Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is an empirically validated clinical intervention and complementary treatment for complex trauma or chronic, treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The TCTSY methodology is based on central components of the hatha style of yoga, modified to build trauma survivors’ experiences of empowerment and connection with their bodies, in a safe way, at their own pace, completely in charge of their own experience.
In TCTSY participants engage in practicing simple yoga forms, movements and breathing. TCTSY does not use physical hands-on adjustments to influence a participant’s physical form, and the emphasis in not on the appearance, (i.e. doing it “right”), or receiving approval of an external authority. Rather, the focus is on the internal experience of the participant.
TCTSY is built on the foundations of Trauma Theory, Attachment Theory and Neuroscience and uses key elements of interoception, shared authentic experience and choice making.
Developed at the Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts, TCTSY is the only yoga intervention approved by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices (SAMHSA / NREPP) as an evidence-based practice for treating complex trauma and PTSD.
Sessions for Trauma Survivors
Together we will practice forms, movements and breathing to help you connect with your body in a safe way and at your own pace. This practice has no hands-on assists, and no yoga prior experience is necessary. The practices can be done in a chair, or on a yoga mat. You don’t have to be flexible, fit or strong, and no special yoga clothes are required. We start where you are.
Individual and small group sessions are available. If you are not my psychotherapy client, it is strongly advised that participants be in individual therapy in order to have a place to process their experience.
Sessions for Social Services / Health Care Agencies
For Your Clients; TCTSY is a wonderful complementary therapy for clients with trauma backgrounds to practice stress reduction and self-care, and to learn interoception; the ability to identify internal bodily sensations and stimuli.
Self-care for Helping Professionals; TCTSY can serve as a valuable self-care practice for social service staff, health care workers and other helping professionals. Please contact me to schedule an introductory in-service workshop, or a series of classes for your organization.
Workshops for Yoga studios, Yoga teachers, Mental Health clinicians and Social Service agencies
I offer a three hour “Introduction to TCTSY” workshop which covers the foundations and key elements of TCTSY. The workshop includes an experiential practice and time for questions and discussion. It can be useful for yoga teachers and mental health clinicians alike and is also intended to support those working in the mental health field, to bring the body into treatment when working with people with trauma histories, or for anyone interested in trauma-sensitivity in general. Please contact me to schedule a workshop at your studio or organization.
Link to Leslie’s TCTSY profile
https://www.traumasensitiveyoga.com/united-states.html
