Curiosity, Receptivity, Presence
Christina de Cossio
NARM THERAPY
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT
Neuro Affective Relational Model
Clinical Somatic Psychotherapy Practice
Curiosity, Receptivity, Presence
Complex Trauma-Informed Care
Movement Therapy Practice
Movement therapy as an awareness practice is an optional tool and method to include in the therapeutic process and treatment plan. The practice can support re-organizing developmental movement patterns and the relationship to self expression.
For those who are ready and curious, we explore what arises in the process of consciously tracking, following or directing our intention, breath, sound and movement for holistic integration of the Self (SMI tm). This process can deepen anchoring body-mind pathways for emotional, physical and energetic aliveness, expansion and empowerment.
Movement awareness practice is resourceful and appropriate for all ages and stages of life!
Movement Therapy Practice
Movement therapy as an awareness practice is an optional tool and method to include in the therapeutic process and treatment plan. The practice can support re-organizing developmental movement patterns and the relationship to self expression.
For those who are ready and curious, we explore what arises in the process of consciously tracking, following or directing our intention, breath, sound and movement for holistic integration of the Self (SMI tm). This process can deepen anchoring body-mind pathways for emotional, physical and energetic aliveness, expansion and empowerment.
Movement awareness practice is resourceful and appropriate for all ages and stages of life!
Resilience
Once we identify where there are instabilities in the physical body, or vulnerabilities due to stress in the nervous system, then we utilize purposeful hand-on therapy techniques to support better self-regulation capacities, release shock, improve the body-mind (neuro-biological) and mind-emotional (neuro-affective) connections. Purposeful therapeutic-bodywork interventions are intended to support the body-mind's ability to organically organize towards health and vitality.
Hand-on Tools for Resourcing
Neuromuscular Reprogramming, NMR, is used as an advanced bodywork tool in addressing physical symptoms of stress and nervous system-dysregulation in the body. This hands-on movement-assessment tool supports a holistic approach by bringing awareness to how the nervous system and the brain (neuro) are communicating, connecting, and coordinating with the body (reflex and muscular system).
Stress + The Nervous System
Stress is part of the living experience. Our biology and psychology are designed to adapt and respond to experiences of stress that life presents. Our nervous system informs and mobilizes our bodies through a very complex system, fare too dynamic to go into detail about here. In very brief terms, part of our adaptation to stress involves our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems changing functional states. They are like communication circuit boards between nerves, hormones, muscle reflexes, organs, digestion, vision, heart rate, and lots more.
Regulation vs. Dysregulation
What's important to be know is that we are biologically wired for homeostasis in our body through the help of our nervous system. I refer to our capacity for somatic (body-mind) self-regulation as our ability to regain healthful and restorative physiological and emotional states.
Sometimes acute or chronic stress, in various forms, can overwhelms our body and mind's ability to recover completely back to healthy homeostasis. I use the term somatic (body-mind) dysregulation to refer to when the capacity for deep rest and recovery are compromised, for whatever reason.
In some cases, physical symptoms of our nervous systems being out of balance, or dysregulated, can show up as sleep disturbances, weakened immune system, digestion issues, concentration difficulties, fatigue, emotional mood swings, and mobility challenges, to name a few.
Curiosity and Compassion
However a person's road to health looks, straight or winding, the process of improving self-regulating capacities, and resolving stress-related nervous system-driven dysregulation, is explored with consent, curiosity, respect, pacing, and compassion.
The most important message I want to share is this: You are not alone and your inner compass seeking help is worth following. YOU are worth it. I am part of a network of complex trauma educated therapist on a mission to help people like you (and me), or someone you know, who suffers from the effects of trauma and want to heal.
I help people in understanding and connecting with their emotional lives, relationships, illnesses, injuries, shame, trauma, and personal dynamics as part of a truly holistic healing process.
The psychobiological approach to clinical counseling I use is called Neuro-Affective Relational Model, NARM. Practicing the NARM approach helps people address their concerns not only through talking but also through developing awareness of their body in relationship to their thoughts and emotions.
NARM works by guiding others in practicing and developing the skills of somatic mindfulness. Together we use curiosity and attunement to notice what's happening in the present moment. If you'd like to learn a little more about somatic mindfulness, here's a good article by Andrea L. Bell, LCSW, SEP, called: Somatic Mindfulness: What Is My Body Telling Me? (And Should I Listen?).
NARM helps us understand how our
nervous systems, adaptive survival-strategies, and identity
are wired together, and transform together.
Options in the healing process, together...
I offer neuro-affective bodywork that specifically address the body's physiological responses and adaptations to stressors. This means that my scope of practice includes the option for hand-on therapy and movement therapy when they apply to supporting the intention of a person's psychotherapy process.
There are times that integrating psychotherapy, neuro-affective bodywork and/or movement therapy might be helpful in supporting your intention for seeking therapy and healing.
You have the choice to focus exclusively in psychotherapy or include bodywork or movement therapy. Integrating them can take various forms of alternating treatment sessions, doing a series of one and then a series of the other, or doing both concurrently. Which approach and modalities/interventions we use will depend on your situation and will be done with your collaboration, informed consent and on purpose. After our initial session we will explicitly agree to what we think will be helpful and what may not. We will work together to adjust your treatment plan along the way.
All therapeutic work including verbal therapy, movement education, body-awareness and hands-on therapy is strictly professional. It's recommended to wear comfortable clothing if your treatment plan includes mindful-bodywork and movement therapy.