Birthing the Self Water Based Methods for Healing Prenatal & Birth Trauma By David Sawyer, M.A. All photographs by Kim Kontoolas Birthing the Self Water Based Methods for Healing Prenatal & Birth Trauma By David Sawyer, M.A. © Copyright 1999 To order please call: 303-440-9725 or write: 1503 Yarmouth Ave., Boulder, CO 80304
[email protected] Table of Contents Part I: Working in the Water Healing Trauma and Re-Patterning the Sense of Self 1 Watsu and Water Dance 2 Part II: Shock, Trauma and the Sense of Self Safety, Titration and Empathy 4 Releasing Shock and Trauma from the Body 5 Kinesthetic Mirroring and Self-Development 6 Pushing and Self-Boundaries 8 Healing Trauma and The Primitive Brain 11 Part III: Developmental Movement Patterns Spirit into Flesh: Prenatal Development and the Emerging Self 14 Cellular Breathing and Cellular Awareness 15 Shock, Trauma and Cellular Breathing 16 Navel Radiation 18 Spinal and Pre-Spinal Patterns 21 Homologous Pushing 24 Homolateral Movements 25 Contralateral Movements 25 Putting it All Together 26 Pregnancy, Birth and Water Babies: The Next Generation 28 Bibliography and Video Tapes 30 Training Programs and Resources 32 About the Author inside back cover Working in the Water Healing Trauma and Re-Patterning the Sense of Self For most of us, warm water evokes feelings of support and of being nurtured. Somatic memories may arise of warm baths, of being cuddled as a child, or of floating weightlessly in the womb. In a 95-degree therapy pool, the temperature is “just right.” It is a soothing warmth that is not too hot.