115. Dr. Arielle Schwartz: Awakening the Spiritual Heart

Today we are releasing one of our most listened to podcast episodes with Arielle Schwartz “Awakening the
Spiritual Heart”.  Betsy recently ran into Arielle at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam of all places!  Dr. Schwartz just released a new book called “Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga” and has been teaching workshops related to it in Europe in this past month.  Check out her new book and listen to this past episode with such much wisdom and inspiration from Dr. Schwartz.

Join us today as we interview Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a psychologist and expert on trauma. This is a powerful and hopeful conversation about turning toward our wounds, the power of inhabiting the body, and and the resulting compassion that emerges for ourselves and others when we do this.

Today we discuss:

  • Arielle’s early years and how she was shaped by her parent’s divorce at the age of 4. She talks of living in 2 different households with distinctly different energies, and the effect this had on her own developing nervous system.
  • The power of yoga in Arielle’s life and the profound realization of what it was like to feel like herself after a practice.
  • How trauma can look “subtle” such as criticism, high expectations for performance, not seeing or hearing you, and how these experiences can have profound and damaging effects.
  • The importance of an attuned and steadfast “other” when working with trauma, whether this is a parent, a friend, a therapist, a healer.
  • Why nature and play are such key tools for helping us heal.

Bio:

Dr. Arielle Schwartz is a clinical psychologist, internationally sought-out teacher, and leading voice in the healing of trauma. She is an internationally sought-out teacher, leading voice in the field of trauma recovery, and author of seven books including The Complex PTSD Workbook, The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, and Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga. As the founder

of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy, she offers a mind-body approach to therapy for trauma and informational mental health and wellness updates through her writing, public speaking, social media presence, and blog. She believes that the journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart. Learn more at www.drarielleschwartz.com.

 

Find out more about Dr. Arielle: