Sundown Healing Arts

Intuitive, compassionate bodywork for trauma

Article Archives

  • 2019

  • 2018

    • December

      • Elements of Refuge
        Healing practitioners can provide a calm refuge for overwhelmed survivors by offering a stable container around logistics, emotions, and the relationship.

    • November

      • When Help Means Rescue
        Helpers remove obstacles and add nourishment and support. They help us become more ourselves, rather than transforming us into someone else.

    • October

      • When Help Means Danger
        When the first people to care for us also hurt us, of course it will be difficult to manage relationships with practitioners.

    • September

      • Grow Away from Enmeshment
        As you repair your boundaries and sense of self, rather than feeling woven together with someone else, you will gradually feel more solid in yourself.

    • August

      • The Right Distance from Family
        Whether we connect with our parents every day, once a year, or not at all, we can reduce the internal charge we carry toward them.

    • July

      • Balance for Your Inner Guardian
        As your Inner Guardian becomes more integrated into the present, you can offer a more balanced, skillful response to present-time threats.

    • June

    • May

      • Practice Kind Language
        When we practice non-ableist language, it gives us more room to be imperfect humans, internally and externally.

    • April

      • Offer a Collaborative Story
        When we invite people to be on the same side with collaborative stories, we open the door to more connection in our lives.

    • March

      • Depression: Natural Response to Trauma
        You are not broken. Your responses make sense. As you find ways to sit with inner terror and misery and loneliness for as long as they are there, they will gradually shift and make room for new feelings.

    • February

      • Your Body Is Your Ally
        When you tend to your body with generous care, you practice feeling better and receiving kindness right now.

    • January

      • Embody Hunger, Embody Fullness
        To connect more directly with our bodies just as they are right now, we can bring more awareness to eating, hunger, and fullness.

  • 2017

    • December

      • Untangle Anniversaries
        When we can be a kind witness for our hurting selves, we can untangle painful feelings from the time of year that brings them up.

    • November

    • October

      • The Perils of Nice
        When we do not constrain ourselves to be nice, we can step into the power of showing up as our authentic selves kindly and creatively.

    • September

      • Sit with Disappointment
        When we can sit with disappointment, we find our own balance between acceptance and efforts toward change.

    • August

      • Look into the Present
        As we look at the world with more relaxation and clarity, we see more of the beauty and safety available to us.

    • July

      • Seek Nourishing Feedback
        We thrive on positive feedback, with the occasional bit of corrective negative feedback thrown in.

    • June

    • May

    • April

    • March

      • Cherish Your Limits
        Paying attention to our limits helps us compassionately care for ourselves.

    • February

    • January

  • 2016

  • 2015

  • 2014

    • December

      • The Tyranny of Normal
        Each body is normal in relation to itself, despite the myths we persist in believing against all evidence.

    • November

      • All Done! Tools for Rapid Change
        When we allow all our conflicting feelings to be present, drop what isn't ours, and imagine the problem is already solved, we can emerge into new terrain.

    • October

      • Triggered! Now What?
        Suddenly we are defiantly thirteen, or playfully four, or speechlessly afraid when we would prefer to be competent adults.

    • September

    • August

      • Stand in Your Story
        It is healthy to value your own viewpoint, no matter how personal and emotional.

    • July

    • June

    • May

      • Deflect the Tone Argument
        There is no tone calm enough to express uncomfortable truths to someone with the power to refuse to hear.

    • April

    • March

    • February

    • January

  • 2013

    • December

      • Let Your Jaw Speak
        Physical movement in your avenue of expression creates sound. Immobility is silent.

    • November

    • October

      • Listen to Defensiveness
        When we acknowledge defensiveness, we can open into curiosity and maintain connections with people around us.

    • September

      • Interrupt Bullying
        Change in a victim cannot fix a perpetrator's problem. We all have vulnerabilities, and we deserve to be treated with kindness around them.

    • August

    • July

      • Effects of Sexual Assault
        Survivors face denial, hostility, and pressure to consider themselves less important than the perpetrator.

    • June

      • Achieve Approval
        This person, this being, is filled with radiant love, approval, and pleasure at your very existence.

    • May

    • April

      • The Power of Gentle
        We instinctively approach a frightened animal with slow, gentle movements and a soft voice. Traumatized humans need the same gentle approach.

    • March

      • Reasons to Stay
        If you know someone in an abusive situation, express your trust in their essential strength and capacity to find their way.

    • February

      • Loving Anger
        Listen inside, explore options, and take self-protective action with empathy for others.

    • January

  • 2012

  • 2011

  • 2010

  • 2009

  • 2008

    • December

      • Calm Your Inner Critic
        You may have already noticed that arguing with your Inner Critic only leads to louder criticism, possibly about how self-critical you are.

    • November

    • October

    • September

  • 2007