Taming Anxiety and Worries in Challenging Times Registration

Reports of anxiety have skyrocketed for many people recently, especially given the concerning sociopolitical climate in many countries of the world.  Anxiety includes several embodied dimensions that are difficult to redress with language alone. Conversational practices are necessary to change the meaning and experience of one’s sense of identity, while somatic and sensorimotor practices are crucial to address embodied manifestations of this problem. Mind-body resilience enables people to remain more steady in the socio-political storm, make proactive decisions, and stand in solidarity with their communities.

In this unique presentation, Marie-Nathalie will propose specific questions to mobilize people’s agency in the face of this seemingly out-of-control situation. She will also explore several embodied practices to address the five dimensions of an emotional experience. Concrete ways to alter the physiological activation and biochemical releases associated with this intense emotion will be discussed and facilitated so participants experience first-hand their helpfulness.  When people of all ages are made aware of their biology and given tools to hijack the highjacking of anxiety, they are in a better position to cultivate moments of inner safety and agency. Including embodied and physiological considerations does not mean internalizing problems. Quite the contrary, stabilizing the mind and body frees people to make more intentional choices about their actions and face the challenges of our turbulent world with greater clarity.

Exemplified by inspiring clinical videos, this workshop proposes innovative practices that use the five senses, reset accelerated heart rate, and access a variety of helpful counter-states. Narrative practices and emotions inspire some ideas, and others are newly developed. We hope you can join us for this hands-on clinical practice event.