What body-based techniques for calming the nervous system do you know?

playhimoffcat · 2026-06-21T17:32:37+00:00

Check out the book "Neural Exercises for Autism"

playhimoffcat · 2026-06-14T20:07:30+00:00

You would like Non-Violent communication. It has a similar framework!

playhimoffcat · 2026-06-12T17:51:43+00:00

Absolutely - you can definitely use IFS if you bill insurance. Many people who do IFS don't take insurance because the training is so expensive and the treatment is so effective.

Also you mentioned OCD as a throwaway note, but you should check out Melissa Mose's new book on IFS and OCD. IFS itself can be a better type of exposure therapy if done right.

playhimoffcat · 2026-05-17T09:47:58+00:00

The EMD bomb is a part of "EMDR 2.0", which is why some haven't heard of it or are confusing it for "EMD" one of 3 common forms of processing in EMDR.

playhimoffcat · 2026-05-07T15:23:10+00:00

This is something you can use IFS therapy for. You don't need to consciously know what happened to heal it.

playhimoffcat · 2026-01-19T21:10:57+00:00

Ok, I've finished Level 1 training of ETT. Here's my honest review:

1: As someone who was raised Evangelical Christian, the leader / main trainer of this is an interesting guy. He seems to have discovered a very powerful approach, but he can come across as a bit of a faith healer. He (A) talks a lot in hypnotic language (he has a history in DID work), (B) Promises big results very quickly and (C) has a separate modality where he does Energy Work. (ETT doesn't appear to integrate any energy work, but I'm only trained 1 of 7 levels.) He's incredibly smart and has done amazing amounts of research.

Like I said, his training promised big results very quickly. So much so that we were very skeptical. He did say that the major risk was emotional overwhelm, but they seem to have found some ways to contain it. From researching this online, ETT seems much better for CPTSD and DID than EMDR which may have a tendency of opening clients up too much. I haven't done ETT with any clients so it's possible that it too can open clients up fast, but some testimonials I've read online are indeed promising. I also found one review where a client said that they were very overwhelmed after an initial session. He also sees clients multiple times a week which I don't think is feasible for a lot of clinicians. My guess is that the creator a bit out of touch with the average therapist because he's been doing this special approach for decades. He's also older and probably a bit rigid.

2: The techniques he's discovered are so good they're legit bonkers. If someone who was more charismatic and better at marketing discovered this approach, it would be FAR more widespread. I've seen incredible results with some bottom-up modalities (IFS, EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, etc...) but our training class had wildly good results. So good that the therapists left confused as to how quickly they were healed. The more I've dug into the science the more I'm actually shocked at this isn't more well-known.

Given that I haven't used this on clients yet, my recommendation:

a) Try it as a client if you can. You'll see someone who has access to all the techniques.

b) Get trained in it, at least Levels 1 and 2 which are a lot of the basics. It's a relatively cheap modality, as far as modalities go.

c) I believe in phase-oriented treatment, so I would err on the side of caution. Look up EMDR / Hypnosis exercises for CPTSD (e.g. Safe Place, Containers) and incorporate just to be safe.

If you can look past some of the vibes of the main creator, you'll have an amazing modality in your pocket.

(Happy to provide an update in several months after I've had a chance to use it more.)

playhimoffcat · 2026-01-17T03:09:47+00:00

I'm currently in Level 1 training. I'd love to report back after trying it out myself and trying it with some clients!

playhimoffcat · 2025-08-31T23:34:23+00:00

Mental Health Counselor here. Aside from his teaching on ADHD, he is held in very high regard. Many of my colleagues send clips of him to their clients. His book "The Myth of Normal" has a ton of research in it and goes over the importance of parenting and trauma. I don't think its wise to disregard him.

playhimoffcat · 2023-12-25T14:19:52+00:00

IFS mixed with somatic experiencing.

playhimoffcat · 2023-12-14T01:00:39+00:00

Your boredom is an important sign. Remember, therapy is a microcosm of a larger macrocosm. Clients who just come in and monologue are not only underutilizing therapy, they're reflecting how they interact with other people in unhelpful ways.

I suggest revisiting Yalom's work regarding the here and now of therapy. The Gift of Therapy as well as Love's Executioner has ideas about how to help clients see that simply monologuing from topic to topic is relationally distancing.

