Page 160 - ReAwaken Ebook 1st Ed

ReAwakening Relationships with Emotional CPR (eCPR)

I was given the amazing opportunity to attend the Reawaken Conference. It was utterly

amazing and the first time in my life experience I've seen a community of strangers unite,
resulting in a community of connection, compassion, and friendships. I also attended the

Emotional CPR (for assisting people through emotion crisis) training that followed the
conference.

I felt the desire to express what I have learnt and, apart from that, how it has changed
not only my life but that of my son.

I left the eCPR training with renewed hope and awareness, challenging myself to bring

this amazing therapeutic model into my home. My son is 8 yrs old. He is autistic with

other complex needs. Zion has always found it difficult to self-regulate his emotions and
he has an assistance dog to help him at times. To give you a picture, my son was having

daily, if not more than once a day, meltdowns which were resulting in some behaviours of
concern.

The morning after training, I landed in a situation where I could see the potential for

using eCPR. I was able to sit with my son and use the model of Connect, emPower and

Revitalise.

Me: Buddy, I can see your feeling very frustrated at the moment.

*nods head in his frustration of not being heard*

Me: I'm feeling frustrated also as I saw ___ chose not to listen and ignore you even

though you tried to use your big voice. I feel proud you did try but, yes, also frustrated
that you weren’t listened to.

*Zion starts calms as I acknowledged his and my own feeling*

Zion growls and states “I am mad. “

Me: Yep, it is okay to be mad as you were being ignored and that is not nice.

Zion starts crying and says “I am mad and sad. “

Me: I am feeling sad too as I can see you really tried and were so brave.

Zion reaches out for a hug, we hug.

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