Balancing the Brain

Why I focus on bottom up approaches in therapy https://integratedlistening.com/blog/5-benefits-of-a-bottom-up-therapeutic-approach/
I am a SSP provider and it works beautifully with IFS, Brainspotting and primitive reflex integration work

5 benefits of a bottom-up therapeutic approach - Unyte Integrated Listening Explore the benefits of a bottom-up approach in therapy, informed by Polyvagal Theory, and practical tools like the Safe and Sound Protocol.

Polyvagal mapping helps you to understand the dance of the nervous system. We should be riding through all the three stages throughout the day and not get stuck. The forth stage is the one in-between Sympathetic and Dorsal stage. You alternate between the two and get stuck. This is where people with ADHD and ASD often get stuck. It just looks a bit different with ADHD than ASD.
We also have a home in one of the three stages.
Where is your home?
Mine is definitely the sympathetic stage.

When we look at things from the nervous system ( ANS) lens, everything makes sense.
The primary responsibility of the ANS is to ensure safety and survival. Without safety, our body will automatically resort to survival mode, adaptation and compensation. This is not the best response in the modern world.
We evaluate things being good or bad. You are exactly where you need to be.
This is how your nervous system keeps you safe and functioning in this world although it might not be the most optimal way.
What about if we looked at ADHD being stuck between sympathetic and dorsal states of the nervous system. In overwhelm or collapse or a state in between.
What about if we looked at addictions as adaptive strategies for survival that kick in when there’s no safety?
What about if we looked at weak gluteal muscles as a response to a poor pelvic and ribcage position? The poor gluteal muscles are not in a position to fire 🤔
What about if we are stuck in a position of breath holding? Maybe a past traumatic experience wants to make you invisible so you hold your breath in an attempt to do so. Or perhaps you have unintegrated primitive reflexes such as fear paralysis.
These are all subconscious patterns. You are not aware of them.
But they all make sense if we tune into and start understanding our nervous system 🙏🏻🙏🏻

ADHD is like driving a Ferrari without brakes. It also sometimes feels like” if someone could remove my brain for the day so I could rest.”
My husband hates when I never answer the question. I need to tell everything about the subject. Absolutely everything.
When people ask me what do I do for living, I can’t give you that 30 second elevator pitch. But I can give you a lecture how I look at you and your presenting issues from the developmental point of view, attachment, trauma, eyes, nervous system, mouth/teeth/jaw, functional medicine, joint positioning, breath, neurology, cranial sacral system, primitive reflexes, putting together countless trainings and certifications…
That is how my brain works. And it’s so frustrating. 🥵
So I just freeze and say I teach Pilates 🤣🫣 which could not be further from the truth 🫣

But my ADHD comes very handy in my work. I am hyper focused when I’m working and studying as I love doing what I do. But on other areas in my life.. well I struggle.
But that struggling has also brought so much strength, patience, acceptance and compassion. Definitely has made me a better human being, mother, wife and a therapist.
So if you are looking to address your pain and health challenges beyond the traditional route, I would love to help you.
My trainings are also a reflection of my own struggles with health and pain. I had to become the therapist that I needed. I am so glad I kept listening to that inner voice that kept looking for answers.
I have also built a team of great professionals that I regularly refer my clients to.
I love teaching my weekly classes where I bring all my knowledge together. My plan is to build an online membership portal where I can share my knowledge to a wider audience as it’s so needed right now.

I am also hoping that next time I’m doing an Instagram post, it will take me 10 minutes rather than 2 hours 🥵🫣🤣

I screen every single client for primitive reflexes. Technically Fear Paralysis is not a reflex, it is more of a response. It is very important to work with Fear Paralysis as I think of it as a cellular response too. Dr Naviaux's work on cell danger response (CDR) proposes that it is a universal response to environmental threat or injury. Once triggered, healing cannot be completed until the choreographed stages of the CDR are returned to an updated state of readiness. Although the CDR is a cellular response, it has the power to change human thought and behavior, child development, physical fitness and resilience, fertility, and the susceptibility of entire populations to disease. Check the short symptom list for retained Fear Paralysis

