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Counselling Connections Across Australia

therapeutic touch became the essence These changes have added another experience and practice a full range of
of our model. This we defined as: “The set of potential techniques in body touch techniques to provide a framework
use of a therapeutic technique focused focus trauma work. One is the use of for accessing body awareness. With
on drawing a healing response from containment with firm wrapping around the learning experience of the power of
the whole person. It may involve either the pelvic region and possible firm physical touch trainees can, depending
gentle non-invasive physical contact, wrapping of the whole body with sheet or upon their counselling environment,
the use of carefully focused words, weighted blanket. Within the protection begin to develop ways of being present
focused energetic attention, or a blend of the wrap some clients are able to with clients that achieve similar somatic
of any of these three.” This model has internally access the traumatised tissue response with techniques that use
underpinned our practice and training with meditative practice and energetic focus and energy instead of or alongside
courses over the past 16 years. focus. For these clients the previous physical contact.
touch techniques are not necessary. This
Body psychotherapy has moved has become my preferred initial practice
mainstream in the last ten years with a with the other palpating touch method as
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new emphasis on trauma and the rights a second option when needed. For some
of the child. Models such as “Sensory clients parts of each are needed.
Motor Psychotherapy” and the more
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recent work of Peter Levine, “Somatic The other development that I believe
Experiencing” has opened up new vistas is worthy of further exploration in the
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for effective trauma work. The 2012 therapeutic world is the use of focused
release of Adults Surviving Child Abuse energetic attention. I have enjoyed telling
Practice Guidelines for Treatment of people that the world’s greatest energy
Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed healer was, and is, Jesus. A close study
Care and Service Delivery ( Kezelman of the Gospels shows the highly focused
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C. and Stavropoulos P.) placed the body attention with powerful intent that
focus as central in achieving effective Jesus employed in the healing process.
trauma recovery. My work makes use of a framework
of Noticing, Focusing, Facilitating,
In more recent years a number of Following process and staying present
significant emphasises informing trauma to completion. Within this frame it is
practice have become important. These possible using body aware focused intent
include a greater recognition of body to bring a therapeutic response from
focus. This awareness also includes particular parts of the anatomy beyond
an increase in the knowledge of the the use of language or touch.
potential for a parallel process trauma
re-enactment for clients both within The body is of significant importance
and beyond therapy . There is also an in the early history of Christianity. In
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increasing cognisance of the potential the first 200 years the strongest attack
for fragmentation and the necessity in from within the Christian communities
providing adequate containment. This was from the Gnostics. Gnosticism in
particularly calls for the delicate task of its various forms denied the Biblical
titration of the trauma affect. I wonder focus on embodiment. Both in the New
whether both of these are a factor of Testament and in the early Church
social change in our society as well as Fathers the physical human body was
more vulnerable clients seeking therapy. vital to full Christian living. God came in
a body of flesh and blood. The Church
as people of God are a Body. The Spirit
7 Matlock G. et al, (2015) The Handbook of Body of Christ who raises Bodies from the
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Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology dead gives life to our mortal bodies .
Heller M. (2012) Body Psychotherapy: History Some of the most significant writings
Concepts Methods, W.W. Norton, New York following New Testament, such as that
8 Ogden P & Fisher J.(2015) Sensory Motor of Irenaeus of Lyons, fought for the
Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and acknowledgement of our physical bodies
Attachment, W.W. Norton, New York .Ogden P. et as vital through the journey from birth
al (2206) Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor
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Approach to Psychotherapy (Norton Series on through to resurrection .
Interpersonal Neurobiology), W.W. Norton, New York
9 Levine P. (2010) In An Unspoken Voice: How the In the training programs we have
Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness, developed over these years I am
North Atlantic Books, Berkeley. convinced trainees need to be able to
10 Kezelman C. and Stavropoulos P. (2012) Adults
Surviving Child Abuse Practice Guidelines for
Treatment of Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed
Care and Service Delivery 12 Romans 8:11
11 Van de Kolk B. (1989) The Compulsion to Repeat 13 Grant R. (1997) Irenaeus of Lyons, Routledge,
the Trauma: Re-enactment, Revictimization, and London. (this edition contains the while text of
Masochism, Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Irenaeus’ 170 CE “Against Heresies”. To my surprise
Volume 12, Number 2, Pages 389-411,Van de Kolk it still speaks to our age).
B. (2014) The Body Keeps The Score Osborne and behr

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Edition 12 November 2020