Client Experiences

I don’t believe in miracles, I only believe in what is proven to work. I am not really sure what I expected when I walked into my first Rolfing appointment with Allison Benner. Perhaps more pain and theory or another therapy that helped but didn’t ultimately live up to its promise. Whatever I had thought was wrong. After half of my life being repeatedly injured ( I was a terrible and clumsy motorcycle racer) and the second half trying to repair the damage, I had finally found a process that worked. A healer instead of a practitioner… I rarely had to tell Allison what I needed, she already knew. I turned 71 last week and my back and hips are virtually pain free, and have now been longer than for any period in my long adult life. Joints, muscles, hands and feet are working as they haven’t for decades. And that’s the truth. Thank you Allison.

What an amazing journey it has been with Allison! We have been working together since 2019, through COVID when we started doing our sessions virtually and have continued since. It’s great to be in the comfort of my home as I work through challenges and various situations with Allison. It hasn’t been a deterrent at all and I actually prefer doing them virtually as it saves me precious time. I wouldn’t have considered myself someone who needed a therapist but I have benefitted so greatly from it and can’t recommend Allison enough. I have, in fact, recommended her to a few friends who love working with her as well. Who I am today and who I was when we started working together feel like two incredibly different people yet the same. I am a better version of myself and I feel the difference! I have grown so much from processing the trauma and pain that I didn’t even realize I had been harboring. We have worked through so many layers of my past and present that have come up. As a mother, she has helped me navigate the guilt that we moms seem to never shake. As a daughter and sister, I am continuing to chisel away at these complex relationships for a healthier connection. As an individual, I am coming into my own, setting boundaries, recognizing triggers, and feeling more empowered daily. I am grateful for Allison and the gift that she shares with me each month. I think anyone would benefit from working with her.

Allison Benner allowed me to realize I did not have to live with the pain I had been enduring for more than 15 years. After countless sports injuries, a car accident, and working in front of a computer for 10 hours a day, I felt spent and depressed that the condition of my body and spirit would never change. The first time I met with Allison, the pain in my lower back was extremely intense, but had been with me for so long, that I did not realize how bad it had become. I no longer touched, leaned, or otherwise engaged my back and hips. My feet would go completely numb and my calves seized up when I went for a walk. This was because I was holding my posture and joints in such a tense state to mitigate the pain in other parts of my body. My shoulders were constantly sore from holding the same working position, creating a numb sensation in my neck and shoulder blade. I felt that this was simply the way my body worked, and that I had to accept it, which left my body and spirit feeling disconnected. After meeting with Allison for the first time, I realized that I did not have to live this way. The release I felt within my back was immediate and long lasting. Allison worked with me to regain my natural footfall and end the numbness in my calves and feet. She gave me stretches and exercises to do outside of our sessions, and encouraged me to get up from my computer hourly, do pilates, yoga, go for long walks, and dance. I had never even thought I could dance without pain. Now I try to dance at least once a week, hike with my daughter, take yoga classes when I can, and otherwise live my life feeling whole. I was able to have a natural birthing experience with my daughter, which I was once told by a doctor would be impossible given my injuries. Allison has not only helped my body to recover through her Rolfing technique, but has connected me to a network of natural health practitioners in Denver which I now consider part of my continuing healing process. I don't know where my mind and body would be without the thoughtful, caring, and experienced approach Allison Benner offers.

Somatic Experiencing with Allison has been a total game changer. Allison holds safe space to touch on fear and anxiety, then guides you back to a feeling of safety, helping you connect pathways that you may not otherwise have access to on your own. As someone who often intellectualizes feelings, it’s been an important step in my healing journey to be guided into fully feeling. I have been dealing with attachment anxiety throughout my life and have worked with a variety of practitioners. Working with Allison has helped me find a deeper, more embodied healing than I have with traditional talk therapy.

Hello my name is Gavin and I'm 17 year old boy. During Rolfing with Allison, the experience is great. She is very caring and nice. The environment is peaceful and soothing but to be honest there is just a little bit of pain but that's to be expected and the more Allison works on that area the better that little bit of pain will get. The reasons why I chose to try it was because I went through about 13 -15 surgeries on my feet (honestly lost count after 13) and I could tell that a lot had been done. Everything was sore and not in the correct positions. Like my one side of my hip was more stiff and tight compared to the other. Also after all my surgeries, when I began walking again my feet would be aching if I walked 10-20 minutes and my back had a kink in it. After Rolfing with Allison, I notice my pain has gone down my back was straighter and I'm playing hacky sac for more than 3 hours . Also, after talking to her you have good tips and advice on how you can keep the pain away.

I’m a 64-year-old single male with some very traditional beliefs. 3-1/2 years ago, I mentioned to my chiropractor that I wanted to start exploring a more intensive journey and learn more about Yoga. My goal at the time was to increase my flexibility so I could expand my weight training.

Dr. Josh Vickers connected me to Allison Benner with this quote, “be open-minded, Allison will teach and help you with far more than just yoga.” I can confidently say he was so right!

Allison and I have spent an hour a week together online on zoom over the last 3-1/2 years not only working on expanding my Yoga experience/journey but so much more. The practice with Allison now spans from helping to navigate challenging life situations, relationship dynamics, day-to-day stress, injury recovery, and how all of this impacts our mind and body. I’ve gained awareness, the ability to manage very challenging life events, expanding physical and mental health, as well as emotional growth.