Cream Coach Yes No Checklist Worksheet A4 Document Check out this Document (A4) designed by Minna Hepburn.

https://www.childdevelopmentclinic.com.au/adhd-and-complex-trauma.html

ADHD and Complex Trauma Article on "ADHD and Complex Trauma"

What makes my classes and 1:1 sessions different? I draw my experience from having experienced chronic pain and health issues ( both physical and mental) throughout my thirties until early forties. I could not find help so I had to become the therapist I needed going through multiple certifications. I believe that our bodies have the capacity to heal when given the right conditions. And this is what I experienced myself first hand.
My classes and therapy sessions are a blend of neurodevelopmental movements and vestibular training, Pilates, and multiple biomechanics movement mentorships. I’m training in DNS, Eldoa and FRC early next year. I’m trauma trained and also work with functional medicine practitioners
I use cranial sacral therapy, TMJ and structural myofascial work and primitive reflex integration to find the root cause. I make sure to leave no stones unturned. 🙏🏻

Beautiful conversation merging Internal Family Systems , Focusing and Polyvagal Institute

‘Trauma and Addiction: Internal Family Systems’ with Richard Schwartz “Addiction is a complicated and devastating experience for many people and associated feelings of shame and failure often present a barrier between the indiv...

This is a beautiful article about IFS and autism. As an adult who was late diagnosed with ADHD, this article also applies to ADHD, however, we are more right brain driven and tend to be more emotionally charged.This emotional dysregulation has brought lot of issues in my system: gut issues, mental health issues, shame, addictive behaviours, hormonal and immune system issues. Being diagnosed gave me a framework and allowed me to start understanding my neurobiology, which brought lot of compassion to my system. If you are neurodivergent, it is IMPORTANT that you work with someone who understands what it is like being neurodivergent. I merge IFS, focusing, brain spotting and my extensive training as neurodevelopment therapist in my practise. For me, this combination has brought the most understanding and regulation to my system

PARTS & SELF | The Autistic Self - Reframing Ideas of Pathology Read in Spanish: El Self Autista – Reformulación de Ideas sobre la Patología A bird just flew into my window. We live in a house on a small hill, with trees on both sides. It is peaceful, with feeders stocked with seeds, berries and meal worms. The birds love it here, but despite being an almost...

“ Adult trauma is a feral trauma”
This document is worth a watch !

IN UTERO IN UTERO brings together for the first time convincing data that explains that we are not only our genes but a product of our environment as well.

https://www.ifm.org/news-insights/understanding-ptsd-from-a-polyvagal-perspective/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sharpspringemail&sslid=MzcxM7EwsDQ1MTY3BAA&sseid=MzI1MzW0NDE3NQUA&jobid=c49c6a06-11b0-4a17-8ade-7e9eb61fbfce

Understanding PTSD From a Polyvagal Perspective | The Institute for Functional Medicine Polyvagal theory helps clinicians understand how an individual’s sense of safety, or danger and threat, can impact behavior and mental health.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65312650

ADHD in women: 'It's like someone tuned in the radio' Women diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder later in life explain the impact.

This term we have a full house. Next term I am looking to add somatic movement classes to tone down the nervous, integrate primitive reflexes and lots of exercises for the vagus nerve and vestibular system. Register your interest by emailing me on [email protected]

Studio schedule — M.Method I believe that movement is medicine! My classes are a mix of my diverse training background. I want to educate you, help you to feel and sense your body how it moves or is not moving. Our bodies have an amazing healing capacity when we give them the right information. This principle provides the str...

https://annshippymd.com/the-limbic-loop-the-missing-piece-of-your-healing-puzzle/

The Limbic Loop – The Missing Piece Of Your Healing Puzzle? - Ann Shippy MD As a Functional Medicine physician, I’m always looking at the root cause and interested in how not only to help my patients heal but to help them thrive. As much as I emphasize optimizing diet, restoring nutritional deficiencies, reducing toxicity, and adopting positive habits – stress often pla...