Moaiku Trauma Therapy provides participants with the opportunity to deepen skills in coping with and resolving trauma and other kinds of high stress states using the body as a resource. This approach, based on current theories of human survival strategies, includes methods focused on strengthening presence, building concrete skills and establishing new paths of coping. The primary method used is called Resource Oriented Skill Training (ROST) or Motoric Haiku. This method builds functional coping capacity, and opens the self healing potential through refined body based skill training and emotional processing.

Integrated into this approach is a systemic understanding which is foreground in the group process involved in learning about trauma.

Special attention is given to building bridges between deep inner processing and integration in a professional role.

Who will benefit?

Professionals in prevention, treatment and/or rehabilitation of clients impacted by high stress, crisis and trauma, such as physicians, psychologists, counselling therapists, social workers, nurses, physiotherapists, massage therapists, members of the clergy and workers in human services.

Why choose a body-oriented method when working with trauma?

Behaviours and defense patterns founded in implicit sensory based memory (body sensations, feelings, experiences and interpretations/predictions with no conscious relation to a specific biographical event) cannot be reached through the spoken language. Traumatic memory is characterized by dissociation and consequently the locked patterns often lie tied into a sensory, non-linear memory. A body-oriented method offers an opportunity to reach into these layers of consciousness and begin a process of integration and healing.

Background

The theory and methodology presented in the Moaiku Trauma Therapy approach has grown from Bodynamic Analysis – a body-oriented psychotherapy developed in Denmark since the mid 1970s. Key to the Bodynamic tradition is the knowledge of both psychomotor development and psychological muscle function and their impact on  the development of a person’s resources and defense patterns. Knowledge about both hypo- and hyper-responsive (given up and controlled) defense patterns represented in muscles opens an opportunity to precisely adapt methods and interventions to the actual meeting with the individual.

Moaiku takes it further

Since 2003 Merete Holm Brantbjerg has worked with colleagues in furthering her approach to trauma therapy by introducing new theories on dissociation and by framing resource oriented skill training as a relational method. In addition Merete has introduced the principle of dosing as being core to this method – emphazising how all aspects of trauma work must be carefully adapted to the encounter with the individual. Inner authority and resonance are powerful key elements effectivley utilized in this approach. Integrating the systemic approach allows us to address trauma patterns in a collective frame.

The therapist comes first

Foremost in Moaiku Trauma Therapy is support of the therapist’s/helper’s own presence, safety and ability to skillfully maintain authority. Crucial to trauma work is the ability of the therapist to stay present in the here and now, and use their skills to maintain this prescence when riding the waves of high activation. The therapist needs to be able to cope with his or her own states of hypo- and hyper-arousal in order to meet others in stress and trauma states, and support the opening of “windows of opportunity” for healing.

Trauma is contagious. High stress has a tendency to evoke similar states in others. The ability of the therapist to retain a centered, grounded and attuned state when faced by intense trauma, provides a ‘container’ and a ‘landing platform’ for everybody present.

Resource Oriented Skill Training – ROST

Resource oriented skill training is a psychotherapeutic method capable of reaching into behaviour and defense patterns connected to unresolved trauma through precisely dosed psychomotor exercises. Practicing these exercises trains specific psychosocial skills, and through this kind of skill training, access to self healing powers often emerges.

All of these psychosocial skills, and more, are vital for our ability to cope with the level of arousal released in all stages of responding to trauma – heading into high arousal, whilst in it, and when landing again afterwards. A crucial part of healing trauma is to expand the platform of the personality in order to provide a strong enough base to land on. Expanding the platform of the personality allows the parts of us that are locked into survival patterns to start to change – stuck arousal patterns are released and the previously locked material is integrated into the personality.

In the training of the practical skills, important principles are to:

• focus on specific body sensations to support an increased presence in the here-and-now
• verbalize body sensations and emotional states
• focus on precise individual dosing of immediate experience to increase the possibilities for change, new orientation and the establishment of more functional patterns
• accept whatever emerges when training and using the skills
• build resonance and attunement

Development of these skills is a central psychotherapeutic method when working with trauma patterns.

To relate to, value, and integrate our experience of a traumatic event and our trauma reactions often poses a challenge to our personality. Healing trauma demands that our capacity, our value system, our perception of reality, and often times also our self image, expand. ROST supports this expansion of the personality’s capacity – bodily, emotionally and cognitively.

The goals of Moaiku Trauma Therapy are to:

• support an increased ability to cope in everyday life
• support the natural regulation of the autonomic nervous system
• expand the capacity of the personality
• raise awareness and regulate locked trauma reactions connected to both older and/or more recent trauma

From the experience of observing and receiving the feedback of clients and participants in previous training groups, people working with this kind of therapy show a maturing of the personality. They have described an increased capacity - cognitively, emotionally, bodily and ethically – which shows itself as an enhanced ability to manage complex life circumstances.

