Action methods are therapeutic approaches that help you go beyond talking about your problems in order to experience yourself as a fully integrated human being.

Especially in these times when so much of our experience is mediated through technology, it's important to find opportunities to integrate our minds, bodies and emotions; since so many of us live alone and/or have limited time to spend with loved ones, it's vital to find ways to connect with others in shared time and space.

Of course, during the pandemic, we got a crash course in just how important this is, how human connection and social interaction are integral to our well-being. Many of us are still struggling with social anxiety, depression and other symptoms of decreased mental health since the pandemic. Making sense of what we experienced and what it may have triggered with regard to past traumas is a common challenge that many are finding therapy helpful with; using action methods that engage us holistically helps us break out of stagnation, something that often occurs after trauma generally and is wide-spread due to the lock-downs specifically.

Another effect of the pandemic is that it sped up the adoption of online therapy. Many practitioners like me and clients alike find the convenience and comfort of doing therapy remotely hard to give up. The good news is that remote therapy works. I've learned to adapt my action methods to online work with both groups and individual clients. In fact, for people struggling with CPTSD and other mental health disorders, the safety of doing therapy from the comfort and privacy of one's home may allow going deeper into the process.

The stress of going to a therapist's office may itself be an obstacle to fully engaging with the healing process. For some, of course, there is no substitute for in-person meetings; the interpersonal healing that takes place in shared time and space and through the co-regulation of nervous systems that human beings naturally rely on for their well-being should be recognized. If that is true for you, I can make referrals to colleagues who have in-person availability. My practice has increasingly become fully remote, but action methods continue to inform what I do with all my clients.

Some Action Methods I use and that inform my work:

Below are examples of action methods that I use in my work. Additionally, I have been successfully using EMDR for many years now. Eye Movement Desentization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a method that helps integrate mind and body and emotions, allowing for memories of trauma to be reprocessed so symptoms of PTSD are relieved.  For more on EMDR, see my article:  "EMDR: Treating Trauma in the 21st C."

PSYCHODRAMA

Psychodrama is a therapeutic  approach involving role playing.  Created by Jacob L. Moreno, an early pioneer in the development of group therapy, it allows people to get in touch with their feelings, understand their relationships better and explore possibilities by acting out scenes from their lives.  It is used primarily in groups, but I integrate some of the concepts and techniques in my work with individuals as well. 

SOCIOMETRY

Sociometry (literally the measure of social relationships) is  the study of interpersonal dynamics among people in groups.  In the internet age, it seems obvious that we are all interconnected and that our lives are very influenced by where we fall in various social networks, nonetheless, we rarely pay attention to the complex feelings that come up because of these interactions.

CREATIVE ARTS 

The use of writing, painting, music, dance and drama as tools of self-expression and therapeutic healing is as old as human civilization.  These activities offer enjoyable and powerful opportunities for integrating thoughts and feelings.  They also facilitate connecting and  sharing with others. Furthermore, In a therapeutic context in  which judgment of self and others is suspended , clients can learn to free themselves from worrying whether the   "product" is "good" or "bad."

YOGA

Yoga is an ancient practice used by millions of people to quiet the mind, strengthen the body  and deepen awareness of their inextricable inter-connection.  Using simple postures and breathing exercises in the course of therapy sessions can help clients tune into their feelings and become more mindful of what they are  experiencing.   In group, it can further interpersonal cohesion, self-acceptance and relaxation.

MEDITATION

Like Yoga, meditation is a great way to help clients deepen self-awareness and increase relaxation.   Practicing meditation can lower symptoms of depression and anxiety.  Meditation also develops mindfulness, the awareness of how our perceptions and habits of mind contribute to our getting stuck in entrenched behavior  and suffering.  As a warm-up to group process, it opens people's deeper selves.