Dancing with Discomfort: The Surprising Benefits of Play in Healing Trauma

Hey there, welcome back to The AnxietyRX Podcast! I’m Dr. Russ, and today I’ve got a special guest, Chelsea Horton, who’s an amazing expert in body-based therapy. We’re going to chat about something really important: the connection between anxiety, trauma, and creative expression. We often think of therapy as just sitting and talking, but Chelsea and I explore why that’s not always enough. We’ll dig into how movement and play can really help us work through trauma. Chelsea also shares why hands-on learning is so crucial in therapy. We talk about the need to reconnect with our bodies, create a safe space, and empower ourselves in the healing process. It’s all about taking a holistic approach—mixing mind, body, and creativity for deal healing. So, grab a comfy seat and join us for this enlightening conversation! Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions. PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX ______________________________ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 03:16 - Chelsea's Background 04:32 - Experiencing Trauma 05:03 - Movement and Trauma Processing 06:29 - Play and Safety in Healing 08:46 - Choice and Agency in Healing 10:05 - Evolving from Childhood Trauma 11:55 - Overcoming Inertia 14:47 - The Alarm-Anxiety Cycle 16:38 - Building Trust with the Inner Child 18:43 - Neuroscience of Trauma 19:10 - Understanding Body Connection  20:16 - Mind-Body Disconnect  21:23 - The Role of Neuroscience 22:30 - Living in the Moment 23:17 - Grounding Techniques 24:18 - Familiarity and Security 27:06 - Healing Through Discomfort 28:45 - Coping Mechanisms and Anxiety 29:47 - Understanding the Body's Role 30:31 - Creating Expression Through Movement 32:07 - Rewiring Emotional Pathways 34:08 - Science vs. Healing 35:02 - Embodiment and Creativity 37:41 - Connecting with the Inner Child 41:01 - Relational Patterns in Trauma 43:59 - Concerns About Trauma Practices 45:17 - The Limitations of Academic Training 46:15 - Importance of Repetition in Healing 47:02 - Criticism of the Term 'Empath' 47:58 - Cognitive vs. Experiential Healing 48:04 - Skills-Based Approach in Somatic Practice 49:10 - Concerns About Rapid Trauma Transformation 50:05 - The Long Process of Unlearning  51:50 - Importance of a Year-Long Program 56:19 - The Role of Community in Healing