Chapter 18 Begin any deep work with this
Based on over thirty years of work with veterans, first responders, and individuals facing illness and trauma, I have found this practice is essential before any meaningful conversation can begin. When I am practicing any kind of therapy with my patients, I always start with a somatic meditation, starting with a clearing breath using a longer out-breath followed by a grounding procedure, body scan, and central nervous system clearing. I’m really doing charka clearing, although I don’t always describe it that way. Many people recognize what I’m doing and then we can discuss their experiences using more traditional terms. However, I explore the charkas in a flexible way, not assuming that we will find the conventional issues, colours or images as described by traditions such as Hindu yoga. I simply ask people to simply focus on the areas of their bodies where they feel emotional tension or unresolved trauma. Then we explore from there- exploring their interoception of se...