Kristy Arbon
on Somatic Self-Compassion and Healing Trauma
Listen:
Show Notes:
In this episode, Kristy Arbon discusses her experiences with self-compassion and her work developing somatic self-compassion to integrate body awareness more fully into these practices. Listen in for Kristy's insights on the connections between Buddhism and self-compassion and how to reconnect with your internal experience and build stress resilience.
Kristy Arbon is Founder and CEO of HeartWorks, a training platform designed to teach the skills of trauma-informed mindfulness and self-compassion. Kristy worked with Chris Germer and Kristin Neff to start the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, and she is the creator of somatic self-compassion.
Key Takeaways
- How Kristy connects Buddhism to the practices of mindfulness and self-compassion
- Kristy’s interest in exploring the embodied aspects of self-compassion and how that led to the development of somatic self-compassion
- Why polyvagal theory is a key component of somatic self-compassion
- The basic premise of somatic self-compassion that most of us have traumatic stress
- Why our body shuts down to protect us when we don’t have the resources to deal with trauma
- Examples of somatic self-compassion practices that help us access our internal body wisdom
- Why people with higher levels of body awareness have a greater capacity to deal with stress
- Why we can’t connect with our innate values when we’re disembodied
- How someone dealing with traumatic stress might engage with somatic practices to learn to trust their senses again
- The sensory modulation skills from occupational therapy that are part of somatic self-compassion
- How Kristy uses dance to discharge energy from traumatic stress
Connect with Kristy
Resources Mentioned
- Center for Mindful Self-Compassion
- Chris Germer
- Kristin Neff
- Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
- His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
- Polyvagal Theory
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
- Bodyfulness: Somatic Practices for Presence, Empowerment and Waking Up in This Life by Christine Caldwell
- Brene Brown
- Tara Brach
- Tina Champagne
- Kelly Mahle
Recent Past Episodes:
Hosts:
Katherine King, PsyD
Katherine King, PsyD is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at William James College. She was trained in evidence-based treatments within the Veterans’ Administration and has a private practice specializing in geropsychology. She is also a member of the Boston Shambhala Center Board of Directors, a vajrayana student of Buddhism, and has practiced meditation for over 20 years. Learn more about Kate at www.drkateking.com.
Alex Gokce, MSW
Alex Gokce, MSW has a master’s degree in social work from Salem State University and an undergraduate degree in Comparative Government from Harvard University. He has led psychotherapy groups on topics including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mind-body approaches to pain management. He has co-led programs at the Boston Shambhala Center on the topics of trauma and self-compassion. His personal and professional interests center around the individual, societal and intergenerational impacts of trauma, as well as the sociocultural roots of interpersonal harm.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information shared in this podcast is strictly for educational purposes only, and is not intended as psychological treatment or consultation of any kind.
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The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and training of mental health professionals in the integration of mindfulness meditation and psychotherapy.
