This presentation will discuss and describe the presenter’s integration of the body into the practice of feminist therapy. One persistent effect of women’s disempowerment in the context of interpersonal trauma has been disconnection from the body. Utilizing constructs from the martial art of aikido that emphasize the importance of moving from the center and awareness of energy, the presenter will illustrate how feminist practice with survivors of complex trauma becomes more empowering for clients who have dissociated from their bodies. Challenges to the inclusion of the body in talk psychotherapy, and strategies for increasing a client’s sense of personal power while engaging in actions previously perceived as threatening to safety (e.g., noticing how one’s body feels in the moment) will be discussed.
Where to attend
- Event: 121st Annual APA Convention
- Sponsoring organization: APA Division 35, Society for the Psychology of Women
- Register for this workshop: No separate registration required: Open to attendees of APA Convention
- Date: Saturday, August 3, 2013
- Time: 8:00-8:50 am
- Room: Room 327
- Venue: Hawaii Convention Center
- City: Honolulu HI