A look at Zen Bodywork Psychotherapy
~ Our work with Injured Workers - the Alternative Pain Management project
~ Resources for dealing with Stress
Because we live in the West, our approach tends to be to break things down into component parts . The Scientific Method assumes that, if only we break a thing down far enough, we'll arrive at "why" it is as it is.
In terms of our selves, we look for what is broken. We then make a case for the broken element being the cause of the problem. So, for example, a Western doctor might say that you are sick because you caught a virus. She would then prescribe something for the virus.
Or, you might assume that your distress is caused by your partner, your upbringing, your genetics, bad luck, the present government, the state of the world. You might then attempt to "fix" your external problem.
A wise Chinese Doctor friend of mine once asked me why I had the flu. I went on about the flu bug that was floating around. he replied, "Yes. But why do YOU have the flu?" And I began to see that I needed to ask another set of questions. Questions about the choices I was making. Questions about how I was seeing my life.
From there, since 1996, I have studied, written about, and taught my clients (and myself!) to look at how they are choosing to live out their lives. We teach a way of life. As such, we do not seek "cures" so much as we seek understanding. Therapy is an inward journey that leads to a change in outward approach. We begin by exploring where you are stuck, what patterns of thought and behaviour re-emerge, and how you hold your pain, tension and hurts in your body.
How Bodywork fits in
Body armour is a term that describes rigidity in the body's muscles. From an Eastern perspective, it might also be described as a restriction in the flow of chi, or energy. However you look at it, as the body tightens, or restricts energy, aches, pains, loss of mobility and illness are the inevitable result. We believe that emotional and physical trauma never simply go away. They are captured in the body and turned into body and character armour. As such, they restrict you, and block others from being in true relationship with you.
We explore the body's armour through Bodywork. Bodywork theory assumes that there is much to learn about the way you walk, sit and carry yourself. We help you to look at what you are doing to your body, and help you to re-align yourself, re-establishing energy flow and releasing tightness. We do this through body release techniques and proper breathing.
Many clients come to The Phoenix Centre to deal withphysical symptoms. After your physician has ruled out physical causes, we look at relaxation techniques and Bodywork. If however, you wish to deal with the root cause of your physical pain, we recommend a combination of counselling and Bodywork. We'll look at your beliefs, your way of communicating, your process of decision-making. We'll explore what works and what doesn't -- on the basis of what satisfies you.
