The Tao of the Polyvagal Theory


Book Description

The Tao of The Polyvagal Theory: A Five Element Perspective for a Future of Healing the Spirit and Balancing the Autonomic Nervous System, explores the relationship between the Five Elements of Asian medical theory, and the role that trauma plays within the Autonomic Nervous System. The path of an ancient Taoist concept of the Spirit, is set into a landscape illustrated with modern views of how the nervous system responds to distress.?Within this manual, several new concepts are presented that assist in the evolution of the Five Element theory in practice, and establish new paradigms for how to address emotional and physiological healing of the internal environment. These new concepts of the Tan Cycle and the Yu Angles are described in detail within the chapters, and emphasis is placed on the integrity of yin and yang energies to support and lift each other throughout the transformational process of inner balance.




The Tao of Trauma


Book Description

Explains trauma using a combination of the Five Elements (from Traditional Chinese Medicine) and a touch perspective; for practitioners of a variety of modalities, including acupuncturists, somatic therapists, massage therapists, and mental health providers. Combining Eastern and Western trauma physiology, clinician-educators Alaine Duncan and Kathy Kain introduce a new map for acupuncturists, medical practitioners, mental health providers, and body-oriented clinicians to help restore balance in their patients. Using concepts from Acupuncture and Asian Medicine (AAM), alongside descriptions of the threat response from Western bio-behavioral science, they describe common physical symptoms, emotional presentations, and paths for healing for five survivor "types" detailed by the authors and correlated to the Five Elements of AAM. This ancient/modern integrative lens illuminates the diverse manifestations of traumatic stress in its survivors--chronic pain, autoimmune illness, insomnia, metabolic problems, and mental health disorders--and brings new hope to survivors of trauma and those who treat them.




The Tao of Equus


Book Description

After more than 20 years in print, an updated edition of the evocative and transformational classic about the powerful bond between women and horses When Linda Kohanov wrote The Tao of Equus over twenty years ago, she posed questions that few were asking: Do horses make choices? How do they seem to know what people are thinking and feeling? Are horses spiritual beings? What do they have to teach people? Why are women so attracted to horses? The answers, detailed in this extraordinary chronicle that synthesizes science, behavioral research, and personal insight, transformed how we think about one of humanity’s oldest companions and established Kohanov at the vanguard of the emerging field of animal-assisted learning/therapy. In this updated edition, Kohanov weaves new developments in neurological science and scholarship into her original exploration of spiritual awakening, cultural history, and mythology. The Tao of Equus delves into the mental and spiritual processes behind the magical connections that people often experience with horses. It remains a powerful exploration of the feminine wisdom horses model, subtleties that women riders have intuited for centuries.




Hakomi Mindfulness-Centered Somatic Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice


Book Description

The authoritative text on Hakomi methods, theory, and practice. Hakomi is an integrative method that combines Western psychology and body-centered techniques with mindfulness principles from Eastern psychology. This book, written and edited by members of the Hakomi Institute— the world’s leading professional training program for Hakomi practitioners—and by practitioners and teachers from across the globe, introduces all the processes and practices that therapists need in order to begin to use this method with clients. The authors detail Hakomi's unique integration of body psychotherapy, mindfulness, and the Eastern philosophical principle of non-violence, grounding leading-edge therapeutic technique in an attentiveness to the whole person and their capacity for transformation.




Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga: Therapeutic Practices for Emotional Health


Book Description

Treat trauma holistically with the combined applications of yoga and polyvagal theory. This book focuses on the intersection of polyvagal theory, yoga, and psychotherapy by weaving together the wisdom tradition of yoga with neuroscience, attachment theory, somatic psychology, and traumatology. The application of polyvagal theory allows practitioners to compassionately support growth by enhancing the health of the autonomic nervous system, while therapeutic yoga allows one to attend to the interrelationships between mind, emotions, physiology, and behavior. Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga provides conscious breathing, vagal toning, mindful movement, and meditation practices that aid in rewiring the nervous system. Readers will discover how to help both clients and themselves cultivate a felt sense of ease during times of safety; enhance their capacity to handle challenges with equanimity; and reclaim their ability to recover from stress swiftly and efficiently. Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga offers practitioners a new and effective way to support clients who are stuck in a trauma response mode.




Does Santa Exist?


Book Description

A humorous philosophical investigation into the existence of Santa from a co–executive producer of The Big Bang Theory—the perfect stocking stuffer for the deep thinker on everyone’s list. Emmy award–winning comedy writer and philosophy scholar Eric Kaplan brilliantly turns a search for the truth about Santa into a laugh-out-loud metaphysical romp. Surveying everything from the analytic philosophy of Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein to Buddhism, Taoism, and Kabbalah, Kaplan alights on comedy—including The Big Bang Theory and Monty Python—as the best way to resolve life’s most profound paradoxes, including the existence of perfect moments, Santa, and even God.




