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Stress and the Art of Self-Regulation: The Mind-Body Connection
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Transcript of Stress and the Art of Self-Regulation: The Mind-Body Connection
Brandy Vanderheiden MFT SEP
Stress and the Art of Self-Regulation:
The Mind-Body Connection
Experiment: Grounding Exercise
Keeping the nervous system in mind, we find:
Any intervention you try with someone is an experiment to see how their nervous system will respond.
There is no intervention that has universally beneficial results
Findings
As therapists and supporters of the grief process, we are river guides.
It’s a river we’ve been on before, but it’s always changing.
Our job is to be a guide and companion to the person in grief to help them navigate to smoother waters.
The only way out is through
The river needs good boundaries
The guide helps their companion to stay in a “not too much” range
We have tools to get through the challenging parts
How we navigate the somatic experience
It’s best to stay within a manageable range
When we are outside our range,symptoms and management strategies happen
Recovering is faster when we are in range
When we notice symptoms and management strategies, it’s a sign we’re out of our range
If all else fails, reducing input (stimulus) will usually help
Keeping our batteries charged also helps
What that means:
When your battery is low,
What do you do to recharge?
Do you ignore your body’s needs for rest and recovery?
Have symptoms of chronic stress started to inhibit your ability to help?
Experiment with a friend
Step 1: Believing it mattersFocusing on self-care will allow you to help more
peopleThe body will manage chronic stress for a time, but
eventually, it will demand attentionYou are modeling self regulation to others
Step 2: Dedicating yourself to Regular PracticesCultivating self-compassionListening to your bodyBuilding your capacity for enjoyment
Improving Caregiver Self-Care
Somatic Interventions for Grief
Watch for overwhelm and help them come back to a calmer state (flooding and collapse)
Put a helpful hand (their own) on the place that hurts. What happens?
Educate about the body sensations that happen with grief. Sometimes they are what is scary about letting feelings happen. If we let them happen, things might pass more quicklyThe feeling will not last forever
Read Traumaproofing Your Kids (Levine & Kline, 2008)
Build Somatic Awareness into Grief Support
Wave Wisdom:
Grief comes in waves and you can’t always see them coming.
When you’re caught in a wave, it’s best not to resist it.
All waves have a beginning, middle and end.
Wave Wisdom 2:
If the wave is a storm and the storm is too much, it’s good to get out of the water. You may find there’s a friendly boat to help you to shore.
It helps to practice in gentler waters.
Questions
Brandy Vanderheiden MFT SEPOffice in Mountain View650-281-9315www.brandyvanderheiden.com
BrandyVanderheiden
Youhaveitinyoutoheal.wordpress.com
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