After long periods of high stress, your nervous system goes into overdrive, and this can prevent you from being in the present moment, relaxing, enjoying life, and connecting with others. Body-centered Psychotherapy can help you to reconnect with your body and emotions, so that you can reset your nervous system and restore a sense of wellbeing.
Trauma is biological – it causes chronic changes to your immune system, endocrine (hormonal) system and even ages you faster. This is why more than talking therapy alone is required to repair your nervous system and heal trauma.
Since my background, prior to becoming a Trauma Psychotherapist, was working as a fitness professional and holistic bodyworker for 30 years, I weave the vast experience I gained then, into my Polyvagal work now to help you to create a better mind-body connection.
On a cellular level, your body holds your traumatic events and unresolved emotional issues. These can become ‘trapped’ inside you. So during your 1:1 consultations, I will work with a strong emphasis on:
Proprioception – often known as the sixth sense, as it is the sense that tells the body where it is in space. It’s very important to the brain, as it plays a large role in self- regulation, co-ordination, posture, speech, body awareness, and the ability to focus.
We receive proprioceptive input from our sensory receptors located in our skin, muscles and joints. Proprioception activities could include weighting, holding, squeezing, leaning, pushing or pulling. These body-based techniques help you to feel calm and focused.
Embodiment – is when you pay attention to your physical sensations through awareness and checking in with your body. For example: Where do you feel the strongest physical sensations in your body? What do you notice about your breathing? Where do you sense areas of tension?
When you learn to sense and feel your body in this way, you are able to communicate more effectively with your body and you learn to take actions that help you take care of its needs, instead of ignoring your sensations, overriding your needs and ending up feeling anxious and out of control.
Somatic ~ means body based. You learn how to tune in and listen to your body, your physical sensations, breathing, posture, habitual movement patterns, including exploring different ways of moving, and responding to physical sensations.
Developing an awareness of bodily sensations teaches you how to feel safe in your body again. In this way your body becomes a powerful and valuable resource that helps you to change old habits and make new healthier choices.
Myofascial Tension – is deeply stored tension in your body that may cause chronic pain and inflammation. Myofascial release (sometimes with the use of balls, tennis balls, etc.) helps you to unwind old emotional patterns to create long lasting change to your nervous system.
Fascia, the connective tissue network in your body, plays a significant role in storing and releasing trauma-related physical and emotional stress. When your body experiences trauma, whether physical or emotional, the fascia can become restricted and tense, impacting your posture, movement, and overall well-being.
Enteric Nervous System – your gut is your known as your second brain because it manufactures neurotransmitters and regulates your mood. Your gut contains 100 million neurons (more than the spinal cord) and it can change the brain circuitry and rewire the brain.
It has an enormous influence on your thoughts, feelings, emotions and decision making. We can heal it with food, lifestyle choices and by learning specific body-based practices that repair the gut and microbiome.
Heart Rate Variability – is a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat. This variation is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. It works behind the scenes, automatically regulating your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and digestion.
It relates to psychological resiliency and your capacity to self-regulate and effectively adapt to changing social or environmental demands. Learning specific body-based techniques helps you to know what you can do to improve your heart rate variability and tone your vagus nerve.
How are you feeling after reading this? Interested to find out more about how you can restore your mind-body connection? This blog is just a brief outline of Body-Based Psychotherapy. If you are looking for some more individualised guidance or someone who really understands the mind-body connection, I would be delighted to provide confidential 1:1 sessions to help you to overcome your trauma symptoms.
Visit www.caroline-king.co.uk