Many of our contributors noted this sense of complete safety with their guide through healing as imperative, even if they didn’t experience total safety in other places in the world. Other contributors noticed that even if they have moments of feeling unsafe with a therapist, which sometimes happens on bad days or if they are transitioning into a

The twenty-seven participants who spoke about the role of expressive arts in their healing process did so with great enthusiasm. Some of the specific practices named include: Listening to music Playing or creating music (e.g., drumming, playing the guitar, singing, DJ-ing) Dance and movement Arts and crafts Doodling Meme-making Sand-tray work

In various forms of functional brain scans, the areas that show up as most active in terms of dissociation are rich in endogenous opioid receptors (found in the limbic system). You can think of our endogenous opioid system as our body’s natural defenses it can muster against pain, yet people often find that taking euphoria-producing medications or

These practices are never about how long you can stay mindful or quiet, they are really about how you are able to use them to return to the present moment, or sense of groundedness, once you realize that you (and if it applies, your internal system) may have wandered away.

As I learned when I trained in trauma-informed yoga from Mark Lilly (the founder of Street Yoga), so many movement and breath practices within yoga can be both a trigger and a resource.

Being in Nature and Connecting with Pets and Animals Sixteen contributors specifically spoke to the power of going outside or being in nature as immensely helpful to their grounding and healing. For many years as a therapist, I’ve observed the raw power in simply being able to go outside with a client and engage in some “walk and talk” therapy,

In plain language, dissociation is what creates safety and ultimately pain relief in the moment of need. Trauma deeply impacts a person’s psyche, extreme limits are pushed, and extreme reactions become necessary.

One of the reasons that we use “safe enough” throughout the book is that we, and many other people struggling with complex trauma and dissociation, will literally roll our eyes if one more professional talks about a “Safe Place.” Speaking for our system, the word safety is so loaded, and even in a state of recovery or wellness, safety is something

An important word of caution is in order here. Some of the skills uncovered in this chapter are simpler and subjectively safer to try than others. Take, for instance, pushing against a wall. That is something you can try right this moment without putting in a lot of time or effort. After every skill, you can take a pause and notice what you notice.