SHIATSU & SHOCK / TRAUMA ARTICLES The TARA Approach for Resolving Shock and Trauma Anneke Stolte MRSS Printed in the Shiatsu Society Journal, Issue 125, Spring 2013. During my final year of Shiatsu training a friend and Shiatsu client told me that she was going to the Conscious Medicine Conference in Findhorn where Dr. Stephanie Mines, a neuropsychologist, was to talk about healing from shock and trauma. My friend thought that Dr. Mines’ work, The TARA Approach, would be of interest to me as she uses a simple touch method based on meridians and 5 element theory. This intrigued and excited me because I had been looking for a simple self-care tool that I could use on myself and that I could give to my clients to do between treatments, which would bring them into the centre of their own healing process. So I went. After that first time I heard Dr. Stephenanie Mines speak and saw her giving a treatment, I was drawn to learn more about this to me amazing healing system. I did a weeklong course in Findhorn and then further training in Boulder, Colorado, USA where is based, and I am now a qualified TARA Approach practitioner at Foundations Level. What is The TARA Approach The TARA Approach is an amalgamation of some of the greatest gifts of Eastern Healing with Western Science. As a victim herself of incest and domestic violence in her childhood, Dr. Stephanie Mines has created the TARA Approach from all the modalities that have helped her own healing process. She studied Jin Shin for well over 20 years with Mary lino Burmeister who brought this Japanese healing art to the United States. Dr Mines simultaneously engaged in her own research into the neurology and physiology of shock and trauma that ultimately led to her doctoral dissertation. Her mentors included Peter Levine, Ph.D, creator of Somatic Experiencing and author of Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma, a ground breaking book describing how the body responds to trauma, and William R. Emerson, Ph.D, a pioneer in the field of pre-and perinatal psychology who identifies prenatal and birth experience as the most likely setting for completely overwhelming experiences. Stephanie put both of these together to create Jin Shin TATA and The TARA Approach by combining Jin Shin assessment and dialogue techniques she had developed. TARA is an acronym for Tools for Awakening Resources and Awareness. Simultaneously Tara is the name of the Buddhist Goddess who is the incarnation of Mercy and Compassion. She is a great unconditionally loving mother figure. Jin Shin (Tara), like Shiatsu, is grounded in TCM and 5 Element theories. It is a subtle energy medicine system which uses the wrist pulses for diagnosis and the energy pathways on the etheric body known as Rivers of Splendor otherwise known as Extraordinary Meridians.

The 8 Extraordinary meridians are formed prenatally and hold the template for our essential energetic beings. The 12 traditional meridians are formed out of them and they support postnatal life. The Extraordinary Meridians communicate between the 12 traditional meridians and cross over their pathways sharing points. The function as a reservoir, containing energy overflows and depletions from the traditional meridian system when there is a traumatic event. It is for this reason that the Extraordinary Meridians are the treatment arm of the TARA Approach. There are twenty six sacred sites (points) on the body where we can get in contact with the Extraordinary Meridians and treatment is done by gently touching these sites, listening for pulses and changes. Changes can be subtle but through repeated contact the sites will begin to respond more and more readily. Rather than working the meridians in a Shiatsu way, Jin Shin (Tara) uses a sequence of moves called “flows” in which two points are held together, until harmony is felt and then one hand moves to the next point in the sequence. A “gentle dialogue” between client and practitioner is part of the treatment. The Tara Approach is self-care and empowerment based and non-cathartic. The most powerful touch is by loving self-care as this stimulates a release of neurotransmitters that stimulate and enhance self-confidence. “Touching yourself lovingly is like sending love letters to your brain,” as Dr. Stephanie so eloquently puts it. The subtle energy medicine of the Tara Approach is calming for the primitive brain and most critically, regenerative for the kidney-adrenal system. It acts therefore as the foundation for resolving shock but also for awakening higher brain functions that ultimately allow us to fully manifest our individual essence. “The Palm Inju” is an example of simple energy medicine self-care that survivors of shock can use under stressful circumstances, when the nervous system gets overloaded. It is done by bringing your hands into a prayer position. The palms and all your fingers are touching so there is a slight pressure, minimal but sufficient to give you the experience of contact. In the photo the hands are held in front of the heart but they can be placed anywhere that is comfortable. The Palm Inju brings you back into your centre, your natural place of integrity. It differentiates self from others and helps you to prioritise. For more information see www.tara-approach.org There is a wealth of information and practical tools in Dr. Mines’ book. We are All in Shock: How Overwhelming Experiences Shatter You and What you Can Do About it (Stephanie Mines, Ph.D., 2003) Anneke first came to Shiatsu after having worked as an Ecologist in N.E. Scotland for many years. She had previously studied Healing techniques and Psychosynthesis in Amsterdam in the 1980’s. After experiencing an overwhelming amount of grief she found great benefit from receiving Shiatsu. This enthusiasm led to her beginning Shiatsu training at the Aberdeen College of Shiatsu and gained her MRSS in 2012. At the same time as Shiatsu she began studying Yang Style TaiChi and is now teaching a beginners class. She is also an enthusiastic 5Rhythms dance. Shiatsu for the consequences of trauma By Peter Itin

