Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Erickson.
Hi Kimberly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Adoption brought me to this work. In 2019, two children joined our family through foster care adoption, and that experience completely shifted my understanding of trauma—especially how early wounds shape a person’s life. Around that time, I read The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, and it was a revelation. I’d always believed that past pain was best left unspoken, but his work showed me that the body remembers everything. That realization sent me on my own healing journey and ignited a deep curiosity about trauma recovery.
As I immersed myself in training for adoptive parents, I noticed something unexpected—people kept telling me that my presence felt safe, calm, and grounding. That feedback was a turning point. I realized I could offer more than just information; I could create space for real healing. So, I pursued advanced training in the modalities Bessel van der Kolk highlights—somatic work, nervous system regulation, parts work and attachment repair—to support others in uncovering who they are beneath the protective layers formed in childhood.
Today, I don’t diagnose or treat; I walk alongside people as they reconnect with themselves. It’s sacred work, and I’m honored to do it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been many challenging times. Parenting children from hard places impacted me in ways I never expected. There were days I struggled with guilt, convinced I was failing because I couldn’t ‘fix’ their pain—or my own. Their struggles mirrored wounds I didn’t even know I had, and that forced me to confront my own trauma while trying to hold space for theirs. It was messy, exhausting, and absolutely necessary. Balancing training, family, and my own healing felt like juggling too many balls at once. I had to learn to ask for help—something that went against every ‘do it all myself’ instinct I’d ever had. And the hardest lesson? Realizing that my capacity to support others directly depended on how deeply I’d done my own work. The more I healed, the more I could show up—not just for my clients, but for my family, too. This road isn’t linear. Some days, it’s two steps forward and three steps back. But every struggle taught me that healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, again and again, with honesty and grit.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Growing Harmony Within?
I’m a holistic stress and trauma coach who helps people uncover the roots of their relational struggles—whether from overt wounds or the quiet ache of unmet needs. Even with caregivers who tried their best, we can internalize beliefs like I’m too much or I don’t belong when our emotional world wasn’t fully mirrored. Those early gaps shape how we connect today, often leaving us feeling stuck in cycles of frustration or self-doubt.
My work blends somatic experiencing, attachment theory, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients release these survival patterns and step into authentic, unshakable self-trust. Many come to me after years of talk therapy feeling ‘stuck’. My work is different because we focus on what many approaches miss: the body’s story. Trauma isn’t just remembered; it’s held in our nervous systems, posture, even our breath. My training under Dr. Aimie Apigian in the Biology of Trauma Program deepened this lens—I help clients decode how their biology and early adaptations shape their present struggles, then rebuild from a foundation of safety and support.
This isn’t just ‘mindset work.’ It’s science meets soul: regulating the nervous system, rewiring attachment patterns, and honoring that every coping mechanism—no matter how chaotic—was once a lifeline. I’m proudest when clients realize, ‘I’m not broken; my body was trying to protect me.’ That’s when true transformation begins.
If any of this resonates, I offer free consultations to answer questions. No pressure, just a chance to explore what healing could look like for you.
Any big plans?
I’m expanding beyond one-on-one work because I’ve seen how healing deepens in community. When people realize others share their struggles, it changes everything. That’s why I’m excited to offer more group programs and return to in-person events this fall after a year-long pause.
Dreamwork has become a surprising gateway for my clients’ healing—especially since training with Dr. Peter Levine. My recent Dream Tending: Rewriting Your Body’s Story workshop blended teaching with experiential practice, and the breakthroughs were incredible. Now I’m developing new offerings that combine this approach with nervous system regulation and attachment work. Imagine a space where people explore their patterns anchored in safety while inviting reflection and gentle growth. This is a profound healing experience—that’s the work I love to create.
*I’ll be announcing details on my website and newsletter. Whether it’s dream tending, nervous system regulation groups, somatic parts work groups, or other ways to heal together, my focus stays the same: helping people move from ‘Why does this keep happening?’ to ‘Now I understand how to care for myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://growingharmonywithin.com/index.html
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowingHarmonyWithin
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-erickson-ghw/
- Other: https://appt.link/meet-with-kimberly-erickson
