Somatic Approaches in Therapy Summit

Presenter: Linda Thai

• Trauma, somatic and integrative therapist
• Based in Fairbanks, Alaska

Overview of Presentation

• Focus on trauma and the nervous system
• Topics include:
  • Neuroception of danger
  • Animal survival defenses
  • Differences between fawning, appeasement, freeze, and dorsal shutdown
  • Holistic conceptualization of traumatic stress
  • Impact of trauma on the nervous system
  • Understanding trauma triggers
  • Clinical applications including window of capacity, mapping the autonomic nervous system, techniques for regulation

Physical Exercises

• Arm stretches and wiggling as a form of release
• Importance of releasing tension in the shoulders and diaphragm
• Techniques interspersed throughout for experiential learning

Animal Survival Defenses

• Parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) includes ventral vagal branch
• Ventral vagal responsible for safety in connection and stillness
• Attachment cry: call for caregiver to restore safety
• Sympathetic nervous system: fight-flight-freeze response
• Heart rate variability as indicator of PTSD
• Activation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in survival mode
• Disconnection of Broca's and Wernicke's areas in survival mode
• Dissociation and pain mitigation in survival situations

Videos and Exercises

• Video of possum (thanatosis) and polar bear (discharging survival activation)
• Encouragement of different reactions and self-awareness during video

Fawning, Appeasement, Freeze, and Dorsal Shutdown

• Fawning: People pleasing, compliance to maintain relationships
• Appeasement: Survival strategy in power dynamics, e.g., Black man in front of a police officer
• Freeze: High muscle tone, body readiness despite immobilization
• Dorsal Shutdown: Flaccid immobility, loss of muscle tone
• Codependence as a structural phenomenon within societal power dynamics

Conceptualizing Traumatic Stress

• Traditional vs. trauma-informed vs. culturally-informed psychology
• Impact of environment and historical context on trauma
• Stress becomes distress, then traumatic due to isolation
• Healing is political: access to resources affects recovery

Trauma Triggers and Nervous System

• Hyperarousal and hypoarousal responses
• Explanation through hashtag analogy for trauma triggers
• Misinterpretation of "triggers" in media
• Understanding trauma as mental injury, not mental illness

Clinical Applications

• Window of Capacity: Known as window of tolerance or arousal
  • Emphasis on "capacity" over "tolerance"
  • Mapping individual nervous system responses
  • Practices for maintaining optimal energy
• State Creates Story: How nervous system state affects perception of self and world
• Encouragement of "me search" and "re search"
  • Mapping autonomic nervous system
  • Awareness and befriending nervous system for healing

Closing Exercises

• Shaking, high-fives, and expressions of joy
• Encouragement to continue engagement and exploration