Comfort<\/h3>\n

When we have been deeply touched by a client’s pain, we can offer ourselves some comfort:<\/p>\n

\n
• ‘Sometimes when stressed I visualize my bed and my jammies!’<\/li>\n
• ‘I visualise a warm, gently weighted cushion over my heart area. Sometimes I’ll put my hand there too, and invite my client to do the same for himself.’<\/li>\n
• ‘I like the ‘butterfly hug’, where I hug myself whilst tapping on alternate shoulders.’<\/li>\n
• ‘I visualise something that makes me feel warm and happy. I try and involve all my senses in the visualisation.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Practices<\/h2>\n

  I have written elsewhere (see below) about other practices that therapists use to help themselves keep grounded and supported, both in and after sessions.<\/p>\n

  Here are a few ideas from therapists that might inspire and work for you:<\/p>\n

  Sounds<\/h3>\n

  You might use sound and vibration as a focal point for meditation and mindfulness. Some therapists also like to involve\u00a0aural bilateral stimulation:<\/p>\n

  \n
  • ‘I put on the Mark Grant EMDR cd\u2019s and listen to the audio tones until my distress is down or gone. He has some tracks on the Anxiety Release album that are guided too. Very effective.’<\/li>\n
  • ‘On the Insight Timer app there’s slow bilateral tones with music that I listen to, to calm and focus me.’<\/li>\n
  • ‘I have a singing bowl. Works like magic!’<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Water<\/h3>\n

    Water is an essential element in our lives, so it’s not surprising that many therapists include water in self-care rituals:<\/p>\n

    \n
    • ‘Fill some water in a bowl before the session , then empty all of the pain and negativity afterwards.’<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • ‘At the end of the day, I shower and wash all the hurt away in a renewal process. I imagine that when washing my hands as well.’<\/li>\n
    • ‘I get in a warm shower and let all the pain go down the drain. Wonderful imagery that works for me.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Forgiveness<\/h3>\n

      One therapist uses the Hawaiian forgiveness practice of\u00a0Ho\u2019oponopono after challenging sessions:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
      • ‘I do Ho\u2019oponopono with the feelings it brings up within me. Sooo helps to detach.’<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Bringing in the Senses<\/h3>\n

        \n
        • ‘I wash my hands with scented soap, brush my teeth and think about a breezy Fall day among autumn colored trees.’<\/li>\n
        • ‘Essential oils help me.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Breathing<\/h3>\n

          \n
          • ‘I meditate before each client and, as a practice, always ground during session. When a particularly difficult story is shared I pay attention to my body for countertransference and remind myself that this is “Not your story”. I explore the countertransference with my supervisor.’<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • ‘One of the things I\u2019ve found is that if I\u2019m starting to feel heavy during a session, usually my client is, too. So sometimes I ask if they want to pause and we do a relaxation\/breathing exercise called \u201csetting down the world\u201d. I frame it in context for them but it\u2019s really for me. It works so so well. And….there\u2019s always something to be said for singing in the car!’<\/li>\n
          • ‘I also find remembering to breathe, breathe, and breathe. As I am witnessing someone\u2019s story and pain I also remind myself that by being present with this person, I am a representation of light and an opposing energy to what they experienced. But it is hard to remember that in the hard stuff…sometimes I just get exhausted.’<\/li>\n
          • ‘After a session I practise a few rounds of the 4-7-8 breath.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Pets<\/h3>\n

            \n
            • ‘I work with my dog so I connect with his warm, furry, unconditionally loving self and pull in a whole bunch of positive warm fuzzies.’<\/li>\n
            • ‘I work from a home office. Stroking and connecting with my cat after sessions helps me recenter myself and release traumatic energies.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Sleep<\/h3>\n

              \n
              • ‘I take a nap at lunchtime. (That’s what the therapist’s couch is really for, right?!)’<\/li>\n
              • ‘Before I did body based work, I would often sleep at the end of the day because I felt depleted. Looking back, I think that wasn’t the best response for my self care. I think it was a way to avoid a lot of distress I was carrying in my body. Sometimes I would feel groggy when I woke up, and it affected my ability to get to sleep at night. There are times though, where I feel intense sleepiness after a tough session, and I need to sleep. It’s like falling off a cliff. I sleep hard, and I awake refreshed, so I know that kind of sleep is what my body needs sometimes. I’ve also noticed different needs at different ages, I needed to “sleep off” the day’s stress much more in my younger years. It’s fascinating to me, how my body has such wisdom to heal itself if I can just tune in and heed it.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Prayer and Meditation<\/h3>\n