Recently, my youngest daughter left for college and we moved to a new home. While all pretty normal territory for most people, it was different for me. I raised my daughter as the primary care parent until she was 13 and then became a full-time parent. She was my purpose! I knew her going off to college was going to be harder for me than it was for her. The challenging role at work on top of everything else could have been very overwhelming and I risked missing some very positive awakening.

Through the work Allison and I have done, this event ended up being an amazing growth opportunity for both my daughter and I. I see, feel, and experience so much more of what life has to offer. I’m so very grateful for all Allison has done for me and look forward to continuing to explore, expand, and grow my practice with her.

I’ve had the gift of working with Allison consistently for over a year. I initially sought out Rolfing body work to aid in fully healing from a cesarean birth. At my first session Allison explained that before addressing physical symptoms, it can be even more helpful when we address what is happening emotionally and then observe how that affects the nervous system. Then, we can then do the work of inviting the nervous system to a place of calm and rest and more helpful patterns emerge for processing emotional energy. Subsequently she explained, when addressing physical sensations in the body, shifts we desire can come more quickly and with ease. Physical treatment is then able to prompt lasting positive change.

Along this journey together I also found great support in Allison’s deep knowledge of the body and pathways of healing. I had very particular challenges in my body at different points that required detailed attention. I have been truly amazed, time and again, at how her attention and intuition led her to help resolve long-standing causes of pain and discomfort or imbalance in my body. This has ranged from addressing sore abdominal fascia, the painful after-effects of inflammation from a case of Shingles, an ankle sprain, and general body mechanics and alignment that have been extremely helpful with the physical demands of mothering my toddler. I have had medical providers and other body workers address some of these issues in part, but no one was able to view them with a holistic lens, which is what Allison does and what makes her work so effective.

I can describe Allison’s work as comprehensive, intuitive, compassionate, and engaging. She has walked with me through some very challenging experiences, all the while prompting me to discover more of my innermost self and access the strength I already have. I have gained significant internal transformation through having done this work. I recommend everyone find a healer as gifted as Allison!

"My 7 year old son, Dean, is a very active and wild boy. He has complained of headaches and backaches in the past (too many flips on the trampoline!) Allison suggested Rolfing. When she began working on him, I was so amazed at how much of his body tissue was twisted and knotted! After all he is still so little and perfect, right?! After she had Rolfed him only once, his complaints went away. I am so grateful to Allison and Rolfing because now I can do something to prevent injury down the road for my active kid." - Danielle, Dean's mom

I started seeing Allison two years ago for somatic therapy when I didn’t know how else to manage my chronic back pain. Through talk and movement we uncover past thoughts and traumas. Her work is systemic and profound. Allison has helped me process and respond to deeply rooted family patterns alongside situations in everyday life. Most importantly through our work she has changed my relationship with pain and has facilitated ongoing dialogue within my body. Allison holds space beautifully and I always leave my sessions feeling lighter and more empowered.

Rolfing with Allison has changed my life. I have scoliosis and have dealt with chronic back pain for most of my life. Before finding Allison, I had tried nearly everything I knew of (except surgery) to try and alleviate the pain--including rolfing with a different practitioner. My first rolfing experience was educational, but I really didn't feel as comfortable and "heard" when I described my pain. It felt as though there was a set routine no matter the individual issues. I noticed immediately that Allison's approach was different and felt more tailored to me. Her exceptional intuition, experience, and education enables her to pinpoint the root cause(s) of the pain and not only does she relieve it, she also teaches techniques to incorporate in everyday life for proactive care to prevent pain. I've been seeing Allison regularly for a few years now and I highly recommend her to everyone I know!

First and foremost, Allison is simply an amazing person and therapist. Before meeting Allison, I believed Rolfing was a place to go and get 'pounded' on with some really deep tissue work that makes you sore for a few days and eventually better. To my surprise, Allison's practice isn't in the same dimension - She is incredibly gentle and extremely focused. Further to my surprise, I've see more immediate and long term improvements in reversing the negative effects of 15+ years of highly competitive club and college soccer in one session than I've ever experienced in multiple PT, chiropractic or massage sessions combined. Finally, Allison has also introduced me to the idea of feeling great. This, I have learned, is a very different experience than just the absence of pain. I currently don't have much pain but have, over the past 6-8 months, begun to feel great :)

Working with Allison using somatic therapy has been a true gift to heal my anxiety stemming from childhood and trauma from a bike accident. I was introduced to Allison after having a pretty severe bike accident, resulting in facial breaks, a concussion, and a very overactive nervous system.  She helped my body slowly tap into the trauma and fear from the accident in a safe and controlled way.  The process of experiencing small amounts of difficult memories at a time helped me revisit the event by focusing on listening to my body and its sensations, with the goal of relieving pain and calming my nervous system.  We have been able to take a very pivotal event in my life (ie. The bike accident) and allow that to dive far back into my own grief of my father’s passing 14 years ago.  We worked on grounding myself by using “tools” to allow my “up energy” (that’s how I experience my anxiety) to move down and out of my body, which in return gave me more stability emotionally and mentally.  

It feels important to mention we did all of this work together virtually.

