Dancing with Discomfort: The Surprising Benefits of Play in Healing Trauma

Hey there, welcome back to The AnxietyRX Podcast! I’m Dr. Russ, and today I’ve got a special guest, Chelsea Horton, who’s an amazing expert in body-based therapy. We’re going to chat about something really important: the connection between anxiety, trauma, and creative expression.

We often think of therapy as just sitting and talking, but Chelsea and I explore why that’s not always enough.

We’ll dig into how movement and play can really help us work through trauma. Chelsea also shares why hands-on learning is so crucial in therapy.

We talk about the need to reconnect with our bodies, create a safe space, and empower ourselves in the healing process. It’s all about taking a holistic approach—mixing mind, body, and creativity for deal healing.

So, grab a comfy seat and join us for this enlightening conversation!

Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.

PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction

03:16 - Chelsea's Background

04:32 - Experiencing Trauma

05:03 - Movement and Trauma Processing

06:29 - Play and Safety in Healing

08:46 - Choice and Agency in Healing

10:05 - Evolving from Childhood Trauma

11:55 - Overcoming Inertia

14:47 - The Alarm-Anxiety Cycle

16:38 - Building Trust with the Inner Child

18:43 - Neuroscience of Trauma

19:10 - Understanding Body Connection 

20:16 - Mind-Body Disconnect 

21:23 - The Role of Neuroscience

22:30 - Living in the Moment

23:17 - Grounding Techniques

24:18 - Familiarity and Security

27:06 - Healing Through Discomfort

28:45 - Coping Mechanisms and Anxiety

29:47 - Understanding the Body's Role

30:31 - Creating Expression Through Movement

32:07 - Rewiring Emotional Pathways

34:08 - Science vs. Healing

35:02 - Embodiment and Creativity

37:41 - Connecting with the Inner Child

41:01 - Relational Patterns in Trauma

43:59 - Concerns About Trauma Practices

45:17 - The Limitations of Academic Training

46:15 - Importance of Repetition in Healing

47:02 - Criticism of the Term 'Empath'

47:58 - Cognitive vs. Experiential Healing

48:04 - Skills-Based Approach in Somatic Practice

49:10 - Concerns About Rapid Trauma Transformation

50:05 - The Long Process of Unlearning 

51:50 - Importance of a Year-Long Program

56:19 - The Role of Community in Healing