Some form of trauma is behind anxiety, depression, addictions and just about anything else that seems troubling to us.
That’s why it’s helpful to focus on trauma in inquiry sessions on these type of topics. A good question to get back to an early or initial trauma is to have the client notice and feel the sensations connected with the current problem, and ask what’s your earliest memory of feeling that way?
How can we avoid retraumatizing the client in inquiry?
Here are some ways to reduce the chance of retraumatizing:
Approach it indirectly.
Find the deficiency story triggered or created by the traumatizing situation. What does the situation say about me? Explore that identity.
Explore the threat in looking at the images and words associated with it, and feeling the sensations.
Isolate out the components – images, words, sensations – one at a time. Look at words or an image, feel the sensations, and set the rest aside for a while as best as you can. Slow it down, isolate out each component.
Notice the infinite space the imaginations or sensations happen within, and that’s also inside of the sensations and body contractions.
Spend a lot of time resting with what’s here. Again, slow it down, isolate out each component, spend a lot of time resting with it.
Meet what’s here – images, words, sensations – with kindness. Meet it with gentleness, kindness, patience. If needed, use ho’oponopono. (I am sorry, Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you.) Or the thank you phrase. (Thank you for arising. I love you. Stay as long as you like.)
Sometimes, other supports can also be helpful such as tapping (EFT, TFT). Or the amplify / release technique. (Make the sensations, image, or words as strong as you can for 10 seconds, then release and relax, repeat a few times.)
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Initial notes…..
- How to avoid re-traumatizing in inquiry
- indirect approach (find deficient self, threat in looking/feeling)
- isolate out one component at a time (as far as the client is able to)
- notice the infinite space it’s happening within, and is inside the contraction
- spend lots of time resting with the element, the space
- use tapping etc. kindness