I now live with a calmer nervous system and am able to tackle life in a way I have never experienced for over 35 years.  I am less charged and reactive, I am more focused, and I have healthier relationship boundaries.  Being an artist, a lot of my unhealthy childhood relationships had shaped and formed major walls that affected me creatively.  With all the work I have done with Allison for 3 years, she has helped me break down these creative walls and allow myself to fully engage and create in ways I have always dreamed.  I no longer stand in my own way of becoming my best self.

I originally went to see Allison for help with an old injury that negatively impacted my balance and posture and caused pain in my hip. As a result of her work, I walk with more ease and energy and feel I have a much stronger, more balanced foundation from which to move. Since then, I've seen Allison for a tennis injury, which definitely aided my recovery. I'm now seeing her in preparation for shoulder surgery. Through working on alignment and muscular organization, I believe I'll have better results both from my surgery and in my recovery. I so much appreciate the assistance I've received from Allison, but what I really got from her is that I didn't have to live with deficits. I've really learned how to take care of myself and have taken addition steps, including Pilates and Yoga, to be able to move with more efficiency and fluidity. I've told Allison numerous times that she has wise hands.

I had severe lower back pain that shot down my leg. I knew that if I didn't seek help I would be immobile in a couple of years. Thankfully I found Allison for yoga therapy. She was patient with my lack of yoga literacy and very knowledgeable about how to stretch out the problem area without irritating it. After only a few months of therapy, I can now keep up with my 5 year old. I continue yoga therapy to keep limber and improve my yoga postures. Thanks Allison for getting me back on my feet and keeping me on my feet.

I was referred to Allison by a friend with high praise to help me with knee and heel pain that was making it hard to walk and participate in outdoor activities I love. She helped me with those physical pains, and since has guided a process of deep personal growth work to understand the connection between physical/mental/emotional experiences and heal on a much deeper level. Allison is a skilled teacher, therapist, and energy worker unlike anyone I’ve ever met. I can’t recommend working with her enough.

Rolfing and Allison's knowledge of the practice and awareness of the body have helped me through painful migraines, pregnancy, and recovery after surgery. At 25 I was a healthy, active woman, but started to suffer from debilitating migraines. I had tried all the OTC pain relievers with no success. At that point, my primary care physician prescribed me a heavy-duty migraine medicine (complete with a myriad of side effects) to take every day. I knew that was not a path that I wanted to go down and began searching for a more holistic way to heal my body. My husband had seen Allison for some time and recommend that I contact her to see if she could help me with my migraines. After a couple of rolfing sessions and some recommended yoga moves to practice daily, my migraines became less and less frequent and eventually subsided. I did not suffer migraines for several years and continued regular rolfing sessions to maintain my health. Unfortunately, my migraines returned when I became pregnant for the first time. Allison was once again able to help me reduce the frequency of my migraines through rolfing. In addition to reducing my migraines during pregnancy, rolfing helped me to remain pain free and not experience many of the dreaded pregnancy symptoms (nausea, swelling, fatigue). My body felt like it was doing everything it needed to do. I was able to continue my active lifestyle throughout my entire pregnancy and maintain a feeling of openness and alignment in my body. Rolfing after pregnancy helped my body to quickly return to functioning as it did pre-pregnancy. I ordered one from Amazon for about 50 bucks after watching a documentary by a very handsome Aussie guy love the accent from down under! My big mouth HB juicer is is black where your plastic is white, but I believe it is still the same machine. I've never juiced before, so today I came here for inspiration. I'm going to juice some grapes and maybe some tangerines later. Thank you for sharing this video so I would know in advance what to expect.

I was a little hesitant and apprehensive before my first visit with Allison. I had heard about Rolfing and how painful it could be. But, at that point in my life, I was tired of being in pain all the time and feeling like, as I got older, it would only get worse. I have scoliosis in my back and neck and I was finding that my pain resulting from how my body had adjusted itself to the curvatures was creating more and more pain. When I met Allison, I found her very knowledgeable about Rolfing and body mechanics in general. She has a great energy about her that immediately put me at ease. She worked on me that day and I already started feeling a difference in my body. Rolfing can hurt but Allison is very aware of this and she is very attuned to how my body responds to what she is doing. She never wants anything to be painful as it will not produce good results if the body has to react to the pain it is feeling. I have been seeing Allison now for about a year. I really wish we had taken "before" and "after" pictures. I really did not think it would ever be possible, but she has been able to transform my body from being in pain to actually being virtually pain free. I would highly recommend Allison as I could have never gotten to this place without her.

I found Somatic Experiencing during a period of intense burnout. Despite a successful career, I was exhausted beyond belief and deeply unsatisfied. Years of talk therapy had given me an intellectual understanding of my trauma and go-to patterns, but I wasn’t seeing the changes I was hoping for in my life. The first time someone asked me where I felt something in my body, I literally had no idea how to answer the question. I had a sense that somatic work was the missing component of my healing journey, and I was right.

If you’ve read all the books and listened to all the podcasts, but are struggling to manifest the changes you want to see, your body likely holds some additional answers. Somatic Experiencing has been a way for me to reclaim my body’s innate knowledge, with less efforting and more allowing.

Allison helped create a safe space for this next level of healing to begin. Through our work together, I have been able to build my capacity for embodied sensation; allow stuck energy charges to flow again; experience greater ease and presence; spend less time in freeze/dissociative states; and become more aware of my own intuition. Practically, these shifts have led me to change my work environment, start dating more purposefully, and to begin moving, inch by inch, towards the life I had been secretly dreaming of.

