Trauma Informed Pelvic Floor Therapy: Centering Through Interoception

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--Transcript--
We are going to be talking about getting centered through interoception today. I love this topic because it really highlights our strengths as OTs and as holistic thinkers. This type of perspective helps the nervous system feel supported, and the longer I am a pelvic floor therapist, the longer I see the benefit of starting with this.

We are going to kick off this topic with discussing permission vs informed consent – Permission is simply, may I touch you? Can I do an internal exam now? They reply yes or no. Informed consent is a bit different – its  sharing with them what you are going to do, and where you will touch them so that they are fully aware of what they are agreeing to. 

Everything is an invitation – this is what creates a feeling of being empowered – we can do this right from the beginning—starting with where they have to be in your space – such as saying “make yourself comfortable” sit wherever you’d like. Instead of “you can sit right there.” Even the physical space can create a feeling of safety – we can do tangible things like this to encourage them to connect to their nerv system – by responding to you and the environment. And just by walking in, and choosing where to sit, they  already feel empowered. They start their experience this way. Many of our clients have had too many experiences of being disempowered. And that stops with us. Practice in a way that fosters a sense of ownership of their own body – empower through choice by using the language of invitation and cuing.

Here are few other examples of how Safety begins with the phy envt – we always ensuring clients are not on display, they are in a private space both so they aren’t seen but also aren’t overheard talking and sharing their story with you, also ensuring no one will interrupt the tx while in progress. Consider things like Do you answer the door during tx? Esp while the client is laying face down.

We should be Mindful of ou

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