Trauma and The Moving Body – Amber Elizabeth Gray

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Those oppressed by violence in daily life struggle due to lack of access to everything that provides refuge and safety. This presentation will share embodied breath, somatic and movement practices that offer stabilization, grounding, and state-shifting for both client and therapist well-being.

Recognizing that the most essential ingredient for client co-regulation is therapist self-regulation, this presentation offers embodied approaches that equally serve the therapeutic alliance.

A mix of theoretical and scientific principles from Polyvagal-informed Dance/Movement therapy will buoy these practices, developed by the presenters 23 years working with survivors of complex, relational and historic trauma seeking refuge from war, violence and torture. 

1. Formulate a human rights framework for body-based therapies with survivors of trauma 
2. Appraise the theories that are central to polyvagal-informed dance/movement therapy. 
3. Practice 3 state-shifting practices to promote grounding, stabilization, enhanced interoception, self-and-co-regulation and self-reciprocity. 

Landing in Our Bodies Practice

Restorative Movement Psychotherapy and Polyvagal-informed Dance/Movement Therapy

Practices for Regulation and Reciprocity

• Grounding and Stabilizing Practice 
• Enhancing Interoception Practice