Printed in the Shiatsu Society News, Issue 110, Summer 2009. Based in Switzerland, Shiatsu therapist since 1997 (European Shiatsu Institute), Peter Itin has studied with Cliff Andrews and Pauline Sasaki. He has taught at different Shiatsu schools and is author of the book ‘Shiatsu als Therapie’ (“Shiatsu as therapy”). BoD 20017. Teacher of Taiqi Quan; Diploma in Somantic Experience (Trauma therapy); Certificate in Core Process Psychotherapy; Zen meditation and mindfulness in the radiation of Thich Nhath Hanh. Consultant of the Swiss Shiatsu Association and the Swiss roof organisation Dachverband Xund and Co-initiator of the project to achieve a national, recognized profession “complementary therapy” in Switzerland. He represents the Swiss Shiatsu Association in the International Shiatsu Network (ISN). What is trauma? Trauma is the designation for: ● The experience or observation of an unusual event ● That which comes unexpectedly and is inevitable ● That which is a serious threat to physical health and existence ●That which has consequences that might last for a long time. In a traumatic situation it is not possible to escape or defend oneself anymore. The protective mechanism is overpowered and an overwhelming violation happens. Traumatic events often happen too fast and too intensely and sometimes also too often. A crucial element of trauma is that there are subsequent consequences. After the first shock the trauma still sits in the nervous system. Usually, the consequences diminish by themselves again. Sometimes they influence the life in the here and now for a long time after the event and influence thinking, feeling and acting. The following symptoms are indicative for trauma: ● Hyper arousal: quick activation, overly sensitive, irritability, being jumpy, panic, fear attacks, obsessive compulsion – which mirrors the constant expectation of danger ● Hypo arousal: emotional anaesthesia, indifference, speechlessness (“ I don’t have the words to describe the horror”), avoiding people, places (for example not using an elevator anymore) directions (left from where the car came) and emotions – because they mirror the capitulation, freezing and powerlessness ● Reliving in the form of visual flashbacks (as if seeing the scene with the inner eye) and nightmares – they mirror the undeletable imprint through the traumatic experience. The consequences of trauma are even more serious if the trauma has been caused on purpose and it is effected by: ● The closeness of the relationship with the person that committed the crime ● The length the traumatizing actions happened ● The age the person was at the time of the traumatization

●The bigger the danger and the affectedness were. Natural disasters and accidents that were unavoidable or strokes of fate create less stress than violence, abuse and violations. Traumatized people often react within rigid patterns in stress situations. These stereotypical ways of reacting are self-protecting automatisms of the organism. Traumatized people aren’t capable of reacting to different degrees of stress in an accurate way and with the right dosage anymore. Their perception is distorted and is “stuck” to the past. Traumatized people are prisoners of their emotions, a vicious cycle of fear and helplessness. Trauma victims also show strong psychosomatic reactions that have to do with the organ functions (asthma, heart racing, insomnia, sleeping disorders, diarrhea, strong sweating, skin rashes and other). Secondary consequences can be addictive behaviour, depression, isolating behaviour, eating disorders etc. Traumatized clients can usually be supported well with Shiatsu. It is recommendable that they also get trauma-therapy and medical support as well as having a social network. In trauma-therapy it’s about bringing back into flow, that which has frozen, to regain broken connections and to strengthen the ability to lead a content life in self-responsibility. Trauma-therapy contains there phases: stabilization, trauma-confrontation and integration. Shiatsu for traumatized people can generally contribute in: ● Soothing physical symptoms ● Increasing emotional stability, well- being, life-joy and life-quality ● Strenthening body awareness, self-esteem and the ability to draw clear boundaries. Fundamentally we need to keep in consideration that: ❶ Trauma is death proximity, existential helplessness, basic fear, and the loss of continuity, connection and trust. ❷ Trauma is overwhelming, a massive violation of boundaries, a rupture of the natural protective system. ❸ Trauma is complete loss of control, which is then compensated with over-control (which can lead to obsessive compulsion). ❹ Trauma is dissociation and disorientation; the clients are not fully present in the here and now anymore. ❺ Trauma is a deregulation of the nervous system, an inadequately strong over-stimulation (Jitsu), or under-stimulation (Kyo). ❻ Trauma is immobility, frozenness, and an in-completed movement of escape or defence. ❼ Trauma is a reaction of the organism that has been frozen in time. ❽ Trauma has linking-dynamics, meaning is often liked with other traumas. For the work with Shiatsu we can extract the following conclusions: Regarding 1:

