Joann Lutz – Bringing Trauma-Informed Yoga into Mental Health Clinical Practice

Outline

The Yoga Tradition and NeuropsychologyThe Yoga Tradition and Neuropsychology

• Yoga, Patanjali and MRI’sYoga, Patanjali and MRI’s
• The importance of heart rate variability (HRV)The importance of heart rate variability (HRV)

Embodied Psychotherapy Embodied Psychotherapy

• The Triune Brain: left out of traditional psychotherapy?The Triune Brain: left out of traditional psychotherapy?
• Regulating the brain’s trauma centerRegulating the brain’s trauma center
• Tracking body sensation and breathing deeplyTracking body sensation and breathing deeply
• A frame of reference from Somatic PsychotherapyA frame of reference from Somatic Psychotherapy
• Neuroplasticity and interpersonal neurobiologyNeuroplasticity and interpersonal neurobiology

Trauma-Informed Yoga postures in the Psychotherapy Session for PTSD, Anxiety and Depression Trauma-Informed Yoga postures in the Psychotherapy Session for PTSD, Anxiety and Depression

• The The evidenceevidence in evidence-based yoga practice in evidence-based yoga practice
• Yoga and polaritiesYoga and polarities
• Guided script for chair yoga: Guided script for chair yoga:
  • 5 trauma-informed chair yoga postures5 trauma-informed chair yoga postures
  • Guiding and integrating the poses into your existing treatment modality (EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, etc.)Guiding and integrating the poses into your existing treatment modality (EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, etc.)
• Chair trauma-yoga Chair trauma-yoga
  • Tracking body sensationTracking body sensation
  • Gaining self-masteryGaining self-mastery
  • Increasing self-regulationIncreasing self-regulation
  • Expanding present-moment awarenessExpanding present-moment awareness
• Experience a chair yoga warm up and posture sequence*Experience a chair yoga warm up and posture sequence*

Yoga and the Breath Yoga and the Breath

• Respiration and the autonomic nervous system (ANS)Respiration and the autonomic nervous system (ANS)
• Breathing techniques to regulate the ANS and calm symptoms of trauma, anxiety and depressionBreathing techniques to regulate the ANS and calm symptoms of trauma, anxiety and depression
• Experience the three-part deep breath and script*Experience the three-part deep breath and script*

Structure of the Embodied Psychotherapy Session or Group Structure of the Embodied Psychotherapy Session or Group

• Evaluating the clientEvaluating the client
• Opening the sessionOpening the session
• Healing polarities: Healing polarities:
  • Inner/outerInner/outer
  • Sympathetic/parasympathetic activationSympathetic/parasympathetic activation
  • Sensing/actionSensing/action
  • Cognitive/somaticCognitive/somatic
• Healthy symptoms of trauma dischargeHealthy symptoms of trauma discharge
• Key points in making referrals to yoga classesKey points in making referrals to yoga classes

Therapeutic Value of Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) Therapeutic Value of Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep)

• The benefits of sleeping while awakeThe benefits of sleeping while awake
• Varieties of Yoga NidraVarieties of Yoga Nidra
• Guided experience of Satchidananda’s Yoga Nidra*Guided experience of Satchidananda’s Yoga Nidra*
• Discussion of Yoga Nidra scriptDiscussion of Yoga Nidra script

Using Meditation Using Meditation

• The relaxation responseThe relaxation response
• Mindfulness meditation: open-focused meditationMindfulness meditation: open-phd/">focused meditation
• A guided experience of both styles of meditation*A guided experience of both styles of meditation*
• The benefits of meditation in the trauma psychotherapy sessionThe benefits of meditation in the trauma psychotherapy session

Case Study Case Study

*Social workers: Please note that ACE credit is not available for yoga instruction/guided experience activities.*Social workers: Please note that ACE credit is not available for yoga instruction/guided experience activities.