Dear friends,
One of my dearest friends is sitting in a “sterile” apartment near the hospital recovering from her bone marrow transplant. Last week marked the one-year anniversary of her diagnosis, a moment that rocked her to the core and sent our small army of sister-friends into caretaking battle mode.
Something my friend shared with me during those first weeks of chemotherapy was how the experience was bringing up a lot of unresolved emotional and relational issues that now had to be faced as part of her healing journey.
Like those long, chilled, gut-wrenched nights attached to the chemo drip, there was no way out, only through… and thankfully, never alone.
It’s been a year of huge shifts in her mindset, her (now former) marriage, her body, and her sense of self. Her hair is growing back. Her platelet count is up! And she is an even more vibrant version of her amazing self.
We are in awe of her bravery and strength, and also of the power of deep, committed support.
As I’ve aged, I’ve come to grips with “the wisdom of no escape” as Pema Chodron calls it. I’ve learned that my own shadowy issues and Trauma can’t be ignored, but it also can’t be obliterated by anything or anyone, not even a great therapist (gasp!).
Turns out, psychotherapy isn’t chemotherapy for emotional suffering.
What it has been for me, though, is what I’ve heard Jules Shore refer to as “stitches”. Like the way stitches hold a wound together so the body can better repair itself, the company and guidance of a skilled therapist provides structures we need to traverse the (sometimes long, chilled, gut-wrenching) inner pruning, regrowth, and realignments that can give us our life back.
For me, therapy “stitches” have only been deeply supportive when they are anchored in the body.
In my late 20’s, after talk therapy made things worse for me, a brilliant body-mind psychotherapist showed me that healing was possible by working somatically. It was life-changing, and to be truly open with you, it was life-saving.
I am so happy that we offer such a wealth of somatically-inclined training at Academy of Therapy Wisdom. My role on the team is to help get our programs in front of more therapists; to share our presenter’s wisdom and healing paths with more people. I couldn’t be more proud of that, and of all the work my colleagues do here to help increase the ripple effects these powerful practices have in the world.
I know you are one of many in “caretaking battle mode” every day, and that it isn’t ever easy.
Thank you for every session you offer someone, every moment of intentional company, every stitch. I’d hate to think of what the world would be like without you all, and it gives me hope to think of how much better the world is because of you.
Warmly,
Heather Philipp
Search and Media Director
Academy of Therapy Wisdom
Heather is one of our small but mighty team of dedicated team members committed to continually bringing you wisdom and insight from the world´s therapy experts. We look forward to sharing perspectives from across our team and hope these insights inspire you in new ways.
What you´ll learn:
- Vestibular Engagement for Emotional Regulation
- Using the Eyes to Hack the Stress Response System
- Subtle Sounds to Release the Peri-Trauma Response
- Effective Self-Holding and Self-Swaddling Techniques
- How and When to Apply Bilateral Stimulation
- Integration and Completing the Stress Response Cycle