It is central to first create a feeling of connectedness and trust, security, protection and positive support with trauma-clients and to create an according “energetic space” on the relationship level. Our own inner stability, centeredness, alignment and confidence is perceived on the vibrational level by the client. On the other side she also feels insecurity, injury, sucked in. She will possibly continuously be testing. “am I safe here?” In a compassionate, stability-giving containment she will feel safe, respected and in good hands. This is a basic requirement for the nervous system to be able to relax. We need to respect that some clients will not be able to close their eyes during a treatment and trustingly give themselves, into it in the beginning. Some can only bear short sequences of body-contact at first. Centering alignment and the power to act are as important as focus. Working with the Hara (centre) with Governing and Conception Vessel and Bladder meridian (central-line), head and feet (connection of heaven and earth) and with the hands (regaining the power of action) can strengthen inner stabilization. Regarding 2: The violation of boundaries of which the client has been suffering must be addressed by the practitioner and must be respected and strengthened. Trust into the body must be rebuilt. Avoid inattentive touch. We ask whether what we are doing is okay for the client. We need to find out if certain body areas are taboo and should not be touched. We should ask how the pressure should be to be accurate. That’s how the client can become aware of her body again and gain the courage to express needs. This strengthens her self-responsibility and personality. The client can feel her own body, herself and her boundaries better again if we bring her awareness on the physical experiencing of the body by asking her about the changes she is feeling. Shiatsu will then give internal space to the client. Regarding 3: A traumatized organism functions in rigid, narrow patterns and is afraid of losing control. Controlling mechanisms give the feeling of security, even if this is a false security. Not having any control is associated with the trauma and a threat for life. Over-control may only be released slowly and step by step. Controlling means holding, holding on to something. Physically this expresses as permanent muscle contraction. Active stretching can be interpreted as re-violation by the nervous system and have a re-traumatizing effect. Tension in the system should only be taken away successively. Releasing the Jitsu must happen very carefully. We offer the Jitsu a vessel for relaxation. Being able to let go is being free of fear and trusting. This is only possible when one can build on inner resources. With trauma it is especially important to not have the aim to release frozen, concentrated energy in the beginning, even though the trauma-vortex draws the attention to the Jitsu. It is important to first bring attention to the Kyo. We connect ourselves with the unfulfilled need to e.g. receive consolation, nourishment or to be held and support the strength and resources of that. Shiatsu for Trauma – Part 2 By Peter Itin Printed in the Shiatsu Society News, Issue 111. Autumn 2009. The Therapeutic Dialogue When treating clients suffering the effects of trauma, the therapeutic dialogue has two main goals: ●To avoid them becoming overwhelmed (feeling powerless etc) ●To help them in building stability and finding resources

