Connection is why we are here
To connect with others, our purpose, meaning and ourselves.
HOW WE
WORK
Trauma recovery involves both progressive and simultaneous levels of healing, incorporating relational, physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual layers.
BODY, EMOTIONS, MIND AND SPIRIT
OUR FIRST LANGUAGE – THE BODY
Talk therapy centres on the thinking region of the brain. However, in trauma, there are dominating and strongly felt sensations in the body. These can include body tension, trembling, feeling hot, jumpy, restless or the other extreme where we might feel numb, cold, frozen or quiet.
Tracking our physical sensations is an experiential way of processing our feelings and thoughts. It can help us feel more at home in our bodies, seeing the sensations as important communicators to us of beneficial ways to respond in the present moment or, alternatively, recalibrating the instinctual movements that were unable to be completed at the time of our trauma. Breath work, somatic experiencing, yoga and movement are all ways to listen to the powerful language expressed within our bodies.
BECOMING EMOTIONALLY UNSTUCK
Our trauma responses can keep us stuck in a cycle of shame, defeat, guilt, anger, sadness and hopelessness. Avoiding our emotions can lead to unhealthy behaviours and problems in our physical health, including gut issues, lowered immunity and neurological conditions.
Emotions are powerful waves of energy that flow through our bodies and communicate to us. Our core emotions of anger, fear, joy, sadness, excitement and disgust are an important part of our evolution and survival. Felt fully, emotions are the key to us being able to live a more connected and full life.
FINDING PEACE IN OUR MIND
We are all familiar with living in our thoughts. However, in trauma, we also live in the stories we have survived or those we have heard from the perpetrators of our trauma. We may attack ourselves in our thoughts, through an active inner critic in ways that keep us stuck in toxic shame and self-loathing.
Learning how to work with our inner critic and to differentiate limiting beliefs from our intrinsic value as human beings is essential. Healing our minds involves developing the skills to be less attached to unhelpful thoughts and more sceptical of the words of our inner critic. Instead, we can evolve a more expanded sense of ourselves, powered by self-compassion and curiosity, and find a peace within our mind.
MOVING BEYOND TRAUMA TO WHOLENESS
Surviving trauma forces us to face fragility, uncertainty and instability. It shapes our deepest beliefs regarding control, justice, trust, suffering and self-worth. Our traumatic wounds trap so much energy that becomes absorbed with fighting the demons of our past and is unavailable for growth, creativity and life.
Triumphing over your trauma can leave you with a profound sense of inner safety as your new primary reality. From here, there are infinite opportunities to experience different levels of freedom, love, compassion, vitality and understanding. This is a gradual process where each step of your healing provides wisdom and strength. This, in turn, illuminates true authentic self and reminds us that we are also part of something greater. Eventually, we can feel a sense of belonging – to others, to humanity and a life force that is whole, peaceful and balanced – no matter where our hearts or minds are pulled.
There is a wisdom in trauma when we realise that our traumatic responses and imprints are not ourselves and that we can work them through and thus become ourselves
Gabor Maté
About Us
Kindred Steps is a clinical psychology practice located in Northern NSW that is dedicated to working with the imprints of your trauma on your mind, body and soul. We take a holistic approach, integrating multiple powerful, evidence-based trauma treatment therapies including EMDR, Attachment Therapy, Embodied, Process-oriented therapies and neuropsychology so that therapy is totally client-centred and optimally effective.