It is a pleasure to announce that Beverly Schwartz, LCSW, is now certified to act as a Supervisor for therapists looking to deepen their work with trauma therapy. In addition, Beverly is now a qualified Supervisor for MSW’s seeking licensure.
Author Archives: Beverly Schwartz
The People of Kelm
THE PEOPLE OF KELM
Once upon a time, in the town of Kelm, suddenly and abrasively, Car Accident arrived. And along with Car Accident came Trauma. Havoc was wreaked, damage was done, and people were hurt. The people of Kelm were shocked and shaken. They didn’t know what had hit them. Unexpectedly their normal, daily lives were disrupted, now filled with pain and unease. Some couldn’t work, some didn’t want to leave the house, most were afraid to drive. They didn’t have words for the dis-ease that they were feeling. What they didn’t know is that when Trauma arrives, so does Anxiety. Anxiety permeates into everything, showing no mercy at all. Anxiety even chased Sleep out of town. With Sleep gone and Anxiety everywhere, the people of Kelm felt out of control. They could not manage even simple tasks anymore. They were jittery and fearful all the time. They began to quarrel with each other (the people of Kelm almost never quarrel). They were forgetful. They couldn’t focus their attention to read! (The people of Kelm have always been avid readers). They didn’t know what to do or how to regain themselves.
Finally the leaders of Kelm got together to find a remedy. Somehow, one of the leaders discovered One Who Knows. One Who Knows understands the difficulties that arise when Car Accident shows up. One Who Knows has ways of calming Anxiety and coaxing Sleep back into town. One Who Knows has done this before, has turned Trauma into a benign memory. Immediately the leaders of Kelm brought One Who Knows to Kelm and had all the people of Kelm gather round. Using a soft tone and soothing words, One Who Knows guided the people of Kelm into a relaxed state. Feeling refreshed and hopeful, the people of Kelm, able to sleep again, continued to work on getting back their selves. And when they were ready, they even waved goodbye as they watched Trauma disappear. Now the people of Kelm are happy and wiser; they have gained a deeper understanding of their unique nature.
What did One Who Knows say to the people of Kelm? How was One Who Knows able to get the people of Kelm to calm down? Find out by going to www.somatraumatherapy.com/audio.
Delving deeper with trauma therapy
For me, the most fascinating aspect of working with people who have been in automobile accidents is watching the transformation that takes place during the trauma therapy. People don’t just simply return to who they were before the accident—they often literally transform mentally and emotionally. Why is that? Because in the therapy they have the opportunity to delve more deeply into themselves, to discover, with support, how they may have been holding onto ingrained beliefs and behaviors that no longer serve them. They become aware of deeper emotions that need expression, that when allowed to surface, liberate them to make new and usually better choices. In short, they feel transformed. And this feeling enables them to make important changes that also transforms their lives. I have witnessed this phenomenon many, many times. It is real, it actually happens. Some people quit current jobs to find more fulfilling positions. Some people stop overloading themselves with unrealistic expectations. And others let out tears or fears that have been silently plaguing them for years.
Kudos to all of you who have gone through this process, coming out feeling truer to your self. And all because of an unexpected automobile accident!
Is Your Auto Accident Stress Worthy of Study?
I find it very interesting that the research subjects used in this study are victims of automobile accidents. This is further confirmation that auto accidents do indeed cause undue stress, sometimes resulting in full-blown PTSD. How have you fared after your auto accident? I’d love to hear if you think you would be or would have been a good research subject into the makings and symptoms of PTSD as a result of your accident.
Eye Links to the Psychosomatic
The eyes are not only the ‘window to the soul’ but also to the buried traumas and troubles deeply embedded in the mind and body. So I learned and experienced first-hand in an intensive Brainspotting Training recently.Continue Reading
Soothe Yourself
I have been asked many times to record my breathing/relaxation exercise that I always do in the second session with my Motor Vehicle Accident clients. Well, here it is!Continue Reading
Sleep: A Body/Mind State
I am sometimes asked why I chose the name “SOMA” for my company. After all, we do psychotherapy, psyche = mind
, but soma, from Greek, means body. So what would a psychotherapy practice have to do with the body? That is exactly the point. Continue Reading
Traumatic Brain Injury: Permission To Be Out Of Sorts
Recently I was asked if the trauma from automobile accidents is similar to or in the same scope as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from an automobile accident. The answer is most definitely. The biggest differences seem to be greater cognitive difficulties (such as word retrieval, memory loss) and neurological damage with TBI’s. Continue Reading
Losing Your Drive: Traumatic Response to Motor Vehicle Accidents
by Michael Alter, LCSW
For survivors of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), the choice to get back in the car or truck is often a difficult, emotionally wrenching and psychologically complex decision. And they find it impossible to just go on, not only with normal driving, but also with many routine aspects of their lives as a whole.Continue Reading