According to Kristberg, the trauma and pain of sexual abuse is centralized and stored in the pelvic area. When an individual undergoes recovery work to externalize or release the stored pain, a sensation of emptiness in the pelvic region may be experienced as a tingling sensation, a sense of relaxation or of lightness in this area. After undergoing intense emotional release work, most survivors feel significant relief. Kristberg contends that it is important to then focus awareness and direct healing energy into the now "empty place" in order to maximize healing. If one does not guide healing energy into the wound, once emotional release work is completed, Kristberg warns that the "energy hole" will reestablish the previous pattern of held pain. This is due to the fact that the body has become accustomed to carrying the energy pattern associated with the held pain. If a new energy pattern is not introduced after the pain is released, the original pattern of pain will reemerge.

Held pain can be externalized by a number of means, including bodywork, shouting, screaming, etc. While this release is occurring, the held energy is being pushed out and away from the body. During this process, Kristberg recommends that the individual doing the work should find a position that is most effective for letting out the emotional energy. As the emotions related to the trauma begin to be released, initial feelings of terror, intense fear, grief, or anger may be experienced. The body may begin to tremble or shake, or one might begin to yell or scream.

Energy tends to be manifested in two primary forms reports Kristberg: toxic energy and healing energy. Toxic energy consists of energy that has been held in or repressed, and often includes unexpressed anger, terror, grief, loss, rage, guilt, shame, etc. Once this energy is released it becomes "nontoxic." Healing energy, on the other hand, flows freely and is unrepressed. It is often experienced as feelings of peace, contentment, happiness, joy, etc. When healing energy is directed into the wound, Kristberg advises his clients to visualize the energy in the form of a color or image that represents healing to them.

BIOFEEDBACK

Biofeedback provides us with an opportunity to demonstrate the connections between an individual's psychological and physiological activity. Biofeedback instruments offer an immediate and objective source of information to the client and practitioner regarding the client's mind/body interaction. The physiological effects of such emotions as fear, anger, etc. can be demonstrated to the client, and psychosomatic disorders can be more concretely explained.

Biofeedback, as well as meditative practices, emphasizes the importance of attaining a state of relaxation in order to facilitate the achievement of insight and growth. It is also the goal of both practices to develop a state of harmony between the mind and body.

Biofeedback as explained by Kenneth Pelletier is based on three basic principles:

1) An individual can regulate any neurophysiological or biological function which can be monitored and amplified by electronic instrumentation, and then fed back to the individual through any one of the five senses.

2) Every change in an individual's physiological state is accompanied by a corresponding change in the mental emotional state, whether it be conscious or unconscious. Every change in the mental emotional state, conscious or unconscious produces a change in the physiological state.

3) A deep state of relaxation is conducive to the establishment of voluntary control of many autonomic or involuntarily nervous system functions, such as heart rate, brain waves, muscle tension, body temperature, white blood cell levels and stomach-acidity.

Biofeedback is described by Pelletier as one of the many approaches which places responsibility for health, well being and even personal growth upon the individual. When utilizing biofeedback with a client, the therapist can demonstrate the tremendous influence one can have over one's body processes, thus empowering the individual.

In working with individual's suffering from anxiety, phobias and panic disorder, I often now use a small hand held biofeedback monitor which measures galvanic skin resistance, which is a reflection of sweat gland activity and pore size. When an individual becomes disturbed or aroused to any extent, the monitor emits a high pitched buzz tone; when calm and relaxed, the tone is transformed into a slow popping sound. This is an extremely primitive machine and tremendously inferior to the more advanced instruments utilized in biofeedback. It does, however, demonstrate to clients how their emotions and thoughts impact their body functioning. I have found it to be extremely useful in instructing clients in the importance of utilizing relaxation techniques in order to alleviate anxiety, as well as other stress related disturbances. I am finding biofeedback particularly helpful in my work with victims of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

While bodywork remains an area that I am just now beginning to learn about and utilize, I am convinced that one must not neglect the body in endeavors to reach matters of the mind, for they are too often interwoven.

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