Orienting Toward the Body in the Therapy Room
Written By: Dr. Beata Lewis
On June 27, 2023 New York City (NYC) Mayor Eric Adams announced that NYC public schools will be required to offer 2-5 minutes of mindful breathing everyday. Likely, Mayor Adams understands that children can learn how to use their own bodies as a resource for recalibrating and finding balance when things are rocky. Research is ongoing, studies are promising, and holistic treatment plans for children are becoming mainstream, and appear particularly promising in the areas of childhood anxiety, emotional dysregulation, impulsivity and even pain. Research regarding adults well past their school years, also is promising. In 2016 the Journal of the American Medical Association published research that demonstrated that mindfulness meditation can alleviate chronic pain, reducing the reliance on opioids (Cherkin et al., 2016).
Since mind body therapies integrated into the therapy room are experiential in nature (one is taught and then practices –en vivo– a technique and then it is reviewed within the safe haven of the therapy room) it might seem that the practical limits of integrating many techniques into different settings would be a challenge, yet I have found the opposite to be true. With walls, a chair and even a little floorspace, a lot can be attempted. In my experience integrating body based techniques through direct instruction into the therapy room, many people express a feeling of independence. The activity or physical technique gives the sensory organism of the body an opportunity to be enlivened and “sense” vs “intellectualize or contemplate”, one experiences from moment to moment. When we can tap into another way our mind-body gives us messages “from within” we stretch, flex and possible enhance our capacity to experience sense ourselves sensing our own experiences.
Using a body centric approach within a more traditional therapeutic structure is a shift away from conventional American cultural and therapeutic norms which emphasizes cerebral insights and logic and develops a tolerance towards “not knowing” or “sifting knowing” as our bodies can and do show up differently from day to day. One interesting way to explore our changing body states and then ultimately tie it to activities, environments, foods, mindset, mindstates, is to making a note for a few days in a row of which nostril feels easier to breath in and out of at different points in the day, such as upon awakening or going to sleep.
Self awareness is a precursor skill for many positive and pro social activities and a critical factor in self esteem development. The act of choosing which techniques have a positive effect for you and when to use them is also an aspect of independence likely to support true self esteem. The importance of a self lead practices dovetails beautifully with the generalized goal of healing: Be True to Oneself
What are the mind body practices most accessible (easy to remember/administer, impactful):
Some of the more well known mind body practices include: activities that utilize, manipulate or focus on some aspect of breathing (including breath patterns interwoven into meditation practices), physical positions to increase circulation, elicit a nervous system or other body system response, positive affirmation, guided imagery, hypnosis, EMDR, somatic psychotherapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), biofeedback and tai-chi to name a few.
Cultural Appropriation
Everyone, including of course healthcare providers, must be mindful of cultural appropriation, their own lived experience with modalities and uphold the highest standards of care and ethics when integrating mind-body therapies into their offerings. Certain therapies have deep roots in specific cultures and traditions, and it is essential for practitioners to respect these origins and avoid misrepresentation of these practices. Cultural sensitivity and understanding contribute to providing inclusive and respectful care to patients from diverse backgrounds.
Emerging Fields
The emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology explores the link between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems, and is gaining momentum.
Healthcare settings continue to embrace mind-body therapies at a quick pace, driven primarily by a growing body of scientific evidence that underscores their effectiveness in managing a wide range of health conditions.
Digital Health Technologies (pros and cons)
The rise of digital health technologies has played a role in the integration of mind-body therapies into mainstream healthcare. Telehealth platforms and health apps have democratized access to these therapies, making them more widely available and accessible. Patients can now participate in CBT sessions from the comfort of their homes, follow guided meditation programs at their own pace, or engage in online yoga classes.
As with any significant transformation in healthcare, challenges exist. Not all patients have access to the necessary technology for digital health interventions. The rapid proliferation of health apps also raises concerns about data privacy and quality control. It is imperative that these digital platforms adhere to stringent standards for patient privacy and data security while delivering evidence-based interventions.
Conclusion
Mind-body therapies are not a cure-all solution. They serve as a vital component within the broader healthcare landscape. They can be integrated alongside other evidence-based treatments as part of a comprehensive, integrated care plan. This holistic approach ensures that all dimensions of a patient's health - physical, mental, and emotional - are addressed.
In the future, we may witness a greater number of healthcare systems incorporating mind-body therapies into their standard care practices. As ongoing research continues to shed light on the effectiveness of these therapies, their acceptance and utilization are likely to expand. This widening of perspective represents a significant shift and advancement within our contemporary health paradigm and underscores the ideas about how our human organism can be orientated in relation to the to the world around us but having an experience of the world within us.
Mind Body Seven clinicians offer treatment in Brooklyn and via teletherapy for adolescents and adults. If have not worked with us and want to get started please contact us here, so we can set you up with the clinicians that best suit your individual needs. If you are an existing patient get in touch with us here to set up your next appointment.