We should look to develop sensitivity for which fields we are allowed to move in, and for what the client can ‘hold’ emotionally. If the client becomes overwhelmed anyway, then orientation in the ‘here and now’ is crucial. The Shiatsu therapist needs to know that there is a trauma to address, but it isn’t recommended for the client to actually describe their traumatic experiences. It is enough to know the “chapter titles” of the book; one doesn’t need the full content of the story. Often the client feels moved to tell all, and virtually floods the therapist with information. We need to draw clear borders here, for the sake of both parties. In my experience repeatedly describing their trauma in detail tends to have a re-traumatizing effect on the client: feelings such as panic, desperate fear and being at someone’s mercy are re-activated and enhanced at the neuronal level. Professional trauma-therapy is the only way to cut the vicious cycle of such a strong trauma, and it’s important for the client to learn to withdraw from the suction of the ‘trauma-vortex’ and to develop the ability to deal with the subject consciously and in small doses. Key to this is early recognition of signs that the vortex is starting to unfold, “getting off” early enough, and not being overwhelmed. ‘Getting off’ here means finding a way back to the resilience factors. The client needs to understand the importance of not being flooded by feelings and of retrieving their own, inner strength, and of course the client herself must want change. The Shiatsu therapist can support this whole process through the dialogue which accompanies the treatment. Whilst recognising the obvious damage, the client’s attention should be drawn to the strength that made it possible for her/him to keep on surviving under such awful conditions. This shifting back and forth must be explicit and yet subtle, to avoid a “push-and-pull” situation between the client and the therapist, in which the client doesn’t feel understood because the therapist is constantly bringing the attention away from their suffering. An explicit agreement is required that the role of the therapist is to navigate continuously towards the healthy, the strengthening and the nourishing. Questions are a vital tool to help dissolve negative vibrations and feelings: questions such as “What would help?” “What would feel good at the moment/bring relief?” Building up resources and developing stabilising attitudes and patterns is hard work. It must be pursued with willpower and persistence and the aim is for clients to recognise the possibility for choices in their life. Here are some helpful strategies: 1) Bring as much attention as possible to all actions, not letting the mind race but keeping it in the here and now. For example, while walking pay attention to contact with the earth and feeling their feet 2) Self-observation, with loving and kind perception of their own reactions, attitudes and behaviour 3) Recognise strengths and “nourishing”, positive resources 4) Visualise alternative ways of reacting, and what effects and sensations these may bring 5) Make small “practice fields” – search for little successes in expanding reaction-choice If the client is in psycho-or traumatic therapy, we should talk with their therapist to find out how to support their work, not contradict them and avoid overloading the client with additional suggestions. Through questions we can lead them to the following possibilities: ● Looking for supportive relationships, cherishing them and utilising them.

● Doing joyful things (e.g. movement in nature, making music being with people, cooking well and eating consciously, reading emotionally nourishing books, contact with animals etc.) ● Keeping a “joyful-diary” – writing something every day to bring attention to joyful things and away from problems – to prove that positive aspects are increasing. ● Exercising: e.g. Tai Chi, Yoga, breathing exercises and/or meditation (to regain the lost control and inner stability). Positive feelings such as gratitude, joy and trust should be encouraged and valued. The sense of selfvalue and treating oneself lovingly must be recreated. For every aspect of the trauma-vortex there’s at least one resilience-factor: Trauma Powerlessness Helplessness, despair Feeling overwhelmed Life is not making any sense Anger, hate Immobility, rigidity Dissociation Rigid patterns

Resilience “I can” have support and ask for it Confidence, hope Feeling borders and drawing those lines What was learned through the trauma Gratitude, forgiving Movement Contact, body awareness Attention

The Therapeutic Field We know that a compassionate relationship is decisive for the success of therapy. We need consciously to create a field in which transformation and healing is possible and this requires particular attention when treating trauma. The therapist needs to be emotionally and spiritually stable, so that she/he is able to hold the orientation in the ‘here and now’. with compassion, confidence and a sense of the wisdom of life. With trauma the therapist must: ● Address the wounds and physical injuries with compassion, contact their energy at the vibrational level but not get overwhelmed and drawn into the emotions ● Always keep contact with the ‘here and ‘now’ ● Recognise when the trauma-vortex starts opening and interrupt the client respectfully, to avoid their becoming overwhelmed ● Hold the client’s experience in a larger context, i.e. connecting beyond the surface to the inner life force and to the “cosmic context” The danger is doing too much, imposing our well-meaning intentions but in fact overwhelming and restricting the client. Self-awareness is essential to find the appropriate degree of closeness and distance, intervention and non-doing, when treating trauma clients. There is a difference between compassion and feeling sorry, where the therapist loses his boundaries, identifies with the client and burdens himself with their suffering. This is not helpful and can lead to burnout. Things a client says can activate the therapist’s own traumas, leading to disassociation, and client tend unconsciously to draw therapists into their energetic patterns. Typical patterns include

idealisation. “You are my last hope”, depreciation. “Shiatsu doesn’t help either”, and blackmail. “If you don’t help me then ..” As a therapist one should not act as a ‘saviour’ nor have any private relationships with the client. Self de-validations happen often and the client may be unconsciously looking for confirmation that he/she is “the last person” and a hopeless case. It is very important not to use any devaluing formulations – not even jokingly. Working with strongly traumatised people is only possible if you as a therapist have worked intensively with your own personal issues and if you can deal comfortably with “relationship-traps”. Finally I should emphasise that supervision is always essential.