How to Feel Safe in Your Body: Overcoming Trauma and Anxiety | Conversational Counseling S9E4

How does the nervous system affect feelings of safety and well-being? When we address our trauma, are there practical exercises that Christians can use to regain control of our body, mind, soul, and heart?

Known Ministries is a podcast by Christian counselors Alex Kocher and Brenda Payne.

This episode, Brenda and Alex are excited to welcome our dear friend, Tiffany Higginbotham!

Tiffany is a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor therapy and is the co-founder of BrainPump. She is passionate about helping her patients find healing not just for their bodies but also their minds and souls.

In the counseling and medical communities, we’ve witnessed a disconnect. Sometimes in counseling, the mind, soul, and heart are emphasized and the physical body can be overlooked, while in medical fields, the physical body is emphasized but the other three can all too often be ignored. As we explore a biblical framework for trauma, we must recognize the first thing God gives humans to steward is their bodies, and the effects of suffering can influence the body as well as the mind, soul, and heart. Trauma can fragment our identity and cause us to wrestle with complex emotions and with God. It also influences the brain and body’s reactions to future experiences, ability to process, communicate, and self-regulate.

As we recognize how trauma affects our whole person, we can learn compassion for ourselves in our own wrestling and healing and for others as we walk alongside them. In this episode, we discuss the physical means God has created to help us return to our window of tolerance and offer exercises and practices we can use to regulate our body and focus on the Father’s promises. As we understand the physiological responses God designed in our bodies, we can better serve sufferers and encourage physical, mental, and spiritual healing.

Disclaimer: This season is about trauma, and it might be difficult at times for some listeners. It’s not graphic, but each episode does cover sensitive topics.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Trauma and Solutions
02:56 Tiffany's Professional Journey and Expertise
06:14 Understanding Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
09:09 The Impact of Trauma on the Body
12:01 Children, Trauma, and Developmental Delays
15:05 Establishing Safety in the Body
18:04 The Science of the Nervous System and Trauma
20:51 The Window of Tolerance and Vagal Nerve
25:09 Understanding Nervous System Responses
28:45 From Chaos to Order: Regulating the Body
29:16 Emotional Regulation and Dysregulation
32:54 Recognizing Signs of Dysregulation
39:20 Breathwork: A Path to Calm
49:22 Integrating Breathwork with God's Truth
50:11 Navigating Arousal: Tools and Techniques
54:34 Grounding: The Power of Presence
1:00:25 Movement and Trauma: Healing through Action
1:07:38 The Role of Beauty and Healing
1:12:34 Connecting Body and Soul: A Holistic Approach

Resources:
“560 Biblical Passages on Embodied-Souls” by Bob Kelleman
Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul by Jennifer Tucker
Dr. Mike Emlet and Dr. Todd Stryd (Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation)
Mid-Day Stress Relief | Guided Breathwork (Note: We do not endorse the beliefs of the company who produced this video, but the video itself does encourage useful breathwork practices)
“50 Biblical Counseling Resources on Trauma and Trauma Care” by Bob Kelleman

Season 9 of Conversational Counseling on “Trauma.”

To sign up for free visuals and discussion questions for this season click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://knownministries.us14.list-man...

Our theme music is by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠As Isaac⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is made possible by engineer and producer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shane Selby⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, executive producer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meleah Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠generous donors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Known Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex Kocher⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Brenda Payne.

#christian #christiancounseling #pelvicfloorhealth #traumatherapy