BEHIND THE SCENES

Ten minutes before I was to begin my presentation, it became clear that I needed technical support. The two women who presented before me flew into action, one headed out to search for a room monitor and tech support, while the other began setting up her computer for me to use and Wendy ran for a USB stick so I could transfer my slides to my new friend’s computer.

Social workers. I cannot imagine a more supportive and resourceful tribe.

Surprisingly, I began right on time. After an easy breath, I looked out and dove in.

The AAIT™ approach to treating trauma was clearly different than most practitioners have experienced before. They asked great questions and seemed to be appreciative, though appropriately skeptical, of such a different paradigm.

I was particularly taken with the question several had around client safety. It was asked in different ways, but there was an evident concern for client safety. I love that I’m part of a profession that holds in its collective awareness the importance of client safety.

I understand and respect the question. After all, most current approaches to treating trauma takes a different approach to creating a strong crucible for transformation than we do with AAIT™. I’m no expert on CPT, PE and EMDR but all of them seem to rely on time as at least one measure of when to “do trauma work.”

I can appreciate that.

AAIT™ practitioners’ approach to the same territory is informed by a fundamentally different point of view. Many healing arts practitioners see our clients as victims, if not consciously perhaps unconsciously.

With AAIT, we see our clients as empowered beings entangled in charged energy. The true self is not encumbered by the limitations of a narrative. The true self is a being. What this gives us is a kind of faith in our client that is not unfounded.

That’s one thing I neglected to say in my response to these questions.

The other point I neglected to address as fully as I would have liked is the importance of a strong collaborative relationship. The architecture of a strong collaboration gives us what we need to accomplish almost SHOCKING results in record time.

It was sure fun to share AAIT™ with social workers in Chicagoland. The next presentation will be at the Association for Energy Psychology next May. ONWARD!

If you have friends and colleagues in Chicago, be sure to let them know about the upcoming Foundations training. People are already making sure to reserve their spot.