Allison is a gifted guide. I trust her wisdom comes not only from her own journey, but from her experience accompanying many others along this path. Our sessions are an amazing holistic mash-up of embodied remembering, spiritual guidance, witnessing, physical health inquiries and practical brainstorming. To be on this journey with Allison is a true gift and one that will undoubtedly lead to profound changes in your life.

My work with Allison has all been virtual. Beyond the convenience of virtual visits, I have come to really appreciate the benefits of connecting via Zoom. During our sessions, healing isn’t something that happens in a peaceful room away from my ordinary life. Healing happens in my living room, while I am orienting to my own space, using the resources I will have available to me during the week. Practicing the skills at home feels like it helps them root even deeper. There’s also the option to titrate what is done on or off screen, as needed, which is a benefit of virtual spaces. Allison is adept at picking up on all the physical cues one would notice during in-person sessions, so for me, the ability to work together in this way has been entirely positive.

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.

Allison’s work blossoms in a digital space, she has completely mastered this experience. I once thought having physical distance would create a disconnect. What has actually opened up is a space in my own home (literally and figuratively) that would not have had the chance otherwise. There is something so special about having the opportunity to drop into these processes, outside office walls, and somewhere more intimate… the work can suddenly touch “the outside world”. Some days I have been in massive physical discomfort and she still efficiently brought relief to my body. The zoom experience is so effective, I find myself choosing online zoom sessions often to this day even when we don’t have to. Allison has become an innovative force with technology in her field.

Being a professional athlete of 15+ years, I had injuries and traumas head to toe. I hobbled into Allison’s multifaceted work with what I thought was just debilitating chronic back pain. I walked out the door more comfortable than any other modality I had tried in years. A world beyond the face value of my diagnosis was revealed. Strikingly, I felt something much deeper in me was healing, stretching me to reassess the way I approached “fixing and getting over an injury”.  

What’s most fascinating to me is how Allison’s work can touch all levels of body, mind, spirit, and soul… effectively and masterfully. Her work touches the interconnected underlying subtleties of our life experience. She has shown me a place where I can walk alongside my pain, grow and heal with it, and listen deeply.

Allison’s melting pot of offerings are a remedy for transformation that flow together effortlessly. Through Rolfing and yoga therapy we address pain and work structurally to reshape the way I use and move my body. The Somatic Experiencing helps by renegotiating past traumas in the body like injuries and other violating experiences for my body mind and heart, not only from athleticism but childhood as well. Utilizing DARE work, we reorganize how I am wired and respond to relationship, attachment and boundaries, evolving the ways I interact.

Allison’s work is the true definition of Wholistic. It’s a great privilege to work with her, and by far the most profound and sophisticated work I have ever come across. Her office has become a temple, that now also resides inside of me.

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.

I’ve worked with Allison for several years now. She has helped me transform old traumas into opportunities to find my strength as a man, becoming more self aware, self loving, and self transcending in the process.

I came to work with Allison on my meandering journey to heal and build my system back up from a state of total burnout. In many ways my life has always tended to head towards burnout, but with two young children when the pandemic hit my ways of coping with stress were either unavailable or no longer enough. The cracks already present in my system were blown wide open…I was exhausted and completely disconnected from my ability to regulate in what felt like endless moments of overwhelm. For myself and my family it became increasingly clear I needed help finding my way back and I have spent the better part of the last two years trying to build myself back up.

I began my journey with traditional talk therapy which helped my mind, but didn’t get deep into my body. I then journeyed down the path of learning about the nervous system and how to more appropriately nourish myself through how I ate, moved, and structured my life. All these things helped, but it wasn’t until I began the Somatic Experiencing work with Allison that all the pieces really started to come together. It has been through my sessions with Allison that I have been able to radically change how I experience moments in my life, especially the moments that are full of overwhelm and intense emotions. She has helped me begin to repair my traumas, from the separation my daughter and I experienced after her birth, to my own attachment wounds that are being exposed as I parent my own children. In our time together, I have softened with myself and begun to learn how to differentiate whether I am embodying an experience of the present moment or an experience from my past.

In our sessions we don’t go searching for things to “fix.”  What needs to heal or repair has its own way of coming to the surface when ready. It’s been striking to me how much the work we do in each session weaves into my life. Experiences (including total shit-show breakdowns with my 5 year old, surprising relevant yoga classes, and eerily on-point podcasts and writings) keep showing up taking me deeper into it all.

In one of our early sessions, I shared with Allison that I had gone up in my closet and kicked a plastic box to smithereens after experiencing a really difficult interaction. I was worried it was wrong to have this kind of anger in me. Allison asked me, “What if kicking that box until you were done, breaking it into pieces, was nothing more than just that? Your body was following an urge until it was complete. What if it says nothing about you? Nothing is wrong with you; you are a woman who had an urge and you followed it. That is it.”  This blew my mind. For days since the incident of destroying the box I had done nothing but wonder aloud and in my head, “What is wrong with me? Why can’t I keep it together?” For the first time that narrative shifted and now said, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with me. I experienced a really challenging moment and had a lot of energy built up in my body. I let it out and it’s done. No one was hurt. I felt better. I got what I needed in that moment. We can move on.” And what I believe to be the most powerful part: every thread of my being believes this new narrative; my body believes this message from my brain and is settled by it. My body was not settled by the narrative my mind was previously playing on a loop about that moment. I have realized your mind can tell you stories but it’s your body that allows you to gauge if the story is true and informs you of your needs, past and present. This is what Allison has helped, and continues to help, me find. I will forever be grateful for our work together.

