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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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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…
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An Overview of the Comprehensive Resource Model
I was introduced to the Comprehensive Resource Model, or CRM, about 4 years ago, which was (and continues to be) developed by Lisa Schwarz. As a trauma informed and attachment informed therapist, I see a lot of people struggling with complex trauma and attachment wounds and was frustrated by the limitations of talk therapy. So…
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Creating Safe, Affirming Spaces for People of All Sizes
There are few experiences as disheartening as going to a new place – a doctor’s office, a restaurant, a hair salon – and finding that it was not designed with my body in mind. (Don’t even get me started on airplanes). As a fat woman navigating a world made for people with thin bodies, I…
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Sex – a Mindful Exploration of the Experience of Pleasure in the Body
Bringing mindfulness to your sexual experience can begin to offer a more nuanced understanding of your own experience in your body. It’s often true that unless something is wrong, we don’t spend much time noticing what’s right. And when it comes to sex, our feelings and experiences can be complicated by trauma or fear, which…
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Trauma Outside the Box
These days we hear more and more about services and programs that call themselves “trauma-informed”. I often find myself curious about what that actually means. When we use the word trauma, we are calling to mind the worst of what we as human beings suffer and do to one another. The consequences of trauma occupy…
