Children, Families, Communities

Below, please find informative articles.

More and more we hear about PTSD – post traumatic stress disorder. This is best described as unhealed issues that arise due to one’s exposure to trauma.

A definition of trauma is anything that overwhelms our capacity to cope and respond which leaves us feeling helpless, hopeless and out of control – disconnected from others and sometimes ourselves.

Trauma creates a situation in which the past is never past. Trauma constantly intrudes upon the present becoming embedded in the body-mind self. In this way, trauma is a disease of time. All emotions have structural postures and physiological movement responses. In these micro and macro postures and movements, trauma is stored in the body. And in this way, trauma is a physically based disorder resulting in both hyperreactivity and emotional numbing.

Trauma is also about the loss of imagination. One stops learning from experience by no longer imagining alternative futures for oneself and others. The world stops. The outcome is projected to always be the same – negative and/or terrifying.

The goal of trauma treatment is to free us to be present in our bodies, and from there imaginatively participate in the larger world. Though talking of the traumatic experience can be useful, often the more talk the traumatized person does, the greater the disconnection there is between the felt (emotional and physical) experience and the cognitive or spoken experience. These are called cover stories. Cover stories are the account of the traumatic experience that makes sense to others, and even to those who have been traumatized, but does nothing to relieve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

These mind-body approaches can help to release the symptoms of post-traumatic stress:

  • therapeutic massage (craniosacral, myofascial, lymphatic, Feldenkrais),
  • yoga,
  • Presence in Healing,
  • neurofeedback,
  • mindfulness and meditation practices,
  • dance, drama, martial arts, and a host of other activities that involve the mind-body.
  • Combining any of these with coaching or counselling reinforces the experience of living fully in one’s body in the world.

Here are some of our current "favorite" books. Information in all forms connects and empowers us, and presents more opportunities for choice. These books are available here by clicking the book jacket, taking you through to Amazon.com. If you choose to purchase them in this way CFC may benefit by receiving a small amount from Amazon. Thank you for your support.

 Suzanne Scurlock-Durana Full Body Presence: Learning to listen to Your Body's Wisdom (Natural Publishing of New World Library, 2010). We consider this to be an entry level book for those wishing to further their study of Presence in Healing. Though the author uses a different model, the basic premise is the same. A great start to understanding presence, energy and the body.

 

Michael Singer, The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself (Noetic Books and New Harbinger Publications, 2007). This book seeks to walk the reader through habitual thoughts and emotions to explore how in this awareness more may be found.

 

 

Stephen Cope, The Great Work of Your Life, (Bantam Books, 2012) Using the Bhagavad Gita as a guide, the author walks through a process of
discovering dharma for oneself.

 

 


Alfie Kohn, Unconditional Parenting,  (New York, Atria Books, 2005)
With a gentle, conversational tone this book challenges most of the conventional approaches to discipline. Kohn makes a case that the messages children receive from rewards, natural consequences and positive reinforcement place these techniques along the continuum of punishment and coercion that ultimately reinforces violence in our culture. This book invites you to think deeply about your parenting values.

 

bookbpplStephen Harron Buhner, The Secret Teachings of Plants: "The Intellegence of the Heart in Direct Perception of Nature," (Vermont, Bear & Company, 2004). A beautifully written book about the use of direct perception to communicate and to heal.

 

 

bookbpplRichard Gerber, Vibrational Medicine: "The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies," (Vermont, Bear & Company, 2001). An MD who is willing to explore energy and bridge current medicine with metaphysical healing.

 

 

bookbookJames Green, The Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook. (California, Crossing Press, 2000). This is simply the best book we have come across for working with herbs to create your own healing remedies. It suits beginner and experienced herbalists alike.

 

 

bookbookJack Kornfield, After the Ectasy, the Laundry: "How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path (New York, Bantam Books, 2000). The title says it well — how we do our work every day.

 


bookbook Gabor Maté, When the Body Says No: "Exploring the Stress-Distress Connection," (New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons, 2011). This book documents and reaffirms what we "intuit", that "stress" manifests itself out into our physicality.

 

 

bookbook Carolyn Myss, Defy Gravity, (New York: Hay House, Inc. 2009). This book moves beyond the holistic model of health, inviting us to connect to the sacred and explore our inner truths.

 

 

bookbppl Margaret J. Wheatley, Leadership and the New Science: "Discovering Order in a Chaotic World, (Californis, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 1999). This book explores how to use the principles of quantum physics to invite creativity and change in organizations.

From Yoga Journal, an article on research being done in the field of medicine and yoga:
"Yoga Works! Medical Science is finally validating what yogis have known for thousands of years"

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