Working with The Mind-Body Connection
Talking is naturally a big part of what goes on in therapy, but have you ever noticed how sometimes we instinctively describe a feeling by how it feels in the body? There are so many phrases which capture such a wide range of feelings.
Take a moment and reflect if you’ve ever connected with some of these common
phrases:
Butterflies in your stomach
The weight of the world on your shoulders
Getting something off your chest
Heart bursting with joy
Wanting to tear your hair out
Feeling hot headed
The likelihood is that you may have experiences a fair few of them at some point! This is totally natural - being human means experiencing a wide range of feelings and emotions. But have you ever wondered about the meaning behind these phrases?
You might have heard about the mind-body connection, i.e. our mental and physical wellbeing are intrinsically linked together. You might notice this connection in any number of ways - when you’re physically ill with a cold your mood might be down. Equally, you might physically feel any number of sensations which relate to your emotions - your skin flushing when you’re embarrassed, or tension in your shoulders when stressed. So, there is something behind all those body-based phrases!
But what does this have to do with therapy? In therapy we spend a lot of time talking through ideas, thoughts and feelings which is all great stuff. But sometimes finding the words and connecting with what is going on in your mind can be a struggle. Maybe there’s just so much going on, or sometimes we simply feel stuck. At times like this it can be helpful to take a look at the mind-body connection. I see it as giving a “voice” to your body, giving it some airtime to say what’s going on and working with your feelings from a different perspective.
I see it as giving a “voice” to your body, giving it some airtime to say what’s going on and working with your feelings from a different perspective.
We can work with the mind-body connection in many ways in a therapy session. If you’re experiencing a big mixture of feelings the body can help in identifying them, e.g. maybe your stomach feels twisted; you heart is heavy; or a leg is twitchy. That helps us to separate the feelings so we can work with them in manageable sections which aren’t so overwhelming. Another option is to explore how movement or posture in our body can shift or alter how we feel overall, e.g. how do you feel if you hunch or open your shoulders? (Try it now if you like…)
I find the mind-body connection hugely effective in my personal life (I’ll often notice a physical sensation which alerts me to “check-in” with my mind) and I naturally incorporate body based work into my therapeutic style. As a trained yoga teacher I’ve learn to notice the subtle sensations in my body and I have the knowledge and skill to integrate gentle movement work into sessions in a safe manner if it’s something you’d like to try.
If you’d like to learn more about the mind-body connection I recommend reading The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk. He gives a great description of how the connection is complex and still not perfectly understood, yet also highlights how it can be a powerful part of your therapeutic journey.
Interested to learn more about the Mind-Body Connection with us? Find out more by contacting us at info@restingtree.ca or book your free consultation today