I first approached Allison with some lingering shoulder issues and overall pain from years of playing sports. Over the last year she has corrected my posture, my gait, and the pain is gone in my shoulder, as well as I now have full range of motion. Allison is very attentive to any discomfort while working on an area. I continue to see her for general maintenance and any new issues that pop up due to work or sports. She also has a wealth of knowledge in other areas that are helpful in overall mind and body balance. And she is always a pleasure to see and catch up on exciting adventurers she's been on.

I started my treatments with Allison as a Rolfing patient where she is an accomplished professional. But it’s the mind body therapies over many years that have lessened my bipolar challenges. Learning how to leverage the body’s responses to trauma, anxiety, and other mood issues has greatly expanded my ability to manage the diagnosis. While naturally different for each situation, these tools and strategies work effectively for me in both the depression and mania phases of the bipolar disorder. Allison has my full respect, is a pleasure to work with and has supported my life with significant positive impact

I started working regularly with Allison a year-and-a-half ago and couldn't be more grateful. Everyone always says to me, "Doesn't Rolfing hurt?" Not with Allison is my response. Her hands on technique is gentle yet strong enough to work out the kinks. As a Pilates instructor, Rolfing is very healing to my body since I am consistently on my feet, looking down, putting myself in somewhat awkward positions to adjust people, etc. As a Pilates practitioner, Rolfing has advanced my practice by months if not years as an effect of having worked out some imbalances. On a personal level, Allison is one of the few that actually walks the walk. She will always be able to inspire you with numerous ideas on how to eat better, where to go for a great hike, or take your next adventure. When it comes to whole living, Allison Benner is a great example. She's passionate, caring, spirited and vibrant.

I was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis 37 years ago when I was thirty years old. The ever increasing pain I experienced made it difficult to continue my active lifestyle and even daily activities like standing and walking. The surgeon I consulted told me I would be a “crippled little old lady” if I didn’t have a spinal fusion so deciding out of fear, I had three back surgeries and a hip replacement (because one “fix” caused the next problem). PTs and new docs and pain meds were of little help and then I found Allison. I now am able to walk without pain. Because of the radical changes I’ve experienced so far, I am confident that soon I’ll be hiking and snowshoeing again! Because I have more energy and I’m feeling so much better I am now able to, fairly consistently, focus on self-care in all dimensions of my life. Allison is an amazing woman; wise beyond her years. Her healing gifts provide the foundation of her work and she is continually pursuing additional knowledge and training in order to provide her clients the most current healing treatments. She is gentle, very intuitive, curious and very funny! Her positive attitude and perspective are inspiring.

Working with Allison has been incredible! I spent 7+ years in talk therapy and I felt that this was an important part of my journey to be able to have a space to be able to express myself and be self reflective. However, I always felt like there was a missing piece to my struggle with anxiety and depression. Being able to work with the body and also with my attachment patterns has changed everything for me.

I have worked with Allison for less than a year and instead of having to cope with my anxiety and depression and stressors in relationships, I have noticed a shift towards my body finding a new reality. Relationships and situations that typically are incredibly stressful for me are starting to become more easeful and even enjoyable; it isn't because I am convincing myself with my mind to be different, but because my body has found more safety and in turn more expansiveness in all parts of my life. I have even seen relationships with family that have been a challenge for my entire life begin to move towards more safety and health. I couldn't recommend Allison enough!

I found Somatic Experiencing with Allison at a time when anxiety had reached an all-time high for me. It was disorienting, I felt panicked much of the time, I was so afraid of the anxiety, and yet, I existed in it all of the time. I had been to therapy at other times in my life, dabbled in all kinds of body work, and even worked as a therapist myself. And yet, working with Somatic Experiencing with Allison felt wildly different than any other approach I had ever taken or been trained in. We started by actually not  focusing on the anxiety. I remember being taken aback the first time Allison redirected me towards the regulation that actually did already exist in my body. I noticed how strong the pull was to keep focusing on the anxiety, and then I noticed something new- that there was actually access to just neutrality. Allison worked really slowly with me to relearn how to feel safe & calm in my body, something that I didn't even realize I hadn't felt in a long, long time. I learned how to address the chronic stress in my life, slow down, and got to explore unprocessed trauma from years before. In all my experience in talk- therapy and training as a therapist myself, SE with Allison was the most effective approach to actually rewiring my nervous system and changing my life

I have been working with Allison for a over a year and I am amazed at the changes in my body as a result of her work and guidance. My posture, which has been poor my whole life, has improved dramatically and the knee pain which was the original cause of my visits has dissipated significantly. I find that my gait is better and my overall physical health has improved as a result of the Rolfing Process. It's hard to explain to people the difference between Rolfing and Massage but all I can say is it works wonders over what a massage can do for your body! I could never do deep tissue/sports massage and yet with Rolfing, deep tissue work is different and doesn't cause continued discomfort. I was skeptical at first, but every time I leave Allison's office I can actually feel the difference in my body, the way that I walk and the way that I carry myself. I have continued to go because I am an avid water skier and I find that she continuously helps me overcome the minor injuries that go with the sport and my other activities. Working with Allison has been a pleasure because of her personality, experience, knowledge and dedication to her craft. I also like that she continues to grow and challenge herself to learn new things. I just wish I could go more often!

