Building resilience through the wisdom of the body
Treat the Whole Person.
More than just trauma.
An estimated 70% of the general population will experience a traumatic event (Knipscheer et al., 2020) in their lifetime. For those that meet criteria for PTSD, they are 80% more likely to meet diagnostic criteria for at least one other disorder (APA, 2013, p.280).
This means your clients or patients are impacted by trauma, whether themselves or in their families. Trauma can be transmitted between generations and effects body, mind and relationship to others.
Even if your clients don’t have a PTSD diagnosis, they might struggle with: dissociation, dysregulation, body image, rupture in relationships, parenting and attachment, anxiety, or chronic pain or fatigue. All of which are part of our embodied experience.
Why yoga & mindfulness?
Research tells us that yoga & mindfulness practices are effective healing tools that can:
Reduce depression and anxiety symptoms (Nolan, 2016).
Increase window of tolerance/ resilience (van der kolk, 2014).
Improve self esteem and body image (Epstein & Gonzalez, 2015).
Increase ability to form and sustain healthy relationships (Epstein & Gonzalez, 2015).
Cause a rise in interoceptive capability, and “feeling” body sensations (van der kolk, 2014).
Reduce pain intensity (Saxena, Gupta, Shankar, Jain, & Saxena, 2017)
Stimulate post traumatic growth in addition to trauma symptom reduction (West, Liang, & Spinazzola, 2017).
The difference of trauma-informed, healing-centered yoga & mindfulness.
Ahisma, the Yama (yoga principle) of non-harming or non-violence, is a key component that’s emphasized in Trauma Informed Yoga. Yoga’s indigenous roots are inherently trauma- informed, with a focus on healing and “union” or connection. However, in the West, yoga has often been poorly translated into physical exercises focused on fitness. Because of this, and the nature of clinical approaches to health, it has become necessary to develop specific protocol for yoga practices in mental health care. These collective practices are referred to as “Trauma Informed Yoga”.
Trauma Informed Yoga is yoga adapted to the unique needs of individuals working to overcome trauma through “...a safe, tailored practice for students to learn how to respond, rather than react, to symptoms and circumstances” (Justice, L., Brems, C., & Ehlers, K., 2018).
Terra Firma provides an integrative service that supports healing through an emphasis on the mind-body connection.
Designed to complement traditional therapy methods for people experiencing:
General anxiety and depression
PTSD & Complex Trauma
Perinatal mood disorders, infertility or pregnancy loss
Chronic pain
Recovery from abuse, eating disorders or addiction
Why Terra Firma?
We come to you. In person or virtual.
We meet your clients where they are.
Facilitators trained in mental health & yoga, focused on evidenced based interventions for trauma.
Curriculum designed for your clients.
Collaboration with your clinicians/treatment team.
““Our sessions have been so meaningful and healing...They’re part of so many new steps towards grounding and reclaiming space, my voice, my strength. Thank you so much for providing a safe and truly collaborative space to do this transformation and healing.”
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Our Services
Terra Firma's intention is to hold space for you, when and where you need it. We can come to you, or accommodate a small group at our White Bear Lake location.
FOR YOUR CLIENTS:
Direct Programming
Trauma Informed Movement, Yoga & Mindfulness Session
FOR YOUR STAFF:
Yoga for Caregivers
Increase resilience with a safe and slow somatic movement group or yoga class taught through a trauma-sensitive lens. Accessible for most, interventions may include gentle movement, breath-work, meditation and imagery, depending upon what is appropriate for the participants. This class can be adjusted to be completed in chairs. Trauma Informed or Trauma Sensitive Yoga programming is ideal for: IDP, IOP, PHP, residential treatment programming and some private practice clinics.
Designed to support you and your team in managing the effects of secondary/vicarious trauma, and avoiding burnout through the utilization of mind-body tools and nourishing self-care practices.
Professional Trainings
Clinical Supervision
Professional Mentorship
We offer half and full day experiential trainings with curriculum that is designed specifically for mental health professionals or your current yoga/movement staff, and is customized to fit the needs of your organization. Please reach out to schedule a training onsite at your facility.
We have also developed an online professional training open to the public. Read more here.
Interested in Clinical Supervision with an LMFT? Terra Firma provides individual and group supervision opportunities with Jessie Everts, PhD, LMFT. Learn more here.
Are you beginning to incorporate Trauma Informed Yoga, Movement or Mindfulness into your clinical setting and wondering how to build the program, work with other clinicians, use it with individual therapy clients, or apply it to a specific population you work with?
Let us help!
This session is 50 minutes of (virtual) one-on-one coaching to ask questions, get support, receive input and guidance and collaborate on your vision and even curriculum design for the important work you're doing!
““Yoga practice can restore neurological pathways in a region of the brain that processes emotion awareness, and decreases in size among female trauma survivors.””