An outline of the content of the workshops

Workshop 1 – Coping with Trauma Patterns

• What is trauma? The different types of shock trauma and the differences between shock trauma and developmental trauma
• How do unreleased trauma responses manifest in the body?
• Understanding trauma reactions – impacted by either hyper- or hypoarousal in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) – and methodology related to these reactions
• Phases in trauma resolution related to levels of arousal and levels of dissociation
• Development of somatic coping skills as a method to expand access to self healing powers and to increase one’s ability to cope and stay present under high stress
• Interaction between coping skills, personality defense patterns and trauma reactions, including hypo- and hyper-response in muscles and hypo- and hyperarousal in ANS
• Awareness of resources in trauma reactions
• Awareness of dominant and submissive behaviour (one-up and one-down roles) related to trauma with the focus on developing inner authority
• Distinguishing between instinctual/instinctive reactions, basic emotions and a mixture of emotions and cognition in daily life. Increasing our ability to manage these three levels of ”feelings”, including our relationship with shame
• Focus on relational aspects of trauma resolution – resonance, attunement, affect regulation and mentalization
• Group process based on systemic methods – the process of the individual is seen in a collective perspective

Workshop 2 – Integrating Dissociated Elements

• Methods for contacting and integrating dissociated elements held in implicit, sensory based memory pieces - including the release of healthy survival reflexes such as flight, fight, protection, freeze, collapse, attachment cry and dominant or submissive strategies
• Re-establishing the natural swing between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation in the autonomic nervous system
• Focus on how the triad of Victim, Perpetrator and Protector/Hero shows up in the group while working with trauma patterns

Workshop 3 – Expanding and Integration

• Awareness of added meanings, predictions or conclusions connected to trauma patterns
• Exploring and understanding expanded states connected to survival strategies
• The integration phase of trauma work
• Aspects of identity and culture related to trauma healing
• Transference and counter-transference in trauma work and coping with secondary traumatization
• Integration of all aspects of the learning process

All elements mentioned under Workshop 1 will be part of the learning process in Workshop 2 and 3 also.

The teaching will include the following

Presentation, discussion, demonstration, exercises and practical training. All elements of this method of trauma therapy will be demonstrated, experienced in your own body and trained during the workshops.

Participants practice working as therapists supervised by the trainers. Participants will also act as clients working through a minor traumatic event from their own adult lives. Experience shows that focusing on a less serious explicit biographical event presents an opportunity for working with deep, and not yet integrated, implicit pieces in trauma patterns.

Study groups and supervision days between workshops

Participants are encouraged to work in study groups between workshops. Group work will include discussion of literature and film/video illustrating traumatic events and reactions. Practice of resourcing skills and interview techniques is also recommended.

Supervision days will be offered between the workshops. Information about place, time, cost will be provided later.

Trainers and team of assistants

Merete Holm Brantbjerg, creator and principal trainer of Moaiku Trauma Therapy is an international teacher, co-creator of Bodynamic Analysis and a member of European Association of Body Psychotherapy (EABP).

Merete will be assisted by a team of Canadian psycotherapists trained in Bodynamic Analysis and the Moaiku approach.

Trauma therapy literature from Moaiku and the Bodynamic tradition

Merete Holm Brantbjerg: Resource oriented skill training as a psychotherapeutic method. Article 2007.

Merete Holm Brantbjerg: The relational aspect of resource oriented skill training. Article 2008.                      

Merete Holm Brantbjerg: Hypo-response – the hidden challenge in coping with stress. Article 2008. (Workshop handout)

Merete Holm Brantbjerg & Sally Stepath: The body as container of instincts, emotions and feelings. Article 2007. (Workshop handout)

Ian Macnaughton: Body, breath and consciousness. North Atlantic, 2004. Compendium of articles about Bodynamic Analysis; Bodynamic Shock Trauma Therapy; Peter Levine’s approach to Shock Trauma Therapy, and also Multigenerational Family Therapy.

Application Process and Fees

With your application for Moaiku Trauma Therapy you are agreeing to participate in all three workshops and to attend the residential component of Workshop 2. Full participation in all of the theoretical and practical components completes the syllabus of Moaiku Trauma Therapy as presented in the workshops. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at completion.

Your application will be considered upon receipt of;

1.     the completed application form which you will find at the end of this document. Please return the completed application form by e-mail to moaiku@brantbjerg.dk and cc barbara@barbarapicton.com, and

2.     the application fee of $200 - personal cheque only. We regret  it is not possible to accept credit or debit cards, and

3.     the signed last page of the application form to accompany your cheque and mailed to the address on the application form.