I found out about Rolfing four years ago while searching for a way to help with back pain caused by scoliosis and sitting at a desk all day. I decided to try it out based on all of the positive things I read online and I have not been disappointed. I didn’t notice any drastic results right away but after several sessions my normal began to shift from discomfort and pain in my back to not noticing it at all. My scoliosis also became less noticeable and a family member that I had not seen in a while commented that I looked taller. I have continued to do sessions every month or two to keep everything where it’s supposed to be and to take care of new issues that come up, whiplash being one of them. Allison is an intelligent, caring person who is dedicated to her work. She has taken the time to learn about me and give me advice on how to prevent issues from coming back. She is also trained in other practices such as yoga and craniosacral therapy which she has used to enhance her work on me. I highly recommend Allison to anyone who is considering trying out Rolfing.

I first came to Allison for help recovering from a leg injury. I had torn my calf muscle on an easy run. I was beginning to believe that my injury, slow recovery and multitude of deep aches and pains were just symptoms of getting older and that I should resign myself to lowering my expectations about how healthy feels at forty years old. After seeing Allison for a little over six months, my tune has seriously changed. I have experienced profound changes in the way I feel, look and move. My body has never felt more like home than it does today. A strong, stable, relaxed, grounded and flexible home. Allison possesses an amazing amount of wisdom about the structure, alignment and kinesiology of the human body. I will be forever grateful that our paths have crossed.

What first brought me to Allison was a right hip issue. While teaching a group exercise class, I could no longer demonstrate lunges because it was so painful. A friend recommended I see Allison and explained what Rolfing was to me. I had NEVER heard of it before, and even had to ask my friend how to spell it. At this point, I had been teaching exercise classes for 20 years, and had 3 C-section deliveries within the last 5 years. All these factors, plus daily life stress, led up to my hip issue. I asked around to see if anyone else I knew had heard of Rolfing. The ones who had responded with “Man – that is excruciating, but totally worth it!” As much as my hip hurt, I really wasn’t interested in MORE pain to fix the problem. I called Allison after checking out her website, explained my issue, and asked her to please be up-front about the level of pain. If it was as bad as everyone else said it was, then I would find a different solution. Allison said on a scale of 1-10, most clients would say the intensity is never more than a 4. Okay, I thought, I can handle a 4, so I set an appointment. I have told the story of my first appointment with Allison MANY times – it is something I will never forget. I had not told my husband about the appointment, afraid he would not be supportive. I was also still skeptical, but figured I had nothing to lose. Allison did an initial assessment, asking lots of questions, then watched me walk back & forth. When she had me lie down on the massage table, she started messing with my right foot. It felt as if one of my kids was gently poking me to get my attention. In my head I thought, “Oh great! This is it? My husband is going to kill me if he finds out I spent money to get my foot poked. What does my foot have to do with my hip? Not sure why other people said it was excruciating – it doesn’t feel like she’s doing anything.” Then Allison broke my internal conversation and asked me to walk again. The moment I stood up from that table, my right foot went flat against the ground, my hip shot back in place, and I could stand up without any pain. It felt like a miracle, and I was completely sold on Rolfing and Allison’s expertise. I know others have not had as dramatic of an experience, but anyone I have ever referred to Allison has had a positive experience working through their own muscle & alignment issues WITHOUT experiencing excruciating pain - including my husband ☺ WHAT KEEPS ME COMING BACK: A painful issue got me in the door, but Allison's ability to help me create muscle symmetry is what keeps me as a client. Having Allison's help to keep my alignment intact allows me to live an active lifestyle without ''working through pain." Whether it is teaching classes, going on hikes with the family, playing tennis, or enjoying the occasional run, I want to enjoy ALL these activities and more without complaining about back / hip / knee / foot / shoulder, or any other kind of pain for as long as I can. Allison is a remarkable in many ways. She is an excellent listener, and is incredibly thoughtful & gentle in her recommendations. I always feel "lifted up" after leaving a session with her, never beaten down by what I haven't done right. I'm constantly amazed at her passion for further education in her field, and feel I always benefit from the latest research and techniques in regards to Rolfing. I am very proud to have been one of Allison's clients for the past 5 years, and would whole-heartedly recommend her services to anyone looking to bring balance to their bodies.