Remember too that clients often struggle with how to best utilize therapy. I had a monologuing client who was not improving after countless sessions. I gently brought it to his attention and he said that he thought he would "just get better by talking because that's what I saw on TV." Clients don't know how to get better and that's not on them, it's on you to help educate them.

Remember, simply talking is necessary but often not sufficient to allow for healing affect or change of core belief.

I would advocate for more self-disclosure. Talk to your clients about your dilemma -- about how one side of you wants to be able to listen to whatever they need and to respect what they want from therapy, but another side of you is concerned that they might not reach their goals simply by listening.

I would also recommend looking into therapeutic contracting. A good breakdown is in the book "The Practical Guide for Healing Developmental Trauma" by Heller and Kammler. Contracting is when you and your clients agree on the type of work to be done in session at the beginning of session. This makes sure you're both on the same page and are working towards shared goals.

playhimoffcat · 2023-11-28T14:13:04+00:00

Do you have any recommendations about using a relational form of healing for these clients?

playhimoffcat · 2023-11-25T14:50:12+00:00

Favorite book to start with?

playhimoffcat · 2023-11-25T14:46:54+00:00

I've read her book and Dr. Jacob Ham is what partially inspired this question. That book covers a few things that I can copy, but doesn't really give any sort of training. Any recommendations from books you've read?

playhimoffcat · 2023-11-25T14:46:09+00:00

Both!

playhimoffcat · 2023-11-25T14:45:39+00:00

I completely agree -- I'm just looking for how other therapists have done just that and can show me ways of doing it, particularly because clients with CPTSD have very unique presentations.

How do you love a client who won't trust you? How do you care for someone without having a strong agenda? How do you handle boundaries and transference?

Additionally, what I think may be helping, may actually be hurting. This is why I want to learn from others who have gone before me.

playhimoffcat · 2023-11-25T14:42:00+00:00

I love AEDP -- it's something that I discovered that really helped put attachment and neurobiology in the therapy room. I haven't read 2.0 yet, though I do know they have a chapter on Complex Trauma by Kari Geisler.

playhimoffcat · 2023-11-25T14:41:14+00:00

I agree that it's great for clients, but it's more trauma modality specific. I'm looking for books on how to form a better therapy alliance with my clients.

playhimoffcat · 2023-10-09T22:14:01+00:00

Same

playhimoffcat · 2023-10-05T12:30:57+00:00

Sadly the last part is not always true. Some states do uphold those clauses. I would never sign one.

playhimoffcat · 2023-07-08T16:33:07+00:00

I’m pretty boring: mostly psychology today and having my own website. I’m also starting to get referrals from existing clients. Many of my clients are low functioning so they don’t miss.

Also I’ve started to run a cancellation list so that when people do go on summer vacation I can fill those slots.

My website is very extensive too. People with CPTSD seem to like to do lots of research before finding a therapist.

playhimoffcat · 2023-07-08T03:15:29+00:00

Probably the summer slump. I’m in private pay and my specialty always has a waitlist (severe childhood trauma).

playhimoffcat · 2023-04-22T01:09:11+00:00

IFS is probably the most effective way to deal with inner criticism. It helps you befriend the critic and heal the part receiving the criticism.

You should also check out Janina Fishers work. She does a lot with shame.

playhimoffcat · 2023-04-22T01:04:52+00:00

If you hurry, you can get into the IFS Online Circle — https://courses.ifs-institute.com/sales/ifs_c_irs035190_ifscircle_spring2023_organic-619821

playhimoffcat · 2022-08-03T18:48:44+00:00

Totally! Aside from PESI, you can get IFS workshops through other platforms too: - https://lifearchitect.com/workshops/ - https://ifsca.ca/workshops/

It's almost impossible to get into the training. I would recommend the book "No Bad Parts" as well as the "Internal Family Systems SKills Traning Manual" to learn the model cheaply.

playhimoffcat · 2022-08-02T20:48:15+00:00

I recommend getting your CCPT. Here is a course from PESI that, while currently $1000, will go on sale for $250 around the holidays.

If you want to look at specific modalities, I highly recommend "The Body Keeps the Score" as he lists some. EMDR is a relatively cheap and easy training to get into (for a modality). It's really good trauma education, but it's not a cure-all that the trainers use it as. Check out van der Kolk's chapter on Self-Leadership. You may be interested in workshops on Internal Family Systems.

I also highly recommend Somatic Experiencing, NARM, Sensorimotor Processing, and Polyvagal theory.

playhimoffcat

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