                \n
                • ‘I pray before each work day.’<\/li>\n
                • ‘I sit and focus on the sensations in my body. I track them as they shift in intensity and move within me. When I pay attention to my body, inevitably I become aware of areas that are reacting, and as I focus on these sensations they do their thing and then they subside. This helps me release whatever traumatic energy I absorbed during the session. I also regularly do this when I am falling asleep at night to keep myself balanced.’<\/li>\n
                • ‘I use Reiki, meditation, poetry, painting, and essential oils.’<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                • ‘I do an energetic\/spiritual “tune-up” each working day, asking for the best possible help in working with [name each client], and a brief re-tune-up before each client, including their name. And I give thanks, give each client by name to the care of spirit\/universe, & “tune-down” at the end of the work day. We all need to figure out what works for us & serves our clients best.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Movement<\/h3>\n

                  Movement is well known to be an important aspect of processing trauma.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                  • ‘I really have to move my body between sessions. Stretches and jumping-jacks work for me, and help me release some of the trauma residue that’s been held in my body.’<\/li>\n
                  • ‘I like to swing my arms around, all\u00a0floppy, twisting my body from side to side.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Spine Visualisation<\/h3>\n

                    The spine is not just a metaphor for self-support – it is, of course, concretely there. This therapist combines imagery, movement and body awareness to help them feel supported and strong:<\/p>\n

                    \n
                    • ‘When I’m feeling wobbly and very affected after a session by my client’s trauma, I sit or stand tall and move my attention to my spine. I visualise it and think about how strong it is, how flexible and supportive. I sense how it needs to move or stretch. That’s usually enough to keep me feeling steady and supported.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      <\/a><\/p>\n

                      Perspective-taking<\/h2>\n

                      Several of the therapists quoted above agreed on the importance of taking a particular perspective on the work they do with their clients.<\/p>\n

                      One Art Therapist explained:<\/p>\n

                      \n
                      • ‘Not so much a mantra as it is a perspective. I feel that my clients need to release their trauma in order to heal, and I hold that safe space for them. They are reminded of that and the fact that they are safe in the moment while remembering the memories. I think externalizing the trauma for them also helps keep it in perspective for me as well. It also helps when the trauma is expressed through art and is really separated from us. I\u2019m always reminding my clients that once they process something to their satisfaction they can metaphorically \u201cthrow it away in the trash can\u201d and sometimes the art ends up there too!’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        <\/a><\/p>\n

                        Purpose, Meaning and Values<\/h2>\n

                        Connecting to your sense of higher purpose and meaning can be very supportive. As Nietzsche wrote ‘He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how’. One\u00a0therapist explained:<\/p>\n

                        \n
                        • ‘I keep reminding myself of why I do this work, and how it fits with my deep values and what I see as my purpose in life. I find this really helps me.’<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which I hold in high regard, places great emphasis on the importance for self-care of continuing to hold one’s values in mind.<\/p>\n

                          <\/a><\/p>\nSayings, mantras and visualisations that trauma therapists use for self-support. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

                          What Other\u00a0Mantras and Visualisations for Trauma Therapists Do You<\/em> Find Helpful?<\/h2>\n

                          Counsellors, psychotherapists and Arts Therapists often work with people who have suffered trauma. To continue to be present and available to help our clients, and not get burned-out by the challenging nature of trauma work, it’s really important that we find effective, meaningful ways to support ourselves.<\/p>\n

                          Do you have a favourite mantra, quote, visualisation, ritual etc, that helps you to keep yourself grounded and supported as you do trauma work with your clients? Please share it in the comments below!<\/p>\n

                          <\/a><\/p>\n

                          You can also read more about other aspects of self-care for therapists here:<\/p>\n

                          How Do Therapists Protect Themselves From Getting Traumatised?<\/a><\/p>\n

                          Floating Your Boat: Self-Care for Therapists and Counsellors<\/a><\/p>\n

                          Looking After Yourself in the Therapy Room<\/a><\/p>\n

                          6 Essential Self-Care Books for Therapists<\/a><\/p>\n

                          7 Hidden Self-Care Ideas That Therapists Can Sneak into Their Day<\/a><\/p>\n

                          <\/a><\/p>\n

                          I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the counsellors and therapists who have contributed their\u00a0mantras and visualisations for trauma therapists. I would particularly like to mention Renee Beck, LMFT<\/a>\u00a0in Oakland, CA; Mark Rosenthal,\u00a0LCSW in Louisville, KY; \u00a0Modena Jenkins, LMSW in Wichita, KS; and JoAnne Hanson, LMFT in Philadelphia, PA.<\/p>\n

                          For more about up-to-date approaches to treating trauma, you may like to read my article ‘Trauma Therapy Has Changed – Here’s How’.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                          Mantras and Visualisations for Trauma Therapists Here, in this follow-up to my previous post, How Do Therapists And Counsellors Protect Themselves From Getting Traumatised?,\u00a0 I’d like to share some\u00a0mantras and visualisations for trauma therapists that are used by counsellors, psychotherapists and Arts Therapists in their day-to-day working lives. Supportive self-talk and related practices play a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15,27],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2998","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-for-therapists-counsellors","8":"category-self-care-for-therapists","9":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n