I have been going to Allison since early 2011. At that time, I was 55 years old and it seems when you get older your body does not respond as it did twenty years earlier. Being in the amusement business from my early 20s moving pool tables, pinballs, etc. I had plenty of time to abuse my body as well as gain additional  weight due my metabolism slowing down over the years. In my early 40’s, I started to go to a chiropractor for my back aches as well as have an occasional massage, which only provided me temporary relief. In my late 40s, I partially tore both meniscuses simultaneously when I sat back on my legs cleaning a floor. I went to an orthopedic doc who wanted to use the knife. I decided otherwise and just dealt with the pain. A few years later I tried Synvisc to lubricate my knee joints. That provided temporary relief for a few years but the pain never completely went away. I exercised less because of my knees and got to weigh more than I had ever before. About a year before I went to Allison, I decided that to help my knees I would lose weight through diet and exercise. In the mean time the wheels continued to fall off. I hurt my shoulder picking up a 100lb 14 year old dog who at the time was having trouble getting up.I could not move my arm above my shoulder ("frozen shoulder"). I went back to the doc who wanted (you guessed it)  to use the knife, so I went to the chiropractor who helped unstick my shoulder but could not restore my full range of motion. By this time my wife said " Why don't you go to a Rolfer?" Not knowing much about Rolfing, I read up on it and figured I had nothing to lose. I booked an appointment with Allison after doing a search on the internet. It was one of the best choices of my life. I started out seeing Allison about twice a month. She has helped me with my problem areas- shoulders, back, knees, posture, carpal tunnel and more (losing 25 lbs and casual exercise has not hurt either).Through her gentle but firm touch she she has awakened parts of me that I never knew existed and helped blood flow back into the tissue she would break up through her whole body approach.This has allowed me to get my full range of motion back in  my shoulders. Allison helped my posture that has helped my back ( I have not been to a chiropractor since Rolfing). My right knee no longer has any pain and my left one probably would not either, if our new dogs had not clipped me from behind, but it is still far better than it was when I started with Allison, plus I have no scar tissue or rehab from surgery. My carpal tunnel is gone thanks to Rolfing and some simple exercises she recommended. Besides Rolfing, what makes Allison special is that she continues to educate herself about the human mind and body and takes that knowledge and applies it in her practice. I still and will continue to see Allison about once a month for maintenance as I am not getting any younger although I feel a lot younger due to seeing Aliison. One thing to remember, although you may experience some immediate relief from Rolfing in one session, it will probably take several sessions and in my case what took 55 years of abuse to develop, I could see dramatic change in the way my body felt and continues to feel within a year. Thanks Allison! By the way I continue to move amusements devices. I just hope I will still be able to get an appointment after this testimonial, as she is already popular.

Good health was something I had in abundance. Then I had abdominal surgery and within a year’s time I could hardly walk or sit due to shooting pain down my left leg. I had gone to a physician, chiropractor, physical therapist, and massage therapist as well as undergoing tests and getting orthotics to no avail. The massage therapist I saw had been a professional dancer and suggested I try Rolfing as it had been very beneficial to her during her dancing career. She did some research and recommended I try Allison and I am so glad I did! While it has been a long road with many discoveries, including the fact that I needed to learn how to walk, balance and breathe correctly, I am back to my active self with a few limitations and modifications. Unfortunately, one does not undo 50+ years of doing things incorrectly overnight. Allison has been wonderfully compassionate, caring and creative throughout the process. She is highly professional and is invested in using all her skills to help discover and resolve my physical issues.

I began seeing Allison Benner in 2009. As a mother, a hairdresser, and a yoga teacher, I thought that I had a pretty strong grasp on how to live in my body, especially since I'd had it for a few decades. Allison's practice had moved in next door, so out of curiosity, I decided to give it a try. If you had asked me about my health, I would have said it was good. I had no real problems, maybe tight-ish shoulders from wielding a blow drier for a number of years, but nothing out of the ordinary.

I didn't really know what Rolfing was and I thought maybe an aggressive form of massage, so I was surprised when Allison asked me to walk around the room as she observed my gait. It's been a few years, so the details are foggy, but in the hour and a half we spent together, my experience of my body changed forever.

This might sound funny, but I didn't know that I had been suffering from low grade chronic pain for as long as I could remember. I just assumed how I felt was normal. Mistakenly, after years of teaching yoga, I thought that tucking my pelvis and lifting my ribcage was the ideal posture to hold on and off the mat. This had created a tightness between my shoulder blades that was impacting every other part of my body.

In that first session, Allison taught me how to walk with greater ease and gave me tips and stretching techniques to work with between visits. She re-acquainted me with my natural posture and after my second session, I had no more pain in my body. By spending the time to introduce me to my natural state of balance, she gave me an example of what's possible, and all the tools I needed to continue the work at home.

I have been gratefully seeing Allison for five years now. She is my consistent go to when my body needs support. Every time I leave I feel that I have a wider range of motion in all of my muscles and joints, and simply put, more room in my body. I see her every couple of months or so, and am consistently impressed with her dedication to ongoing education & her devotion to learning new techniques.

Allison is a master in her field, and I love that she has something new to share with me every time I see her.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Allison for two years now. I originally came to her for problems in my low back associated with a herniated disc. Her methods and practices have given me so much physical relief, but a session with her goes beyond her physical touch. She is not only a healer, but a teacher as well. Her knowledge of the body and all it's systems, and how our brain communicates with all those systems is what truly makes her special. She shares this knowledge with you as she works with you. Whether it's a recommendation for an exercise at home, or a better pair of shoes, or a great book to aid you in your healing, she is there to help you get well. I have not only benefited from her therapy, but her knowledge as well. I have learned so much about my body and am in a much better place physically and mentally because of her. Before I met Allison I thought perhaps I would have to resign myself to living In pain. After working with her, I know that couldn't be further from the truth. I hope she never stops doing what she's doing!

