Touching Trauma: Part 2-Responding to Emotional Releases

Course overview

In Touching Trauma: Part 1-Recognizing Trauma we introduced a basic framework for recognizing trauma. In this second course in the series, trauma touch experts Chris Smith and Cathy Speaks Lewis teach practitioners how to recognize the different stages of emotional releases, respond appropriately in the moment, and discuss the experience with the client after the session. Demonstrations include some subtle, yet important techniques to provide a safe experience for the client before, during, and after the massage. Getting comfortable with holding space for emotional releases and potential releases allows the client to do what they likely did not get to do when the trauma occurred-have a compassionate witness by their side.