Posted by Daisym on December 5, 2007, at 2:08:37
In reply to Somatic Experiencing, posted by Cecilia on December 4, 2007, at 6:09:11
Peter Levine's "stuff" was part of my training program for infants and young children. We trained to observe their somatic responses, as well as their caregivers, to assess for non-verbal communication between the pairs. It was really amazing.
In my own therapy, if we are working on a young age, or there is something nonverbal happening, my therapist will ask me what is happening in my body and to focus on it as much as I can tolerate it. The idea is that trauma is stored in the body in all different ways and needs to be accessed and released if possible. It is sometimes AWFUL to focus on these feelings, I want to escape desperately. Like today - my shoes felt too tight. Now what was that about? We have a way to return safely to breathing - it works to concentrate on his breathing in order to calm myself.
There are a couple of good books - we use "The Body Remembers" - and I know a few people who are doing holding therapy. It is a very intimate and scary thing to work on - you needs lots of support around this.
poster:Daisym
thread:798687
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20071204/msgs/798866.html