Rolfing has complimented my lifestyle in so many ways. Growing up and through my 20's I was an avid sports enthusiast. Soccer, tennis, running daily... I played soccer since I was 5 and then competitively through college. It was about 4 years ago that I was having ultra-tight calves after doing any activities for longer than 30 minutes. The tight calves were leading to many other muscle issues even up into my shoulders...It was time to give Rolfing a chance...luckily Allison was close. Once I spoke with Allison about my issues she walked me through the program. I did 10 visits in 6 months. After my first visit I was confident this could work...by the 4th visit I was well on my way. Allison explained Rolfing throughout the process and educated me on each and every area she worked on. I was back to running and playing soccer within 3 weeks of visits. I finished the first 10 sessions and continue to go back every 3-5 weeks for tune-ups. The tune-ups work on pretty much any issues from tightness in the forearms from being on a computer all day to sore hips...the tune-ups sometimes are just top to bottom to help posture My question is always- "How do people not get Rolfing done in order to maintain quality of life?"

Receiving Allison's specialized form of Rolfing work throughout my entire pregnancy and post-partum (& onward) has been tremendously supportive to me and my baby! My growing and changing body was educated from Allison's insights of how to move with more integrity, more wisely by learning how to carry myself with increased awareness in the foundation of my feet, all the way upward through my hips, pelvis, chest, neck, head...this whole ladder of integrated parts that she cares for brings forth a feeling a wholeness I am so thankful to have had such great pain relief from Allison's work on my hips, pelvis and sciatic area during pregnancy. I felt more spacious and lighter in my body as Allison worked with the connective tissue, fascia, nerve pathways and musculature to bring an expansive feeling to me and my baby's evolving positioning in utero. I have learned how to better breath into areas of my body that were feeling comprised or even "collapsed". Areas of my body that I didn't even realize were "stuck" & have been freed, reeducated and aligned to bring me more ease, grace and comfort. The scope of Allison's knowledge base, experience and additional holistic views on how the Somatic Body-Mind work together is just one of many other added benefits that she is able to offer as she integrates all her fields of study into a "more than just Rolfing" approach to her therapeutic offerings. I am so grateful for all I have received from Allison's skilled, caring and highly effective work!

A year ago I survived a serious neck injury. I broke three vertebrae in my neck, C1, C6, and C7 from a diving accident. Throughout my recovery, I have been interested in learning and experimenting with different modalities to relieve my neck and low-back pain, and my deteriorating posture.

I am always excited yet a bit skeptical when trying a new practice of any kind. After my first session with Allison, I felt an immediate response from my body. Not only did my body seem more relaxed and at peace, but it felt balanced and realigned.

Since my first session was such a positive experience and because I felt instant relief from Allison's work, I returned to become a regular client of Rolfing. After a few more sessions with Allison my neck and low-back pain had significantly decreased and I could sleep comfortably through the night. Range of motion in my neck increased dramatically and my entire body was more at ease. I feel very comfortable with Allison and really enjoy her style of practice. She has an amazing energy while working with you and is very tuned into your body. She is very specific and clear in the way she explains her techniques as well as the results from her work. I am a complete advocate of Rolfing and love what it has done for me physically as well as mentally!

Ten years prior to discovering Rolfing I had a herniated disk in my back(L4-L5), a ruptured disk (L5-S1) and had surgery to repair the damage. That "repair" lasted for about three years before the pain started coming back. The pain became part of my daily life. Everyday was painful, some days severely, but I managed to continue on. After seeing me hobbling around the office a coworker told me about Rolfing and how it had helped his back problem. I was ready to try anything so I called the Rolf Institute and that's how I met Allison. Allison was very patient, understanding and was able to sense my pain. She was always making sure that nothing we did caused me further pain. Allison's professionalism really showed when my hip/back 'locked up' on the table and I couldn't even sit up. She very calmly rolled me over and started working on my sacrum and hips. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I didn't feel anything distinct occur, like the crack of a chiropractic adjustment, but my body knew something drastic had changed. It was very emotional. After that session my back pain was greatly reduced. Since completing the full 10 session series I've had very little, short term, back pain. Perhaps one day a month do I even think about my back. Working with Allison and going through the Rolfing series has changed my life. I used to spend many nights laying on the floor in agony, desperately trying to crack my back to relieve the pain. Now, I am able to enjoy life again. My wife has noticed the improvement in my attitude and general disposition, as have I. And my climbing has improved as well.

After working with Allison through the ten series I was able to reach a new level of physical health. With each session, I could feel dramatic changes in the range of motion in each area of my body. All of my muscle groups started to feel more fluid and after a few months I was the strongest and most pain free I had been in years. Allison was able to correct my form on certain exercises and show me how to properly build up the strength of my lower back. All along, Allison had been emphasizing how important it was to stretch a little each day and would give me little things to do as homework in between sessions. As I became more flexible I noticed a huge increase in the stability of my body. Allison's other passion is Yoga and she blended it seamlessly with my physical development. Allison was able to tailor a routine specifically to my needs and I use it regularly. Rather than just fix my problem, Allison was genuinely interested in educating me to avoid further problems and have a better quality of life. I recommended my sister to Allison who has had chronic back pain due to 15 years of gymnastics and three back surgeries with varying degrees of success. After going through the same process of Rolfing and Yoga my sister is now pain free and my entire family credits Allison with her new look on life. Fifty years down the road I will credit Allison with my families continued health and well being. She has been an amazing resource and I always look forward to learning something new from her.