Energy and spark are powerful forces, and denying and repressing energy by not facing feelings comes at too big a cost.
Much trauma work is focused on the need to provide safeness, and for good reason. Our nervous system needs to deeply know safeness and to trust in it for healing to occur. However, this can sometimes come with risk. We need to avoid prioritising safeness when this also avoids finding the courage to explore the darker, deeper places where defences against pain have taken root and at a cost to clients. Bravely exploring these areas of challenge can often be essential be able to go on to live a richer and more emotionally restored life – but how do we know when is the right time to venture into the dark?
Graham will be looking at trauma with a fresh lens and exploring what we, as practitioners, may need to consider in order to be braver in our interventions with both adults and children and young people.
The clues are in the body and how it gives important but easily missed signals on how to proceed therapeutically. Graham will show how exploring complex feelings in the body via sensitivity to our nervous system, what he calls nervous-system whispering, and body-body communication in the therapy is crucial for healing and growth.
