How Can You Increase your Window of Tolerance?

Have you ever been in a situation that triggered such an intense emotional response that you felt like you were completely taken over, losing all control?  It almost felt like you were having an out-of-body experience, dissociating from yourself and your surroundings? Maybe you experience extreme rage, lashing out, and yelling, or you may feel completely numb and unable to …

Support groups deal with shared trauma

Trauma Affects Everyone

Yes, you’re suffering from trauma. As trauma is a universal part of life, you have suffered or are suffering from its impact. Therapists have referred to types of trauma as “little T” trauma or “Big T” trauma to discuss the severity of its impact.  Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing event where we perceive ourselves as “unsafe”. During …

How ART Uses and Improves Mindfulness

 Although the concept of Mindfulness is thousands of years old, the demand for a practice that calls us back to the present moment may be even more significant today. With the advent of technology, you may notice an increased challenge to stay focused and present. While you may love the connectivity provided by social media and smartphones, you often feel …

How can ART help prevent Alzheimer’s?

The month of June calls to create awareness around Alzheimer’s, Brain Health, and PTSD. As we reflect on the realities of PTSD and Alzheimer’s, we cannot help but acknowledge the increasing correlation between these two topics. Fortunately, Brain Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of understanding trauma’s adverse effects on the brain. As consciousness around this issue increases, more early …

A therapist hugs herself, practicing self compassion

Practicing Self-Compassion as an ART Practitioner

As ART delivers results in a shorter amount of time with less verbal discussion around traumatic stories, therapists often experience less compassion fatigue than in other therapies. However, as you hold space for the suffering of others in any capacity, it is still possible to feel burned out from time to time. For this reason and others, practicing self-compassion is …