The Polyvagal Theory: Mapping the Nervous System

In somatic therapies, one of the first steps in your session work will be developing your understanding of how your body reacts to stress and emotions. The Polyvagal Theory simplifies this by explaining your body's natural responses, and helping you develop a “map” as you navigate daily life and the stressors that come your way. Let's break this down a little bit.

Meet Your Nervous System

Your body has a control center: the nervous system. It has two branches.

1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): Activation

2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): Rest or Freeze

Polyvagal Theory in a Nutshell

The Polyvagal Theory shows that your nervous system isn't just on/off; it has 3 main responses:

1. Dorsal Vagal Response: "Freeze or fawn" mode in extreme stress, leading to disconnection, or dissociation.

2. Sympathetic Response: The known "fight or flight" mode, spiking anxiety or fear.

3. Ventral Vagal Response: The state of well-being and connection. Rest.

Trauma-Informed Healing

Understanding the Polyvagal Theory can empower your healing process, and help you develop a shared language with your therapist, yoga teacher, or other trauma informed provider. This will support you in:

1. Recognizing Your Responses: Through map building, you will develop understanding of your reactions to stress.

2. Self-Regulating: Through session work, you will learn techniques to attend to those emotions and how to reconnect and ground yourself.

3. Building Connections: Through the relationship, you will strengthen your ability to communicate your Needs, and maintain Boundaries, which will support the connection with healthy relationships in your life.

Therapy and healing from trauma does not have to be just talking; it can include understanding your body and learning about your emotions to find trust, compassion, clarity, and connection.

Book Recommendations from a Trauma Therapist

As a trauma therapist, I understand the power of knowledge and resources to aid in the healing journey. In this blog post, I am sharing my personal favorites that have profoundly impacted my practice and can benefit both therapists and folx seeking mental health education on their path to healing from trauma. These recommendations are deeply rooted in my experience as a trauma therapist, and I believe they can provide valuable insights and tools for anyone ready to better understand the legacy of trauma.

1. "No Bad Parts" by Richard C. Schwartz

"No Bad Parts" by Richard C. Schwartz is a transformative book that introduces the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, an advanced approach to therapy. IFS recognizes that every person's psyche is composed of various "parts," each with its own unique role and intentions. This book empowers therapists to understand and work with these parts to help folx navigate their trauma and inner conflicts.

Schwartz's approach is deeply compassionate and encourages us to approach the inner world with curiosity, understanding, and empathy. It provides a roadmap for integrating parts and fostering inner harmony and self-compassion, making it a must-read for therapists and those in therapy.

2. "It Didn't Start with You" by Mark Wolynn

Mark Wolynn's "It Didn't Start with You" offers a profound exploration of how generational trauma can impact people and family systems. Wolynn delves into the science of epigenetics and the intergenerational transfer of trauma, providing a deep understanding of how trauma can influence one's present experiences.

This book is a valuable resource for any reader, shedding light on the complex web of generational trauma and offering practical exercises and case studies to help us recognize and resolve these ancestral wounds. "It Didn't Start with You" serves as a rich resource for therapists seeking to understand and address generational trauma, and it offers hope and insights for all of us as we navigate this challenging terrain.

So if you are looking to learn more about trauma, and need somewhere to start, then I recommend these titles. The both offer knowledge, insight, and practical tools for understanding and recovering from trauma. Whether you're a therapist looking to enhance your practice or someone seeking healing, these books can be valuable companions on your path to recovery and growth.

The Three Stages of Trauma Healing

Trauma can leave deep scars on the human psyche, affecting not only our mental and emotional well-being but also our physical health. Fortunately, trauma therapy offers a path to recovery, helping folx reclaim their lives and find a sense of peace and resilience. Trauma therapy typically consists of three distinct stages: stabilization, processing, and integration. In this blog post, we will explore these stages and their significance in the journey towards healing and recovery.

Stage 1: Stabilization

The first stage of trauma therapy is often referred to as the stabilization phase. This stage is crucial for providing a safe and supportive environment for the individual to regain a sense of stability and control. Trauma can disrupt a person's life, leaving them feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and disconnected from their own emotions. Stabilization aims to address these immediate concerns and pave the way for further healing.

1. Safety and Trust Building: The therapist's primary focus in this stage is to establish trust and ensure the individual feels safe. Trust is vital because trauma often erodes a person's sense of safety, and without trust, effective therapy is challenging.

2. Symptom Reduction: Individuals may be experiencing symptoms such as panic attacks, nightmares, or flashbacks. Stabilization therapy helps reduce these symptoms and teaches coping strategies to manage them.

3. Emotional Regulation: Learning to regulate emotions is essential for those who have experienced trauma. Techniques like mindfulness and relaxation exercises are introduced to help individuals manage overwhelming emotions.

