Dancing with Discomfort: The Surprising Benefits of Play in Healing Trauma
Description
Hey there, welcome back to The AnxietyRX Podcast! I’m Dr. Russ, and today I’ve got a special guest, Chelsea Horton, who’s an amazing expert in body-based therapy. We’re going to chat about something really important: the connection between anxiety, trauma, and creative expression.
We often think of therapy as just sitting and talking, but Chelsea and I explore why that’s not always enough.
We’ll dig into how movement and play can really help us work through trauma. Chelsea also shares why hands-on learning is so crucial in therapy.
We talk about the need to reconnect with our bodies, create a safe space, and empower ourselves in the healing process. It’s all about taking a holistic approach—mixing mind, body, and creativity for deal healing.
So, grab a comfy seat and join us for this enlightening conversation!
Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.
PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
03:16 - Chelsea's Background
04:32 - Experiencing Trauma
05:03 - Movement and Trauma Processing
06:29 - Play and Safety in Healing
08:46 - Choice and Agency in Healing
10:05 - Evolving from Childhood Trauma
11:55 - Overcoming Inertia
14:47 - The Alarm-Anxiety Cycle
16:38 - Building Trust with the Inner Child
18:43 - Neuroscience of Trauma
19:10 - Understanding Body Connection
20:16 - Mind-Body Disconnect
21:23 - The Role of Neuroscience
22:30 - Living in the Moment
23:17 - Grounding Techniques
24:18 - Familiarity and Security
27:06 - Healing Through Discomfort
28:45 - Coping Mechanisms and Anxiety
29:47 - Understanding the Body's Role
30:31 - Creating Expression Through Movement
32:07 - Rewiring Emotional Pathways
34:08 - Science vs. Healing
35:02 - Embodiment and Creativity
37:41 - Connecting with the Inner Child
41:01 - Relational Patterns in Trauma
43:59 - Concerns About Trauma Practices
45:17 - The Limitations of Academic Training
46:15 - Importance of Repetition in Healing
47:02 - Criticism of the Term 'Empath'
47:58 - Cognitive vs. Experiential Healing
48:04 - Skills-Based Approach in Somatic Practice
49:10 - Concerns About Rapid Trauma Transformation
50:05 - The Long Process of Unlearning
51:50 - Importance of a Year-Long Program
56:19 - The Role of Community in Healing