Eyes for the Body
Physical sensations and Somatic Memories as both Obstacle and resource
Two-day workshop for EMDR therapists
Human experience consists of four dimensions:
- Thoughts
- Emotions
- Sensations
- Spirituality
EMDR is unique as a cognitively based therapy combining body and emotions. Clinical practice includes besides the cognitive part also a significant observation and usage of emotion and body. In this two-day workshop, we will turn our gaze to the body with its multi-dimensional facets. We do this because:
The body is always there and can be either a resource or an obstacle for both therapist and patient.
The last few decades have been witness to a change in the way we see the body in therapy. If, at the beginning until the middle of the 20thcentury, the body was ignored and even denied in the room, then the turn of the century has brought a drastic change.
Methods like SE – Somatic Experiencing (Levine), Focusing (Gendlin), Sensorimotor (Ogden) and others were developed and now are part of the almost common practice. The question “where in your body do you feel/sense …..” Was once asked only by few, and has now become common practice.
EMDR practice, as a psychotherapy for trauma and memory, has given space for the body and sensations since its initiation; yet, more can be learned and understood from body psychotherapies. Especially about the ways in which the body tells us the client’s personal narrative, traumatic and maladaptive memories and negative patterns.
In this two-day workshop we will focus on:
- Trauma and traumatic memories from the AIP perspective, informed by the understanding of the nervous system and the Polyvagal theory, and the ways these are expressed in the body.
- Turning our eyes and of course, all other senses, to the body and to the different and creative individual ways that memories, concepts and skills are learned and preserved.
- Learn the basic (and more) concepts of body-focused therapies
- Learn new protocols to support and create important unique body focused techniques and concepts like Titration, pendulum-attention, movement completion, constriction, discharge, coupling and uncoupling and more.
- learn Somatic interweaves.
Participants will become familiar with key concepts of body-centered approaches, including neural system concepts, regulation and dysregulation, Emphasis upon:
- Physical trauma, psychological trauma and the combination of the two
- Integration of the body in processing memories
- The body as a permanent and available resource – body oriented resource building
- When there are no memories – conscious less, dissociation, anesthesia, drugs, GHB
- NC and PC physicality and their use
- Somatic interweaves.
Day one 25-02-2019
09:00-10:30
Introduction to the nervous system from the approach of body oriented therapies: the triune brain theory, the Polyvagal theory, Sensory-motor understanding.
11:00-12:30
EMDR and the Body. The AIP perspective of Somatic memories. Practicing Body-Anchored safe place protocol and the Controlled Approach protocol for the Body
12:30-13:30
Break (Lunch)
13:30-15:00
“Slow down and look around”- Applying the concept of titration and pendulum attention. In EMDR psychotherapy.
15:30- 17:00
Movement completion Phenomena- how to support healing. The concept and implication in our role as EMDR therapists. Movement Completion Protocol
Day Two 26-02-2019
09:00-10:30
“I don’t remember a thing….” When there are no words- Conceptualization and practical methods. Working with physical NC & PC.
How to Deal with trauma related memories of Anesthesia, Drugs, Date-Rape-Drug (GHB; Rohypnol) etc.
11:00-12:30
The Body of the Therapist: Working with Resonance when the client has no words for his body. “Mapping the troublesome areas through the body oriented reverie”
12:30-13:30
Break (Lunch)
13:30-14:30
“To Touch or Not to Touch” the issue of physical contact when dealing with the Body-Therapy and how to combine it with EMDR
15:00-17:00
Helping the client to find words: Narrative, Body and EMDR. Re-writing the trauma story.
Conclusion
Tuly Flint
CLISW Clinical social worker, PhD Student at “Bar-Ilan” University (PTSD and Spiritual recovery). Accredited Couples and Family therapist. EMDR accredited consultant (EMDR Europe) since 2010. Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). Accredited CBT Therapist. Bio Feedback practitioner. Narrative therapy (Family and Individual). Specialist in Trauma and Post Trauma (PTSD) treatment with individual-clients, families and groups. Addiction and 12-step therapy Practitioner.
Works in Tel-Aviv – private practice and in other parts of Israel with individuals, groups, families and young children and teenagers who go through traumatic events. Combines skills and Methods from various fields of interest to provide clients with venues towards recovery and the ability to move from PTSD towards PTG (Post Traumatic Growth).
Tuly works also with victims of terror, accidents and other life-cycle-traumatic-extreme events such as life threatening diseases and grief. Works with Victims from Both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Facilitating groups of bereaved brothers and parents and works with injured individuals and their families
Teaching and lecturing about Trauma and the prevention of post trauma as an outcome of the Exposure to traumatic events in organizations that work with Trauma sufferers including, Community Strength Centers, rehabilitation centers for substance abuse because of traumatic exposure and Hospitals.
Publications
Fight or Flight into Health Diving in the moon
Families under Siege. Chapter the Israeli EMDR association book (in Print)
HF R-tep. Chapter the Israeli EMDR association book (in Print)
EMDR Conferences: Europe- Holland (2016), France (2018).
