About the Prenatal and Perinatal Somatics  Institute

Mission Statement: To provide professional education that supports the health of human development starting preconception, especially trauma prevention interventions and treatments that include preconception history, conception and prenatal challenges, birth and after birth experiences for families with babies, and adults with early experiences that impact health lifelong.

About: PPSI has grown over decades of experience through the work of Kate White, MA, BCBMT, RCST®, CEIM, SEP, PPNE, PLC and her direct mentors (see Legacy). The term "prenatal and perinatal somatics" was coined by Ray Castellino, DC (retired), BCST, RPP, creator of the Castellino Training Corporation and the Castellino Foundation Training. His training of practitioners developed out of his years in training with William Emerson, Franklyn Sills, and Anna Chitty. Over many years of working together, the pioneers in the field of prenatal and perinatal (PPN) study captured the essence of human development in our bodies starting preconception. They also were able to name the layers of our human experience as we come into form, including preconception, conception, prenatal life, birth and after birth. Prenatal and perinatal somatics combines earliest experience, the study of energy medicine, somatic trauma awareness and healing, and bodywork approaches.

Ray used to say that prenatal and perinatal experiences are somatic, implicit memories in our bodies. This past decade has seen the acceptance of these implicit, bodily felt memories. Therapies and medical approaches now include our earliest experiences.    

Kate White, MA, BCBMT, RCST®, CEIM, SEP, PPNE, PLC
Founder and Executive Director

Our Institute offers education on a continuum, from more medical and academic offerings for professionals with Masters and PhD level education, and medical providers to somatic trauma professional training to prevent and treat birth trauma, manual therapy training for pediatric professionals and our graduates from the Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Dynamics Program, and an advanced professional bodywork training for practitioners wanting to work with adults with earliest trauma. 

Staff

PPSI is run by Kate, and her husband Bret.
Our training programs are run by excellent staff all described in the pages connected to those programs. All administrative tasks are completed by Kate and Bret. We are truly a family run trade and connect deeply on the values of our health and over 35 years of marriage. We have raised 2 children who are now grown and have their own lives in the world. We love our dog, Cody, our cats and our home. You will often find us gardening or walking the local trails of Charlottesville, VA where we live.