Relieving the Drama of Trauma
Trauma can wreak havoc making us feel like we’re always living on the edge. Ever notice you feel like you’re on a seesaw? One moment you feel good and the next you may feel at rock bottom. You may feel super sensitive; people please; or seem to always be looking for a relationship. Trauma has its own language. Since “the body keeps score,” our body can express past hurts through headaches, stomach yuck or jitteriness. Your mind begins to think it will always be this way and might decide to overthink or just check out. Your values become questioned, “who am I?’ Bilateral artmaking targets that imbalance between our mind, body and soul.
Bilateral Artmaking Process
The body holds and expresses trauma as sensations. Bilateral artmaking can shift these somatic pains for resourcing and healing.
Bilateral movements work on a body level, where you’re experiencing the inner pain. Working with an art therapist, you are guided to make bilateral marks using both hands in the air. These movements can help build your proprioception, that is, connecting your body’s ability to know its own position and movement in space much like walking without thinking where to put your foot. You get to experiment and find your own healing movements. Holding this safe space, you can choose your own materials like markers, color pencils, paint and more. With both hands holding a marker, for instance, you can put movements to the test, like swaying, rocking, figure eights… Finding your movement can be soothing and grounding.
Let’s put this all together. When you’re feeling not quite yourself, bilateral artmaking alongside an art therapist can help guide you to soothing, helpful motions. The act of moving signals your body towards restoration. By swinging back and forth like a pendulum in artmaking, the rhythm can help you gain calm and clarity. With more balance, you can begin to sleep more deeply and make intentional choices to live out your best life. In therapy, this opens space for exploring our history and experiences. From a balanced point of view, you can begin to look nonjudgmentally and with more empathy. Often, this is when you gain insights and aha moments. Movement in artmaking literally helps move you to make your comeback story.
Ready to bring restoration to your body? I’m here to help guide you with bilateral artmaking to reconnect your body to healthy rhythms. Feel free to reach out for a free consult.
You can also learn more about the work I do on the Meet Andrea page.
Sending you healthy vibes,
Andrea Sutrick, ATR-BC, LMHC