Issue link: http://www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com/i/801174
12 Body Sense as participating in research on whole- person healing at Georgetown University, it's become evident that more and more educators and health-care providers are understanding the value of therapeutic touch for survivors of this kind of trauma. Here's what you should know. THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA ON THE BODY Our nervous system is an electrical communication system that responds to all types of stimuli. When we experience kindness, love, and empathy, for example, our nervous system perceives safety, which in turn signals to our body that it Touch for Trauma Bodywork for Survivors of Violence The numbers are staggering. In the United States, a person is assaulted or beaten by their intimate partner every five seconds, and approximately three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends every day. 1 Up to 5 million US children witness incidents of domestic violence each year. 2 And every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted; every 8 minutes, that victim is a child. 3 When I entered the field of massage and bodywork, I did so with the clear intention to share tools and information with women regarding the body's innate abilities. My goal in this intention has always been to support women, to empower them, and to play a role in their healing processes. Through my work with the Joyful Heart Foundation, which works to support survivors of abuse and violence, as well