Last week I promised to offer up a few of the treatment modalities I’m familiar with that seem to work in helping to access, process and integrate disorganized memories and experiences (trauma) stored in the body and brain. This list is by no means intended to be exhaustive, and it’s good to understand that I have learned of them primarily as first or second hand anecdotal accounts. Realizing that, recognize that not all modalities work on all conditions, nor do they work well with all people. Also, different practitioners possess different levels of skill. Some of these treatments have large numbers of vocal critics, and a search of the Internet will provide you with their countering viewpoints. One important factor in a successful treatment outcome often seems to be how well you resonate with a practitioner “right brain to right brain.” That is, how much you really “feel felt” by that person. This is not surprising, since right brain to right brain resonance between parent and child is theorized to be one primary driver in children’s early neural development. So, with that caveat in mind, here we go (Click on the name of any treatment type and it will take you to a page that provides more descriptive detail about that modality)…
Advanced Integrative Therapy (Seemorg) – Asha Clinton
Berkal Technique – Beverly Berkal
Coherence Therapy – Bruce Ecker
Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) – Francine Shapiro
Cranial Sacral Therapy – John Upledger
Emotional Freedom Techniques – Gary Craig
Hanna Somatics – Thomas Hanna
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Neurofeedback – Lee Gerdes
Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics – Bruce Perry
Somatic Experiencing – Peter Levine
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy – Pat Ogden
Hakomi – Ron Kurtz
Holotropic Breathwork – Stan Grof
Thought Field Therapy – Roger Callahan
City at Peace – Paul Griffin
The one modality that most resonates with my right brain from this list is the last one, City at Peace. From a social neurobiological perspective it is brilliantly conceived and masterfully integrated and applied. It provides a context that empowers kids in supporting each other to access, identify and tell the hard truths about their most painful life experiences. It then provides a structure which enlists the heart, brain, mind and body in expressing those painful experiences in physical movements – often bimodal – that result in healing, “triumphant actions.” If you ever have a chance to view the documentary that HBO did several years ago, download the iTunes short, or attend a City at Peace performance, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so. Or better yet, gather together a bunch of friends and start a local chapter in your own nearbyhood.
Thanks so much Mark for posting these links. I’m currently working on re-programming my own mind from years of entrenched negative thinking which has manifested itself as long term anxiety disorder and low level depression. I’m currently writing a heuristic paper on my integral methodology and it’s positive results.
I come to your blog often to glean resources for neurobiology and emotion. Thanks again!
p.s. I too just loved the TED video of Dr. Jill. what an awesome experience!
Catherine W.
great blog. I’m a school counsleor.
http://counselorisin.wordpress.com
Fabulous list, Mark! Thanks so much! I have just finished taking a Somatic’s class at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, and we were introduced to a sampling of beautiful, simple Mind/Body/Spirit balancing & healing techniques known as “Capacitar”. We did them the last 30 minutes of class each week. They are designed to assist people anywhere in the world (especially those who have undergone any kind of traumatic event) to self-soothe and ground themselves. The techniques have been collected from various healing modalities, are meant to transcend any language barriers, and are simple enough for anyone to master. The website is http://www.capacitar.org.
Blessings Upon Us All!
I came over to recommend Somatic Experiencing by Peter Levine, but I see you have it on the list already. Great! I have self-utilized the process in a very specific way to clear out the energy of old trauma and it was sooo verrryyy effective. I can’t say enough good things about it.
The first trauma I had to clean out was the trauma from a very abusive childhood. I was 35 when I found this book, and I was able to FINALLY get rid of all that circulating negative energy that was making me miserable and had given me fibromyalgia in a 45 minute, dramatic session while driving one night.
The second trauma happened just two days ago. We were on an airplane and 2 scary things happened right before takeoff and I spent the entire flight terrified. When we landed I just could not get back into my happy nature – for the rest of the day and on through the next day. This morning I dragged out my book and in a 15 minute ‘session’ was able to clear the energy and ahhhhh the relief. 🙂
ahhhhh. 🙂