Making the MindBody Connection
in Mental Health
PRESENTER: RENEE PRIMEAU, CMHA-MIDDLESEX ADULT EATING DISORDERS
MENTAL HEALTH WORKER
PREPARATION AND RESEARCH ASSISTANCE: WENDY PEARSON, REGISTERED
PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND EATING DISORDER SPECIALIST
Presentation Objectives
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We all have a story. Why are we here? Why Mental Health and
Addictions as a career choice?
My story and background
Introduction of Program
Explanation of Mind-Body/Body Movement Group concept
“Neck Up Society” most of the time- some may have more difficulty
with connection
Potential Mind-Body Disconnect after Trauma
How this can impact our relationships with our bodies and selves
How “reconnecting” through mindful movement and/or physical
activity can help
Various activities demonstrated and practiced to help promote
reconnection and awareness
Partner/group practice
Questions
Presenter Information
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Renee Primeau
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Mental Health Worker, Adult Eating Disorders Treatment Program
with Canadian Mental Health Association-Middlesex
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The Mental Health Worker performs duties and responsibilities
consistent with providing a psychosocial environment to assist with
the treatment, rehabilitation, and community integration of London
Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) Adult Eating Disorder Service (AEDS)
clients 18 years of age and older who have eating disorders and
other co-morbid mental health difficulties. Mental Health Workers
also participate in various components of delivery that may include
meal support and assistance with group treatment.
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Research and presentation assistance: Wendy Pearson, Registered
Psychotherapist and Eating Disorder Specialist
Why this conference, this topic,
and why this career choice?
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Why are we here: Most of us may have our own reasons for working
in the mental health and addiction sectors.
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My interest stems from personal experience as well as with those I
love and care about.
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Became fascinated with understanding the “why” behind so many
things (my own behaviours and experiences and those I saw with
others) from childhood all the way to now.
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Why This topic: Sensing this disconnect within myself and learning to
work with and change it
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A desire to help others do the same (if this is what they want)
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A desire to help other social service providers understand and learn
to assist in this way
Adult Eating Disorder Treatment
Program Information
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Collaborative effort between Canadian Mental Health Workers and
London Health Sciences Center Clinical Team
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24 hour eating disorder support
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Clinical Dietitian Designed Meal Plans, Psychiatrist appointments
and medication oversight, Clinical Social Workers, Psychotherapists,
and support staff (mental health workers) group programming and
Mental Health Worker Supported meals
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Education groups focusing on CBT Concepts for recovery and
support, Nutrition education, Body-Movement, and Body Image
focused groups
“Neck Up Society”
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We often live “in our heads” and, unless time is taken, can forget to
listen to our bodies or to be in the moment.
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Example: Having a bruised knee (or elsewhere) and not
remembering what happened for us to form a bruise.
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Or sitting down to eat and not realizing we were so hungry or eating
mindlessly until over-stuffed (being out of touch with body cues)
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Our thinking, or being “in our heads” can take us out of reality while
bringing our attention back to our bodies can reconnect us with the
present moment and with our present experience.
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Some of us, and the people we work with and care for, may have
experiences that can make this more likely and perhaps with more
extreme impacts.
Potential Mind-Body Disconnect
After Trauma (focus on childhood
traumatic experience)
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Childhood trauma (and repeated trauma) can make this sense of
disconnect more likely or severe. And the outcomes can be very
impactful.
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Definition of Trauma:
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“An exceptional experience in which powerful and dangerous
stimulus overwhelms the infant/child’s capacity to regulate his
affects.” (Osolfsky, 1997)
How can Psychological Trauma impact
the Mind-Body Connection (directly or
indirectly)?
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Hypervigilance (fight or flight response may be chronically
activated)
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Substance Abuse
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Eating disorders
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Insomnia
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Feeling unreal or out of body
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Self-destructive behaviour
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Loss of sense of “who I am”
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Chronic Pain
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Head aches
(Fisher, 2007 adapted from Bremner & Marmer, 1998)
How can Mind-body practices and
Mindful Physical Movement help?
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A variety of calming and empowering mind-body exercises have been
proven to help people:
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Decrease anxiety
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Decrease pain
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Enhance sleep
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Decrease the use of medication
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Decrease side effects of medical procedures
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Reduce recovery time and shorten hospital stays
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Strengthen the immune system and enhance the ability to heal
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Increase sense of control and well-being
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(Cleveland clinic, 2016)
Samples of Potentially Helpful
Practices and Activities
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LHSC AEDS Body Movement Group Concept:
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Practices/explorative exercises given and explained by staff
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Demonstrated where needed/helpful
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Goal: To provide a supportive environment for body
movement/exploration and to discuss client’s experience during
and after practices.
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24 hour support allows for clients to discuss any difficulties or
challenges experienced in the time following (including memories,
emotions, and/or worries)
Activities and Practices to help
support Mind-Body Connection
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Yoga
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Tai chi and other classical martial art forms
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Body Scans
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Mind-body Scan
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Dance
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Walking meditation
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Various other meditative practices
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Likely, any movement/physical activity done mindfully could be
helpful and supportive
Practical Exercises (with a partner)
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Let’s explore some individual and partner exercises that can be
used with others (or ourselves) in an individual or group setting:
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Body Scan (feet to head)– allows client to explore body (internal
and external experience) in a relaxed manner
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Body Space- (eyes open) with a partner test boundaries/spatial
experience from front, back and side
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Body Space- (eyes closed) with same partner and guage/notice
any differences
Questions?
Resources and Further Reading
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How Trauma Affects Children & the Benefits of EMDR Processing, Jan Yordy
Children in a Violent Society edited by Joy D. Osofsky, 1997 The Guilford Press,
New York, NY
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Psychoeducational Aids for Working with Psychological Trauma 8th edition by
Janina Fisher, Ph.D., 2009 Center for Integrative Healing, Watertown, MA
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The Mindful Brain by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, 2007 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.,
New York, NY
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Mind-Body Exercises, Cleveland Clinic Web-site,
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/prevention/emotionalhealth/stress-relaxation/mind-body-exercises
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Affect Regulation & the Repair of the Self by Dr. Allan N. Schore, 2003 W.W.
Norton & Company, Inc., New York, NY
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The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal, Ph. D., 2015 Penguin Random House,
New York, NY
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Sexual Anorexia by Patrick Carnes, Ph. D., 1997 Hazeldon, Center City,
Minnesota
Thank you so much for being here
and for having me!
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Please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or
comments:
[email protected]
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For more information about programs, services, opportunities to be
involved, and more visit: CMHA-Middlesex web-site:
http://www.cmhamiddlesex.ca