Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Dancing to the Rhythm of Relationships: Syncing Through Polyvagal and Emotion-Focused Therapy
Are you ready to tango?
Since the birth of tango, it has taken two to dance. In the modern environment of dating, finding the rhythms hidden within your partner can be tricky. Exploring the expressions of movement set forth by Polyvagal Theory with the constant stream of emotional music described in Emotion-Focused Therapy allows us to see these secret expressions more clearly. By understanding the physiological nature of Polyvagal Theory, we can see firsthand the changes to our partner's songs. Leaving the situation, avoiding answering, increased heart rate, sweating, or even picking at nails can all be symptoms of an out-of-tune instrument within our partner. Combining this with the more technical moves of EFT, which allows both parties to develop a deeper understanding of the purpose of the dance itself, couples are able to find common notes within their own separate songs and create a new united melody.
To flow within a relationship, it is critical to understand your partner, their body, and its responses. Spending time learning about what notes you prefer to play, when, and why, has the ability to open up a completely new kind of music for yourself. Once you learn a new style, it becomes easier to match your dance to others, with knowledge being your ultimate ally. Apply this knowledge in the present when you’re faced with complicated responses like distancing and threatening. As the music gets slower or faster, we must be able to adjust our dance accordingly. Without the effort of both parties, however, the dance can never begin. This failure to engage comes from a major disconnect. The conductor is no longer in control of his band. As the prefrontal cortex goes offline, the body begins to dance without rhyme or reason, to a cacophony of nonsense. We must allow time for the conductor to regain control of his band so that we may commit ourselves to a dance. Once you begin, you must commit to the dance, or the relationship will collapse. When the music stops, the curtains will fall. As we take our final bows, we must remember that each dance is but a string of emotion played by the past. Our attachments are deep and can be played at any level, each with a unique response. Monitor these closely and learn the dance of being united.
If you are interested in exploring the power of counseling, whether individual or as a couple, Rooted Compassion, has immediate openings!
The Rooted Compassion team is made up of a group of counselors who have a variety of specialties in order to best serve our clients. We recognize that every person has his/her own personal and unique life experiences and that one modality will not work for every client. Listed below is a summary of our counselors’ specialties at Rooted Compassion:
Polyvagal Theory/Nervous System Focused Therapy
Trauma Responsive Care Techniques
Grief Counseling
Somatic Focused Counseling
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Practices
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Walk and Talk Therapy
Expressive Arts Therapy
If you are interested in learning more about what Rooted Compassion is all about, please contact us today, look through our website, or find us on Instagram and Facebook.
Rooted Compassion Counseling is Ohio’s leading practice for trauma therapy through the lens of the nervous system. Our focus is to walk alongside clients as they heal from depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and/or loss. If you or someone you know are seeking to explore and build an inner sense of calm and safety, please contact us today. We would love to help you to find a counselor and counseling techniques that will guide you on your mental health journey to healing.
