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Food, The Body, and Trauma and Attachment
The Body Isn’t the Problem; it’s the answer. – Rachel Lewis-Marlow In our CCIH Study Group in August we decided to change up our usual routine and discuss a podcast. We choose Food, The Body, and Trauma and Attachment with Guests Paula Scatoloni & Rachel Lewis-Marlow from the Therapist Uncensored podcast series. I have often…
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Yoga-Informed Psychotherapy: Yoga can happen off the mat
Yoga – so very misunderstood. I still remember when I thought that yoga was just exercises with some breathing thrown in. I was 12 years old and very bendy when I picked up a yoga book and thought the poses were cool. It wasn’t until I took the yoga teacher training at the Temple of…
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Why I Love Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Approaches
Like many therapists, my education and training in clinical psychotherapy primarily comes from a psychodynamic framework. I learned all about relational and attachment psychotherapy, family systems theory, as well as some cognitive-behavioral approaches and basic mindfulness techniques here and there. I am so grateful for all of this foundational framework and I consider it all…
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A Tale of Three States
We live in a story that originates in our autonomic state, is sent through autonomic pathways from the body to the brain, and is then translated by the brain into the beliefs that guide our daily living. The mind narrates what the nervous system knows. Story follows state. (The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy, p. 35)…
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The Politics of Mental Health
As therapists we cannot deny that our work, our clients, and ourselves are directly impacted by the context in which we live. The work we practice daily in our offices is affected by the political systems around us–systems that often have been oppressive to the most vulnerable in our communities. Bessel van der Kolk poignantly…
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CCIH Welcomes Deb Dana
CCIH is pleased to welcome Deb Dana June 28-29 for Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation: A Polyvagal Theory Guided Approach to Therapy. During this two-day, experiential workshop, Deb Dana will share her Polyvagal Theory guided approach to therapy. Watch an interview with Deb Dana for David Van Nuys, Phd’s Shrink Wrapped Radio podcast.
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Why I’m Passionate About Somatic Psychotherapy
Many years ago I attended a workshop for an upcoming training in Somatic Experiencing. The trainer, Ariel Giaretto was asked a question about birth trauma and as part of her response she said: “Premies have one foot in this world and one foot still in the last.” She described my life in that one sentence…
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“Why Don’t You like CBT (Cognitive behavior therapy)?”
An innocent question – asked of me by a client in a recent session. “Because it is only cognitive and accessing other parts of experience are essential for healing” was my brief reply. But I found myself thinking more about the question later… I have been a practicing therapist, specializing in the treatment of…
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Window of Tolerance
You might already be familiar with the Window of Tolerance (WofT) from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, as developed by Pat Ogden. It is an amazing tool for navigating our own inner sensory landscape as we move through life! WOT also provides a great framework for thinking about mindfulness practices, including iRest Yoga Nidra. Through deeper self-understanding, we can explore…