4. Psychoeducation: Clients are provided with information about trauma, its effects, and how therapy works. This knowledge empowers them to understand their experiences better and engage actively in the healing process.

Stage 2: Processing

After establishing a foundation of safety and stability, the therapy progresses to the processing stage. In this phase, the individual begins to confront and explore the traumatic memories and associated emotions.

1. Narrative Therapy: Clients are encouraged to share their traumatic experiences and create a coherent narrative of their past. This can help them gain a more comprehensive understanding of their trauma and how it has affected their lives.

2. EMDR and Brainspotting: Therapists may utilize techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting to help individuals process and reframe their traumatic memories. Brainspotting is particularly effective for accessing deep-seated trauma by identifying specific "brainspots" that hold emotional or sensory experiences related to the trauma.

3. Emotion Expression: In this stage, clients are encouraged to express their suppressed emotions and fears in a controlled and therapeutic setting. This emotional release can be both liberating and healing.

4. Meaning-Making: Clients work on finding meaning and a sense of closure regarding their traumatic experiences. This often involves addressing the questions of "Why did this happen to me?" and "How has it affected my life?"

Stage 3: Integration

The final stage of trauma therapy is integration. This phase focuses on helping the individual integrate the insights and healing gained in the previous stages into their everyday life.

1. Identity Reconstruction: Clients explore how their trauma has shaped their self-identity and work on reconstructing a healthier self-concept.

2. Relationship Repair: Trauma often impacts relationships. In this stage, clients may address how trauma has affected their interactions with others and work on improving those relationships.

3. Future-Oriented: Integration is about moving forward and developing a vision for the future. Clients set goals, make plans, and work on developing a life that is not solely defined by their trauma.

4. Relapse Prevention: Therapists help clients develop strategies to prevent relapses into old patterns and behaviors associated with their trauma.

Trauma therapy is a non-linear journey with three stages: stabilization, processing, and integration. Each stage plays a crucial role in helping individuals heal from the legacy of trauma and restore connection in their lives. With time, patience, and a commitment to the therapeutic process, folx can find the strength to overcome their trauma and embark on a path toward a balanced, more fulfilling life.

Exploring the Power of Brainspotting: A Doorway to Healing

In the realm of mental health and therapy, innovative techniques continue to emerge, offering hope and healing to those grappling with trauma, anxiety, and a myriad of emotional challenges. One such breakthrough approach is "Brainspotting," a therapeutic method that has gained recognition and acclaim for its ability to unlock the inner workings of the brain to facilitate profound healing. In this blog post, we'll delve into the fascinating world of Brainspotting, its principles, and how it can be a potent tool for personal transformation.

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting, developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003, is a powerful therapeutic technique grounded in the belief that where you look affects how you feel. It operates on the premise that our eyes are the windows to our brains, offering a direct portal to our inner experiences and emotions. Unlike traditional talk therapy, Brainspotting seeks to bypass the conscious mind and tap into the deep reservoirs of the subconscious.

How Does It Work?

1. Identifying Brainspots: In a Brainspotting session, a trained therapist helps the client pinpoint "brainspots." These are specific eye positions or points in the visual field that are directly linked to a traumatic memory, negative emotion, or unresolved issue. Brainspots are believed to hold the key to processing and releasing these emotional blockages.

2. Focused Mindfulness: Once a brainspot is identified, the client maintains their gaze on it while revisiting the associated emotions and memories. This sustained focus allows the individual to access and process the unresolved material, often leading to a significant reduction in emotional distress.

3. Integration and Healing: Brainspotting facilitates the integration of fragmented experiences and emotions. As the session progresses, the therapist and client work together to release trapped emotions, promote healing, and create new neural pathways for healthier responses to past triggers.

Why Choose Brainspotting?

1. Targeted Healing: Brainspotting can be particularly effective for individuals who have struggled with traditional talk therapy or find it challenging to verbalize their emotions. By accessing the subconscious through the eyes, Brainspotting provides a unique route to healing.

2. Versatility: Brainspotting is a versatile approach that can be used to address a wide range of issues, including trauma, anxiety, depression, emotional overwhelm, and chronic pain.

3. Lasting Benefits: Many clients report long-lasting benefits from Brainspotting, with profound changes in their emotional well-being and the ability to cope with life's challenges.

Brainspotting represents a promising frontier in the world of therapy, offering a unique and effective approach to addressing deep-seated emotional issues. By leveraging the mind's connection to the eyes, it opens up new possibilities for healing and personal growth. If you've been struggling with unresolved emotional challenges, Brainspotting may offer you a path towards greater well-being and resilience. Request an initial consultation with me today if you’re interested in learning more about this modality!