Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy

When treating a client who has suffered from interpersonal trauma-whether chronic childhood abuse or domestic violence, for example-talk therapy isn't always the most effective course. For these individuals, the trauma and its effects are so entrenched, so complex, that reducing their experience to a set of symptoms or suggesting a change in cognitive frame or behavioral pattern ignores a very basic but critical player: the body. In cases of complex trauma, mental health professionals largely agree that the body itself contains and manifests much of the suffering-self hatred, shame, and fear. Take, for example, a woman who experienced years of childhood sexual abuse and, though very successful in her professional life, has periods of not being able to feel her limbs, sensing an overall disconnection from her very physical being. Reorienting clients to their bodies and building their "body sense" can be the very key to unlocking their pain and building a path toward healing.Based on research studies conducted at the renowned Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts, this book presents the successful intervention known as Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY), an evidence-based program for traumatized clients that helps them to reconnect to their bodies in a safe, deliberate way. Synthesized here and presented in a concise, reader-friendly format, all clinicians, regardless of their background or familiarity with yoga, can understand and use these simple techniques as a way to help their clients achieve deeper, more lasting recovery. Unlike traditional, mat-based yoga, TSY can be practiced without one, in a therapist's chair or on a couch. Emphasis is always placed on the internal experience of the client him- or herself, not on achieving the proper form or pleasing the therapist. As Emerson carefully explains, the therapist guides the client to become accustomed to feeling something in the body-feet on the ground or a muscle contracting-in the present moment, choosing what to do about it in real time, and taking effective action. In this way, everything about the practice is optional, safe, and gentle, geared to helping clients to befriend their bodies.With over 30 photographs depicting the suggested yoga forms and a final chapter that presents a portfolio of step-by-step yoga practices to use with your clients, this practical book makes yoga therapy for trauma survivors accessible to all clinicians. As an adjunct to your current treatment approach or a much-needed tool to break through to your traumatized clients, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy will empower you and your clients on the path to healing.

David Emerson, an accomplished yoga instructor, lecturer, and trainer, is founder of the Black Lotus Yoga Project, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to teaching yoga to individuals with PTSD. He is also coordinator of the yoga services program at The Trauma Center of the Justice Resource Institute in Brookline, Massachusetts, and serves as the lead trainer in a number of yoga retreats and workshops at Kripalu, among other venues

"Emerson perceptively identifies the disruption of the mind/body relationship as a major consequence of PTSD. Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy targets the repair of this rupture. The sensitively adapted, easily applied interventions are tailored to the needs of this fragile population. This book is a welcome adjunct to professional treatment as well as self-help, and it can also serve as a guide for yoga and meditation teachers, helping to adjust their established practices to better serve traumatized individuals and populations." -- Babette Rothschild, author of The Body Remembers and 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery "In this eminently readable, user-friendly text, the author introduces the rich history and wisdom of yoga practice to clinical providers, integrating trauma-informed themes such as purpose, rhythm, and self-attunement. With ample case examples and illustrations of yoga forms that easily translate into the therapy office, along with suggested language, this book is a treasure trove of immediately