The Inner Power of Stillness


Book Description

The Inner Power of Stillness is not just another book about therapeutic presence, mindfulness and meditation. It explores and highlights the next evolutionary step, leading us beyond the already well-researched teachings of these topics, by looking at the multidimensional scale of stillness from an entirely different point of view. The focal point is the inner development by therapists, practitioners and teachers of the mainly dormant potential of stillness and the storage capacity of stillness-stimulus and imprints in our tissue/fascia, as well as their benefits, use and application in a treatment or teaching environment. The Inner Power of Stillness endeavours to illuminate the lost value of stillness for the therapist and practitioner both as a person and as a professional. The authors anchor the possibility of this inner evolution of the power of stillness to the latest research into tissue and cell memory. They introduce the concept of a potential new modality called 'stillness-memory', and build upon this new understanding a logical and practical framework in which science and philosophy truly inform each other. This opens up access to a much larger scale of new ideas and possibilities which, providing the transformative teachings they embody are put into practice, carry the potential for practitioners to be the best person and the best professional they can be, without compromising their own overall health and wellbeing. In-depth knowledge of how to arrive at this promising new modality, as well as how to apply it in everyday work and life, is at the heart of the book. It covers topics such as working from your inner power of stillness, the insightful self and, most importantly, the practitioner's toolkit. Some thought-provoking themes that might be of great value to therapists, teachers and practitioners who intend to dedicate some of their time to working for the greater good can be found at the end of the book, where consideration is given to a universal view of compassion and the solace that stillness can bring to people who are nearing the end of their life and final departure. The book concludes with a philosophical note acknowledging the timeless nature of ancient wisdom, and the ever more important relevance and role of the philosopher in our modern world today. The Inner Power of Stillness is a comprehensive guide for people working with people. It provides practical knowledge that will revolutionise the way practitioners help others: Working from a greater perspective, being aware of the whole as well as the parts, and responding to the cause and not only the effect. Working from an internal place of stillness. Innovative and practical exercises and techniques to dissolve friction/struggles in sustaining a state of authentic therapeutic presence, mindfulness and meditation. Simple exercises to help clients build long-term memory of stillness as a foundation for successful mindfulness and meditation practice. Includes Forewords from John Matthew Upledger, Lauren Walker and Charles Ridley




Integrating Horses into Healing


Book Description

Written by experts and founders in the world of equine assisted services (EAS), Integrating Horses into Healing: A Comprehensive Guide to Equine Assisted Services is an all-inclusive, hands-on guide for any practitioner, researcher, or student interested in EAS. The book provides a wealth of knowledge, including perspectives from therapy and coaching practitioners, equine professionals, veterinarians, researchers, clients, board members, and founders of the EAS industry. These diverse perspectives offer a depth and insight that make this a go-to guide for EAS practitioners and researchers. The focus of the book is on the ethical incorporation of equines into different therapy modalities. The well-being of the equine as well as the practitioner team is addressed, as well as sustainability and health within a for-profit and non-profit structure. Offers ethical practices for integrating equine assisted services into therapies, coaching, and other services. Provides a foundational introduction to the benefits and practices of equine assisted services Discusses business and legal considerations for EAS ventures




Cranial Intelligence


Book Description

At the deepest level of our physiology, all living tissues and fluids expand and contract with the 'breath of life'. Through gentle touch, the skilled practitioner can interact with these subtle rhythms to address physical aches and pains, acute or chronic disease, emotional or psychological disturbances, or simply to promote enduring health and vitality. This new and important textbook demystifies the biodynamic approach to craniosacral therapy and shows how and why it can be so effective at bringing about a natural realignment towards optimal health. The authors describe how to 'listen' and respond appropriately to each client's system, how to create a safe space for working with different kinds of trauma, and how to address specific states of imbalance to support deep-felt and lasting change. Throughout the book, experiential exercises encourage the reader to practice their newly-acquired skills, and refine their knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. A final chapter on practice development covers issues pertinent to practitioners trying to set up and maintain a successful practice. This intensely practical textbook will transform the practice of craniosacral therapists, and contains much that bodyworkers of all kinds will find useful.




Handbook of Expressive Arts Therapy


Book Description

This authoritative and comprehensive volume explains how to integrate movement, sound, art, play, imagery, drama, and other multisensory practices into psychotherapy. Cathy A. Malchiodi and other leading experts demonstrate ways to combine a wide range of expressive approaches to help clients explore feelings and thoughts that are often difficult to access verbally. Rich case examples illustrate what these modalities look like in action, providing readers with strategies they can readily apply in work with individuals of all ages. The book interweaves theory and research with practical recommendations for implementing expressive arts therapy to enhance communication and to support regulation, attachment, trauma recovery, and sensory integration.