Effective Somatic Practices for Virtual Therapy in the Age of COVID-19

Effective Somatic Practices for Virtual
Therapy in the Age of COVID-19
Zoom Presentation

Friday, November 20th, 2020
11:30 to 1:00 PM

Cost: $25 for Desert CAMFT members, 2 CEUs
$30 for Non-Members
$10 for Pre-licensed (no CEU's)

Presenter:
Dr. Michael Shiffman

Presentation Description

COVID-19 has created a perfect storm for traumatic stress and reactivity.
Institutional betrayal by our political leadership in the areas of health and social
justice has created mistrust, fear and anxiety for our physical safety and the social
isolation of sheltering-at-home, wearing masks and socially distancing.  Our
biological impulse for social engagement is hindered by social distancing which
creates anxiety and potentially dangerous impulses.  
We feel too little or too much.  We have normal responses to extraordinary stress.
Groundlessness becomes a part of the “new normal."
Our clients report feeling afraid, tense, jumpy, hyper-alert, numb,
dazed, confused, anxious, worried and have sudden changes in mood.
Many report difficulty sleeping, Covid-dreams and nightmares.  And our
experience is not unlike the reports we get from our clients.
Grounding, orienting, tracking, titration and pendulation are
core observable processes involved in the organic movement toward somatic
regulation.  This talk will introduce somatic practices that support clients' emotional regulation and embodied experience.

Measurable Objectives

 1. Differentiate between mindfulness and somatic awareness.
 2. Describe the use of grounding and orienting for somatic regulation.
 3. Describe 4 elements of activation – de-activation cycles.
 4. Track activation de-activation cycles in oneself;
 5. Track activation de-activation cycles in ones clients;
 6. Describe using titration to de-escalate activation cycles.

Presenter Bio

Michael Shiffman, Ph.D., is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #122513) in private practice at the Insight Center in
West Los Angeles.  He founded LA Dharma in 1999 and co-founded the Insight
Center in 2006. Michael has studied with numerous Western Buddhist teachers
and currently studies with Rev. Hye Wol Sunim. He has been meditating since
1994 and teaching mindfulness and insight meditation since 2002.
Michael is a certified practitioner of the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM)
and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner with substantial training in the use of
touch for nervous system regulation and the repair of attachment ruptures.  He
is trained in EMDR and is a PACT Level 2 couple therapist.
Michael has an extensive background working with anxiety, panic, traumatic
stress, substance abuse and recovery, relapse prevention, and somatic oriented
therapeutic practices. He teaches meditation and somatic therapy.  Michael has
a private practice in Los Angeles.  You can find more details on his
website at https://michaelshiffman.com