“For me there is a sense of strong love flowing towards the person in pain. In my head and my whole being I am ALLOWING. I am not saying, it is enough now, or this needs to stop, or you are being too emotional, or you shouldn’t think like that. My heart rate is slow, my nervous system is calm. I know that the person in front of me is going through something right now, but that she will be okay, I will be okay, and we will come out the other side together. Having gone through something powerful TOGETHER. This is a corrective, healing experience for the insecurely attached client”
JENNIFER NURICK
When I was training to be a psychotherapist I was not taught about co-regulation. I was taught about theories, CBT, existential practice, narrative therapy, person centred therapy. I was mostly taught to listen deeply. To become aware of the parts of myself that might block my listening.
It wasn’t until I was in supervision, and my supervisor watched a full 40-minute session I did with a client (yes, a bit scary) and then said: “What a wonderful example of co-regulation”.
I was doing a ‘Focusing’ style practice with the client. Guiding the client to listen to her body. I have been doing this practice for about 20 years … I can’t believe it has been that long . I have been doing energy healing and meditation for over 16 years. It is so natural for me to breath slowly and deeply into the painful places. To walk with my clients as they step into the tender spots. I used to call it ‘holding space’, and I guess it is. I am holding space for whatever wants to emerge to come.
So, it was a new name for me. Co-regulation. It is essentially being the safe, secure home base for someone while they experience strong emotions, memories or thoughts. My autonomic nervous system is interacting with my clients to bring about emotional stability. It is being the mother who lovingly holds her child who is distressed because he fell over.
I make soothing sounds; I acknowledge the hurt physically and emotionally. Slowly, he realises he is okay, physically he is safe, he has cried and there has been an emotional discharge of the stress. He has been held by someone who cares for him. He goes off to play again.
This is co-regulation, one person stays regulated while the other is dysregulated, and the child or client uses the regulated system to calm themselves down. In a healthy environment, over time, the child learns to self-soothe.
If you didn’t have these experiences, therapy is one way to have the corrective experiences we need as adults to change our attachment style and heal the childhood wounds.
Did you have these experiences as a child?
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A few reminders:
- A fabulous resource to start working with your inner child and building a relationship is the “Healing your Inner Child” meditation – click here.
- If you feel ready to start this work contact me, or book an appointment – click here.
- Grab my FREE e-book – “Healing the Mother Wound” – click here.
