’s important for you to know that we are equals on this journey—different stories, but always equal. Always human.

My Life Journey

I lived through three different wars from the age of 14 to 22. I survived seven open-space bombings and an execution attempt. At 14, I was trained as an army sniper and spent four years as a refugee. I’ve been displaced, exiled, and faced unimaginable violence.

But what affected me most wasn’t just the war—it was the relational, human-to-human trauma that left the deepest scars. My lineage is one of oppression, from Holocaust survivors (Slavic Serb), and I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of war, genocide, and violence.

Why I Can Help You

So, do I have the capacity to understand your pain, your trauma, your oppression? Can I hold a safe, honest space for you to heal?
Yes. Absolutely, yes.

I want you to know that you are not alone. Your trauma matters. Whether you’ve experienced abuse, oppression, or deep emotional pain, no trauma is too small. No pain is too small. No isolation is too small. Your experiences are valid, and you deserve to heal.

It’s easy to minimize our pain, especially when we compare it to what others have gone through. You may think, “Who am I to complain when others have it worse?” But trauma doesn’t need to look like war or abuse to be real. Your pain is real. Your trauma is real. And I’m here to help you navigate it.

Healing and Growth Are Possible

Here’s what I want you to know: healing is possible. Transformation is possible. Liberation from the patterns that have held you captive is within reach. This isn’t just about surviving trauma—it’s about Post-Traumatic Growth.

Our goal together is for you to live a life filled with peace, health, and freedom from the burdens of trauma. A life where you own your story without shame, fear, or guilt. A life where your body, mind, and spirit are at ease.

This is not just a possibility—it’s the goal we will work towards from the moment you step into my office.

How I Work

As a trauma survivor and thriver, I understand the commitment it takes to heal. I work with people who are ready to make necessary changes, who are tired of living in misery and are willing to take control of their lives. I can’t change you—you have to change you. But I will guide you, support you, and educate you along the way using the proven methods I’m trained in.

I’m not just a “smile and nod” therapist who sits quietly taking notes. I’m right there with you in the trenches. I’ll roll up my sleeves, dive into the hard work, and offer you the support you need to break through.

I don’t claim to be an expert with all the answers. Instead, I serve as a collaborative guide, deeply respecting the wisdom and strength you already carry. I will meet you where you are, honor your journey, and gently push you out of your comfort zone—when you’re ready—so that you can grow into the person you were meant to be.

Together, we’ll do the work. Together, you’ll heal.

Listen to my insights on Insight Timer for practical, somatic tools and calming guidance:

 

 

 

Training and Education

I acknowledge the traditional territory and traditional keepers of the land upon which I live and practice: the Mississaugas of the New Credit, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and pay respect to the Elders, past, present and emerging.

 I am a member of Kinsey Institute Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Indiana University and Somatic Experiencing Institute. I am working under aegis of Somatic Experiencing Institute and I am bound by ethical code and principals of  SE Institute. I hold an M.Sc. degree and further trainings with continuous educational case consults, supervision and mentorship by:

• Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, SEP, Dr. Peter Levine  (body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma, PTSD and other stress disorders). Learn More.

• Polyvagal Theory Informed Practice, Dr. Stephen Porges. Neuroscience and trauma brain recovery. Learn more.

• Somatic Practice – Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapist, TST, including trauma recovery, somatic touch, self-regulation skills, and resilience for trauma body, PhD. Kathy Kain

• Somatic Touch, Transforming Touch Therapist®, Transforming the Experience-Based Brain , TEB, for Developmental Trauma, including inherited, conception trauma, utero trauma, birth trauma, and postnatal trauma. Learn more.

• The Somatics of Complex Emotions – Repair of heartbreak, despair, betrayal, humiliation, anguish, and disgust in body structures and tissues.  PhD. Kathy Kain and Dr. Tony Richardson

• The Neurobiology of Feeling Safe and Boundaries Development

• Perpetrator victim dynamics in sadistic and narcissistic abuse. Somatic restoration of safety, dignity and resiliency. Dynamic Attachment Re-Patterning Experience.

• Somatic Attachment and Relationship Trauma Repairing through out Somatic Experiencing® and Neuroscience, DAREe

• Compassionate Inquiry training, Dr. Gabor Mate ( mind body oriented approach to the healing of childhood trauma, adult trauma, PTSD and addiction ). Learn More.

•  Inherited Family Trauma & Family Constellations and Ancestors Trauma Healing in Our Bodies

•  Internal Family System Coaching – IFS Institute, Dr. Richard Schwartz, Internal Family Systems

• CBRT – Compassion-Based Resilience Teacher Training

• Collective Intergenerational Trauma and Conscious Healing

• MBAR – Mindfulness-Based Addiction and Relapse Recovery Teacher Training

• MAST-ER – Mindfulness and Stabilization Training for Emotional Resilience

I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

I facilitate Somatic Movements Trauma Recovery Groups, and tirelessly supports survivors of wars, genocide, displacements, and undocumented individuals and groups.

I am a passionate advocate for the rights of children and teenagers who have been forced into the horrors of war, including child soldiers. My work is dedicated to supporting their rehabilitation, reintegration, and the pursuit of a peaceful future.

 

Read my two book Best Sellers: The Trauma We Don’t Talk About