The Story Behind Ablework

Ablework is informed not only by my professional training, but also by my personal experience of living with trauma-related gripping and tension from being in a prolonged state of high alert. I was often told I was too young to have muscles that tight and sore, and while I occasionally would find some short term relief, a lot of those bracing patterns followed me well into adulthood. This ongoing problem was internalized as a false belief: there was just something wrong with me. 

PamFounder, Ablework

Now that I understand how to guide people in working with their nervous systems—cultivating trust, recognizing support and exploring more comfortable patterns of movement—I want to offer others the understanding I once needed: that their bodies are not failing them, and that change can begin with awareness and curiosity rather than force.

My approach to supporting addiction recovery begins with a somewhat unconventional idea: our bodies care for us through their remarkable ability to adapt. They do their best to manage whatever they encounter: trauma, the physical effects of substance use, pain or prolonged postures.

Over time, these adaptations may appear as patterns of gripping, bracing or compensation. I don’t view these patterns as failures; they often began as intelligent attempts to protect and support us.

At the heart of Ablework is helping people become curious about whether those patterns are still needed—and explore more comfortable, supportive ways of moving when they are not.

Ablework was developed to bring this kind of exploration into the recovery experience—giving people an opportunity to become curious about how they move, the effort they use, the patterns they notice, and what else might be available.