Katie Silcox – “I would highly recommend her”
Cristal is one of the most skilled therapists I’ve ever met. Her capacity to contain both intellectual knowledge and seemingly endless compassion aids any transformation process immensely. I would highly recommend her for anyone who struggles with anxiety, depression, attachment issues, ptsd or any nervous system imbalance (so basically, everyone). Beyond her skills as a practitioner, Cristal is also a spiritual powerhouse, adept at weaving subtle energy work into science and method. I can’t recommend her enough.
-Katie Silcox – Shakti School Founder
Lynne Jenson – “I feel like a new person!”
I feel like a new person! I am so grateful to have met Cristal!
-Lynne Jenson, Math Teacher Vancouver, B.C.
Kristin Hauser – Acupuncturist, mother of three and a business owner
Working with Cristal has been essential support for me as a mother of three and a business owner. With Cristal’s support, I’ve recovered from post viral illness, moved through some big ancestral patterns and overcome many adversities around building a business alongside raising a family. Her approach is grounded and compassionate.
– Kristin Hauser
Kristin Bovre – Bedridden with vertigo and migraine
There is so much to say about the work I’ve been doing with the guidance of Cristal. I was stricken with a case of vertigo and migraine pain that had me bed ridden for over 60 days. Doing the S.E. work with my nervous system has been the utmost beneficial work I have done in my life. I have 35 years of sobriety and have had many years of talk therapy. I suffer from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Cristal had been able to help uncouple or unstick my issues at a cellular level. It is mind blowing for me to heal my nervous system so that I can slowly return to my life. I appreciate and love her even though I’ve never hugged her ? she is an amazing healer!
-Kristin Bovre
Colleen M. – “I was pregnant and having daily panic attacks”
It’s hard for me to put into words how much Cristal has changed – and saved – my life. When I first started Somatic Experiencing with her, I was pregnant and having daily panic attacks, completely overwhelmed and barely functioning, suddenly confronting feelings and memories I thought I’d long since processed. Since that time she’s lovingly and skillfully guided me from some of my darkest days to my most precious ones – where I feel stronger, safer, and more at home in my body, and more deeply connected to those I love and the world around me. I am in awe of her intelligence and insight, and her capacity for holding space for whatever comes up. Whenever I fully take in and enjoy life – the sound of my baby’s laughter, the breeze on my skin, a restorative afternoon nap – without worry, guilt, shame, or anxiety, I offer Cristal a little silent prayer of thank you.
-Colleen M.
Sylvia A. Carter – “I had no optimism left”
My journey with Cristal began with an email I sent with a subject line that read, “Please help.” I had reached my trauma threshold of tolerance and I could no longer hide from it or suppress it. My relationships were failing, I was performing poorly at work, and I had no optimism left. I was raging with righteousness and without any couth. Cristal helped me to discover the amazing gift of feeling into my body and connecting with my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I used to think that there would always be some amount of suffering in my life. But somatic experiencing has allowed me to become released from horrific memories of my past. I no longer feel alone and can move through the pain to wisdom. Now, I am more centered and calm than ever before. I am grateful beyond words. Working with Cristal has been a miracle and I am excited to see what else life brings my way.
-Sylvia A. Carter
Sheri Gleason – “Regaining my life force”
Two years after completing surgery and finishing radiation and chemotherapy for breast cancer, I was eager to regain strength and function. My acupuncturist highly recommended Cristal. Cristal has been instrumental to me in regaining my life force. Cristal is an artisan bringing knowledge, versatility and intuition to her healing practice. One year later I can truly say I am better and stronger-physically, mentally and emotionally. With deep gratitude for the work we have done and continue to do.
-Sheri Gleason, RN, BSN
Ren MacDonald – “‘Aware Aligned Awake’ isn’t just a name- I’ve come to realize that is what I’ve become”
There is not a day that goes by where I don’t think about how lucky I am to have Cristal as my therapist. What I have learned in the last two years about myself and healing my trauma from years of elite sport training/body dysmorphia/unhealthy generational patterns of past and present has gone beyond anything I could comprehend, entering other parts of my past and my spiritual side I could never have gone without her guidance. Even things I thought were part of me forever that I had to live with, have a place and ability to change. ‘Aware Aligned Awake’ isn’t just a name- I’ve come to realize that is what I’ve become and what I continue to become with every session, building more and more on that sentiment every time. What I love about Cristal is there is never any judgement, never a wrong answer, never any shame and only an open and welcoming place where I feel safe every single time. I’ve told many of my friends about Cristal and the absolute unicorn of an experience she and her practice is, and her name has become a common term among us… “It’s like your Cristal”, “It’s like a Cristal moment”, all to define positive and special life changing moments. I wish everyone could have a Cristal.
-Ren MacDonald Balasia
Katie Silcox – “Cristal has been the single biggest force in my self-healing”
“It is no exaggeration to say that Cristal has been the single biggest force in my self-healing and my spiritual life. Through learning her intuitive, deeply personal energy methods, I feel that I finally am experiencing the ancient teachings I spent 2 decades studying. The miracle is that the teachings are emerging from my own body, as a deeply personal, deeply tender medicine. Cristal Mortensen is not only a brilliant intellect, scholar, anatomist, physiologist and somatic trauma expert, she is also a shamanic wise-woman in the truest sense of the term. It is certain that the highest good fortune in my karma has brought her into my life. And I am honored to share her with all of you”
– Katie Silcox, Founder and Lead Teacher of The Shakti School
Eden – “Every word resonates.”
I just wanted to shoot this message over to forward to Cristal to say how deeply this course has been resonating.
I haven’t been able to be there live the last two weeks but I’ve been catching every replay and WOW. This is the course I’ve been waiting for.
Cristal is putting words to an approach to energy that I have been trying to grip onto but was lacking the language to do so. Her deeply integrated approach, orientation to this topic, and embodied compassion is felt and I can’t even express how refreshing and relieving it has been. Every word resonates. In a current climate of intellectualization and spiritual bypass this approach feels like it walks hand in hand with working towards a healthy nervous system and integrated self. Thank you for bringing this material that I feel is truly “cutting edge” in the current discussions of healing, spirituality and energy!! ♥︎
– Eden <3
Cristal is experienced, knowledgeable and professional, and I’m so glad I found her. I have looked forward to her sessions for the past three years and she has exceeded my expectations every single time. When we started working together I struggled with confidence, anxiety and chronic pain. With her assistance, I felt empowered to work through the difficult situations and found clarity and perspective in my life. She has been an integral part of my personal and professional development, helping me find insights and valuable perspectives. Our sessions have been a great way for me to express myself in a safe and comfortable environment, and I credit her with helping me feel organized, lighter, and in-control of my life. I’m grateful to have her as a mentor who continuously helps me reach my goals, and highly recommend Cristal’s therapy for anyone looking for support.
– Tatiane
Pippa Galea – “I was broken beyond repair”
I’ve been working with Cristal for just over 3 years now
I came to her after trying many different types of therapy and trauma work
I even worked with 2 other somatic practitioners before I found her.
If anyone had told me three years ago when I first started working with her where I might be right now I would have laughed.. I honestly thought I was broken beyond repair.
I realize those thoughts were only a figment in my imagination, a conditioning I’d taken onboard and not MY truth.
Cristal held me in my shame, sadness, grief and anger as I worked all these knots out of my system.
Of course I’m still a work in progress but after spending so many years in therapy with nothing changing the work we have done together has been a blessing.
Cristal is kind, compassionate, big hearted and most of all totally awesome !!!!!!
Words can not express the gratitude I have for having found her !!
-Pippa Galea