You will receive a response within 3 weeks of receipt by Merete Holm Brantbjerg and Barbara Picton. A response will be given whether your application is accepted or not accepted.

Your cheque will not be cashed until your application has been accepted. If not accepted your cheque will be returned minus a $40 administration fee.

The total cost of Moaiku Trauma Therapy is,

NB: Specific dates for the workshops have yet to be confirmed.

*Workshop 1 & 3 will be held at the Vancouver  School of Theology, UBC Campus, Vancouver, BC.

**Workshop 2 will be held in residence and we plan for it to be at Springbrooke Retreat Centre, 22778, 72^nd Avenue, Langley, BC. www.springbrookeretreat.com.

Registration will commence april 1, 2012 Please do not make application before that time.

Moaiku Refund Policy

In the event that you choose to withdraw from the program for any reason, you must do so in writing to Barbara Picton. By e-mail to barbara@barbarapicton.com or mail to 671F, Market Hill, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4B5. The date of your withdrawal will be considered to be the date of  e-mail and the post mark on the letter.

Refunds will be issued for Moaiku Trauma Therapy according to the following:

• Prior to 45 days before the first day of Workshop 1, the applicant will receive a full refund less the $200.00 application fee.
• Within day 44 to 15 prior to the start of Workshop 1, the applicant will receive a full refund, less the $200.00 application fee and a $100.00 cancellation fee.
• From 14 days prior to the start of Workshop 1and onto the start, the registrant will not be entitled to any refund and will be obligated to pay the full price of all workshops and the residential costs of Workshop 2.
• Applicable refunds will be paid within 30 calendar days of receipt of cancellation, withdrawal or termination.

If Moaiku Canada cancels a workshop, participants will be entitled to a full refund of the payment for that particular workshhop only or receive credit toward a future workshop.

Moaiku Privacy Policy

Moaiku Canada will protect your private information as per the requirements of the Personal Information Protection Act.

Testimonials from students in Moaiku Therapy 2010-11

Due to the Moaiku Trauma Therapy workshops I have a rich new understanding of trauma and many new resources that help me be aware of and manage my own arousal, in both my personal and work life.  I have an increased sense of comfort and ability to stay present with and help regulate the arousal of clients.

I feel more confident in my professional role as a Naturopath – and more able to hold the client accountable for their role in their health, instead of feeling solely responsible for 'fixing' them.

Janice Millington. N.D. (Naturopathic Doctor)

As a student & therapist of Body Oriented Psychotherapy for many years, I recommend the Moaiku Trauma Therapy workshops with Merete Holm Brantbjerg.

The methods and the presence of the trainer has brought me into a greater presence, sense of personal authority and given me solid skills to use in my work with clients.

The group & skill building techniques, that are part of the training, are some of the most dynamic I have experienced.

Saskia Soeterik. O.T. Somatic Experiencing Practitioner.

The Moaiku intensive trauma workshops were the best learning experience of my career! I have a workplace trauma and general counselling practice. I find I am using the training in every counselling session. It provides a lens to understand client trauma patterns and signs of arousal in the here and now. It has given me concrete resource based somatic tools that I am able to teach clients. Clients tell me these resources make a difference out in their lives. I also have come to better understand my own trauma patterns, and am using the resourcing skills in my own life. Consequently I am now a different counsellor and trainer sitting across from my clients or groups; more present, more deeply attuned.

The Moaiku trauma model offers a fresh perspective on trauma. It is conceptually rich and grounded in the body. It is a deeply respectful way for working with trauma. Merete Holm Brantbjerg creates a safe container for experiential learning and she embodies the model in a way that is grounded and integrated. I recommend this training to anyone curious about trauma and the body and who is looking to increase their repertoire of useful skills, for themselves and clients.

Claudia Collins. MA. Registered Clinical Counsellor.

Participating in the Moaiku Trauma Therapy workshops has helped me to move to another level of professional expertise in my private practice.   Based on her many years of experience and her insatiable professional curiosity about health and healing, Merete has synthesized an elegant and researched paradigm that draws on the best of insights and skills of body-centered therapy, systems theory and cognitive therapy.

My clients report that this emphasis on precise skill training has helped them move through their own strengths, skills and resources towards healthy choices and healthy relationships with increased confidence in their own abilities.

My inner sense of personal and professional competence has flourished. It continues to mature as I practice the skills I have learned in the workshops.

I am presenting workshops to teachers and student teachers who tell me that Resource Oriented Skill Training (ROST) is a new and profound tool that they are using in their classrooms to promote learning.

Janet Hill. Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine (Combined training in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy). MA in Clinical Counseling.

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