“Change. It has the power to uplift, to heal, to stimulate, surprise, open new doors, bring fresh experience and create excitement in life. Certainly it is worth the risk.”
— Leo Buscaglia
Body Psychotherapy
Our personality is made up of many different parts created by our core values, attitudes, memories, fears and self-perceptions. In response to certain life events, some parts of our personality formed to help us cope. These coping mechanisms shape how we react to situations, both internally and outwardly.
Often these coping mechanisms are healthy, but there are other times when they hinder our ability to thrive, grow and maintain healthy relationships.
Body psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach that identifies the coping mechanism and its origin and helps you identify new support systems that transform harmful unhealthy patterns to behaviors that support your goals and desires. These new connections increase your sense of safety and trust, no longer triggering survival modes from the past.
Still have questions? Here’s an example of what you might expect during a session:
Jodi (not her real name), a 50-year-old wife and mother came to see me hoping to improve the relationship with her husband. Friction between Jodi and her husband had been mounting and they often found themselves in a pattern of silence, resentment and argument.
During our phone consultation, I’d told Cindy about the friction between my husband Greg and me, so she had a sense of what I wanted to work on. When I came to see Cindy, we took an approach that was different then other therapy approaches I tried. While I expected that we’d jump right into talking about how Greg wasn’t doing his share in the marriage, Cindy first asked how I was feeling. She noticed that my body looked tense. I have always carried most of my tension in my shoulders and neck and I have to say, it was comforting just that she noticed the tension. It felt good to “be seen”.
After a few minutes of conversation, Cindy asked if I’d like to lie on the table to do some table work. Because of the environment she created, I was very open to trying something new.
On the table, through Cindy’s facilitation, I had a greater sense of my body. We talked about how for all these years I held my stress in my shoulders and how it actually has caused physical discomfort. Cindy brought me through a process where I came to acknowledge those parts of my body that had bared the burden of my stress and how I could invite other parts of my body to share in supporting me during difficult times. It was really quite amazing. I had taken for granted the way my body reacts to stress and never thought to acknowledge it or be grateful to it for how it supported me. Just how it felt good that Cindy ‘saw’ me, it felt wonderful for me to ‘see me’ too.
After the table work I was much more aware of my own reactions to stress and felt more prepared to stop involuntarily reacting to situations with my husband.
CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release®
CranioSacral Therapy was pioneered and developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger following extensive scientific studies from 1975 to 1983 at Michigan State University, where he served as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics.
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Using a soft touch, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.
SomatoEmotional Release is a therapeutic process that uses and expands on the principles of CranioSacral Therapy to help rid the mind and body of the residual effects of trauma. SomatoEmotional Release offers applications designed to enhance the results of CranioSacral Therapy and other complementary therapies.
Reiki
There is life because a life force energy flows through things. This life force nourishes the organs and cells of the body, supporting them in their essential functions, yet thoughts and feelings can influence its flow. When this flow of life force is disrupted and left untreated it weakens the overall physical body. Disruptions include everyday stresses and worries, anxiety and depression, minor/major illnesses, and surgeries, any of which can compromise the well-being, health and balance of your whole self. Background and Training
