Treatment Approaches Beyond Words

The Basics of the Human Body

• Human beings are aware of their body, limbs, and how they are in space the sense of proprioception. 

• Proprioception is an awareness of the body and limbs are positioned in space. Scientists sometimes refer to proprioception as the sixth sense. 

• The cerebellum and the brainstem are involved in coordinating proprioception which happens automatically and the skin, muscles, and joints are also involved.

• The cerebellum is located in the back part of the brain and is involved in body posture, balance, and works below conscious awareness with activities of many body parts, such as the heart, lungs, digestive tract, and other organs.

Brain and Unconscious

• The brain is made up of two hemispheres. The left hemisphere is conscious and is logical, linear, and uses language. The right hemisphere has no language, changes your brain chemistry under stress (fight or flight) and also when an individual feels connected and safe.

• It is estimated ninety-five percent of the human brain processing is unconscious, making many emotions and behaviors below conscious awareness.

• Utilizing the right hemisphere of the brain in solving mental and sexual health issues is a creative process and it often includes utilizing  symbols. 

• Symbols are often the way the right hemisphere of the brain communicates.

• Each symbol can represent different things depending on the context and the individual using it.

•  Symbols can be miniature figurines, pictures or images, and found objects and is the language of the right hemisphere.

• Working with symbolism can also be helpful for clients gain insight into their unconscious processes.

• Clinicians may use techniques such as Kalffian Sandplay or sandtray with their clients to explore their inner world and uncover patterns or themes that may be influencing their behaviour or emotions.

• The use of symbols in Kalffkan sandplay or sandtray therapy can also promote creativity and imagination. 

• Using creativity and symbols the right hemisphere can solve issues the left hemisphere can't. 

• Core negative beliefs are associated with a part of the brain called the Default Mode Network (DMN) which is located in the human brain.

• Seems to be connected to the way human beings process thoughts while the mind is being introspective.

• The DMN is most active when a person is being introspective and often during maladaptive rumination of core negative beliefs.

• It is located in a set of areas in the brain such as the Dorsal Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Posterior Cingulate Cortex, Inferior Parietal Lobule, and a few other areas. 

• Can be associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

• Working with the body/mind with symbols, metaphors, and the sensations held in the body  can often reframe the core negative beliefs held in the DMN.

• The Polyvagal Theory isn't a treatment method, but rather a non-pathologizing lens of human being's behaviors, emotions, and the autonomic nervous system.

• This theory is a comprehensive understanding of how all mammals, including human beings, have an automatic nervous system. 

• The autonomic nervous system evolved for the survival of their species. 

• This component of the nervous system is automatic and is essential in keeping mammals alive as they react to cues of safety and danger. 

• Mammals require comfort, protection, and co-regulation from their care takers especially when they are threatened or sense a dangerous situation. 

• In Addition, for human beings’ attachment matters and from the Polyvagal Theory we learn this is about co-regulation between the caretaker and the child which can be thought of the beginning of health attachment.  

• The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is a network of nerves thought out the body that control unconscious bodily functions. 

• The ANS is responsible for digestion, breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, sexual arousal, and other bodily functions.  

• There are two branches of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

1. Ventral Vagal System 
2. Dorsal Vagal (Immobilization)

• The ANS has three basic states:

1. Ventral vagal where human beings can be calm and relaxed, feel safe, and can to rest and digest food easily.
2. Sympathetic where human beings mobilization or and go into fight or flight state.  
3. An immobilization state where if the individual is safe they can rest and digest, but if they feel unsafe with shutdown or collapse.

• The autonomic nervous system works below conscious awareness and consistency searches the environment for cues of safety or danger through the five senses which is called neuroception. 

• Through neuroception the body will automatically react and respond to all cues of safety, danger, or life threat. 

• When cues are perceived as safe the ventral vagal system engages. When cues of danger are perceived the body sympathetic system engages. When the cues are life threatening the body will shutdown and immobilization will engage the dorsal vagal state.

• If the autonomic nervous system receives messages of sadness, fear, anger, or other embodied emotions the body will react accordingly. 

• Emotions will activate one of the three basic states. This becomes a embodied physiological experience. 

•  When the sympathetic system is activated (the fight and flight response) people often react in ways they dislike in themselves. 

• Understanding the role of the autonomic nervous system reduces shame and can assist in your healing journey.