Client Testimonials

It is my honor and privilege to write a testimonial about Allison Benner's Rolfing practice. I first came to Allison 7 or 8 years ago after trying multiple other modalities to address chronic low back pain. After one full series, my low back pain was gone and the pain has never returned. More recently, I was in a car accident resulting in months of multi-week severe headaches. After a lot of physical therapy without any lasting relief, I sought out Allison's services. I am experiencing a significant decrease in headache frequency, duration, and intensity and I have complete confidence that I will be free from headaches soon. Allison's expansive knowledge of the body combined with a truly incredible eye for noticing even the slightest dysfunction in how the body moves, sits, or stands results in efficient diagnosis and treatment planning. Allison's unique skill set also includes her knowledge of the body's ability to relieve and resolve symptoms of past traumas by focusing on the patient's body sensations. Allison pulls wisdom from her training and experience as a Kundalini Yoga teacher regarding the movement of energy and the power of breath to further support her clients. Allison's depth and breadth of knowledge results in a very supportive, well-rounded, and effective healing experience. I';m a very grateful believer in Rolfing and of Allison.

I received Rolfing a number of years ago, which was helpful but extremely painful. I started having hip pain again and was referred to Allison by a co-worker, who raved about Allison's expertise and gentleness. Since then, Allison has helped me in so many ways. Her sure and subtle work has helped unwind old habits and inefficiencies that have hindered my movement and balance. Hips, back, ankles, feet, jaw, ribs – all are more functional, fluid and flexible as a result of Allison's work. Allison's experience with yoga, dance, breath and other healing modalities inform and compliment her work. She approaches each person in their wholeness, educating, encouraging and celebrating along the way. Allison provides an amazing array of ideas, referrals and resources: practices, exercises, poses, props, shoes and classes, all to support one's health and healing. I feel so fortunate to have found Allison and to continue to benefit from her extraordinary gifts, and would encourage anyone who would like to inhabit their body better to experience her work. Both my husband and I are such believers in Allison's abilities that we have referred at least seven of our friends and family members to her. Each person has been thrilled with the help they they've received and amazed by the depth of her knowledge.

Working with Allison has been a transformative experience. She has helped me to become more self-aware, action-oriented, and embodied. Allison creates a safe and supportive environment where I have felt able to fully engage and be free to address anything that comes up. She is a compassionate listener, always provides meaningful insight, and offers proactive tools that I can immediately integrate into my life.

In addition to the Somatic Experiencing work that we have done together, the attachment healing has been illuminating. Understanding attachment and the impact of my family of origin and how that plays out in my intimate relationships has allowed for differentiation, and a true, authentic connection, that’s secure.

Through our work together, I have been able to become more present and grounded in my daily life and I have noticed a significant improvement in my ability to manage stress and regulate my emotions. This has led to a greater sense of hope and overall well-being. I feel very lucky to have found Allison and this work.

Engaging in Somatic Experiencing work with Allison has dramatically changed the way I move through and experience life. I met Allison in midlife while navigating transitions of menopause, parenting, and loss. I aspired to embrace aging with acceptance and increased strength and flexibility of body and mind. I have experienced that in ways I had not imagined.

While being a long-time swimmer, yoga practitioner, and someone oriented towards personal awareness and growth, I hadn't realized the extent to which embodiment was missing from my equation. Becoming more embodied has taken many forms. My body has become more of a friend and a guide. I am learning how to listen to what it has to tell when my system gets thrown. I have learned that if body awareness is in the driver’s seat, I am able to move through autonomic nervous system states with greater clarity, trust, ease, compassion and resolution.

As someone who experienced an eating disorder in high school, my relationship with my body has been complicated. Though I considered myself mostly recovered from the disordered thinking and behavior, it has been a delightful surprise that somatic experiencing has further liberated me. Increasingly, I see my body as an ally and a healer.

Allison has been a wonderful facilitator and champion of this process. She brings tremendous knowledge and intuition to the work, and transmits that to the individual. Her ability to compassionately witness and encourage engenders trust in the process.

The effects on my life have been numerous. My intuition has gotten exponentially stronger and louder. My body and mind are learning how to settle and rest. Through befriending my body’s wisdom, fear and anxiety have less of a hold on my life. I feel more balanced. As my somatic knowledge and reflexes continue to awaken, I feel a greater sense of agency, and life feels more expansive. I look forward to continuing to learn how I can meet challenges with curiosity and resilience.

"I see Allison because I have had lots of surgery on my ribs. She helps me by loosening scar tissue so my muscles can move better. I can take bigger breaths and move my arms better. Rolfing doesn't hurt. It feels good most of the time, especially my neck." - Sawyer Benson "Allison has worked with my son for several years now. Sawyer has thoracic insufficiency which requires surgery at least twice a year. He always looks forward to his appointments. Rolfing has benefitted him in several ways; more flexibility and movement in his rib cage and increased range of motion in his arms. I can't prove the correlation, but since Sawyer has worked with Allison he has not been hospitalized with pneumonia. That's amazing!" - Melissa Benson, Sawyer’s mom

I first saw Allison Benner at the suggestion of a friend to help me with some chronic pain issues. I had already sought help with my pain from several more conventional health providers to no avail and was growing desperate to find a more effective treatment. As it happens, at the time, I had recently retired from an unsatisfying and at times very stressful career as an attorney and was unable to find the fulfillment that I had expected upon leaving my work life. After a session or two, Allison was able to see how years of stress and confounding circumstances were contributing to my discomfort. She suggested that to properly heal my “pain” I needed to get to its source and to do that, treatment with a technique that dealt more with the relationship between body and mind with a neurological perspective might be the best way to proceed. Having already gained my trust, I agreed to try Somatic Experiencing. Her analysis was spot on and, with her expertise and wisdom along with her knowledge of ayurvedic medicine, yoga and mindfulness I came through the process not only rid of the pain for which I initially sought her help, but also as a happier and healthier person far more aware of the keen relationship between body and mind and therefore more adept at knowing myself and at dealing with the “pain” that is an inevitable part of living . Her approach to the treatment was forceful and effective and at the same time gentle and compassionate. Only someone as talented as Allison Benner can merge those qualities successfully. Allison Benner is the most empathetic person I have ever known. She is a genuine healer in every sense, and I will always be indebted to her for all she helped me accomplish.