““Get out of your head, and come to your senses.””
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.””
From the time of our birth, we are continually experiencing the world through our bodies. We hold ourselves in certain ways. As infants, we are rocked, sung to, and squeal with joy. We find comfort in the warmth, pulse, and rhythm of our mother’s body. We hear our hearts beat loudly when scared and feel overwhelming fullness when in love. We are told we are too emotional and suppression is valued. We then have angry outbursts that scare ourselves and others. We learn a variety of possibilities of embodiment and disembodiment in our journey with the world, and from these experiences we create structured ways of feeling, holding and carrying our body, and expressing ourselves.
Your mind and body, closely linked by the central nervous system, are partners in a constant stream of two-way communication. For every thought, emotion, impulse, action, or perception there is a corresponding response in the body. Such as clenching your fists when you are stressed, your chest may expand when seeing a beautiful sunset, or you may feel a tightening in the throat and chest when feeling fear. Body sensations influence thoughts and feelings in your mind and vice versa.
When the mind (thoughts) is the predominant focus that influences your bodily and emotional processors, this is called "top-down" influence. When the influences go the other way, with bodily states and emotions affecting brain processes, this is a "bottom-up" influence.
Traditional talk therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) work from top down. You rely on your thinking processes with the logical brain to be the change agent and to create a cognitive system to organize internal body states. Our mind as a critical, analytic system helps develop insight and awareness in regards to how your thoughts affect feelings and other bodily sensations. Moreover, to make meaning of how the past impacts the present.
Bottom-up approaches-body-centered or somatic therapy- are about developing body awareness to become attuned to internal processes: sensations, energies, and feelings, such as "gut" sensations, constrictions in the throat or chest, and other "felt" sensations. Through deeper bodily listening, you develop a knowing of yourself more accurately and it becomes a long-term resource for self-awareness. Body awareness also enables you to rewire the internal communication loop of the brain, to regulate the autonomic nervous system, and rely on somatic information to alter repetitive, harmful, self-limiting messages about you, about your possibilities and potential.
““Research has shown that the more a person is aware of their own body, the more their insula lights up in an MRI. The more active their insula is, the more empathetic they are to other people, which is the foundation of compassion and loving kindness.” ”
Our body does not lie. It holds our past, present and potential. Working with the body and its emotional expressions, therapeutically can reveal many other options for gaining understanding, relief, and insight. Body-centered therapy is helpful for people who struggle with post-traumatic stress symptoms, eating disorders, addictions, depression, and anxiety.
I work with the unique facets of each person to draw on their inner strengths, creativity and self-expression to help develop a more balanced, integrated, and content life. I believe the world needs people who are more awake to their sensations and bodily systems. When we are all more present in our direct experiences in the here and now, we are more present to others; listen more attentively; and connect more deeply.
With a background in dance, somatic practices, and mindfulness, I bring a wealth of knowledge, insight, sensitivity, and experience.
“...breathe in very deeply and connect with the feeling, and breathe it out on the exhalation. I call it compassionate abiding. It means staying with yourself when, probably for your whole lifetime you’ve always run away at that point.”
Pema Chodron”
“Dorit is not quick to make a diagnosis or determine therapeutic orientation to help you. She is reflective, collaborative in how she explores issues and communicates openly with the intention for true authentic connection. She is wise, compassionate and intelligent with years of experience, yet she is so humble and human.”
““There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.”
― Nietzsche, Friedrich, Thus Spoke Zarathustra”