Transforming the Experience Based Brain (TEB) using Transforming Touch®
Trauma does not discriminate. It waits and does not go away. It will reveal itself somehow – some way…some time in our life.
Have you experienced any of the following?
- Pain or Chronic Pain
- Weight gain or lose
- Denial about pain or discomfort in your body
- Clumsiness – not aware of your body or the surrounding space
- Your Brain is always on overtime and never stops
Many have experienced more critical and affective trauma(s) than others, but we all have experienced it.
There are those who may think they have NEVER experienced trauma – but trauma is not necessarily an event, it is how an individual processes an experience, so something as simple as a fall or people having an argument, can be experienced as trauma.
People may look at that list above and think – yeah, I have had pain, and struggle with weight gain as I get older. I totally relate to the brain never stopping these days…but that’s just a part of life right?”
WRONG!
These signs could possibly be from Trauma. Yes, that’s right!
At some point in our lives – EVERYONE – has experienced some type of trauma. And yet so many go through their lives without any help or understanding that their symptoms are a direct result of trauma.
The longer someone stays in denial – or undiagnosed trauma – and the longer the trauma goes untreated, the more complicated the symptoms become. This can begin to affect the quality of life.
So, you ask, what do I do about it?
The following are some different, newer trauma healing modalities that are used by Clinicians in Sunshine Consulting and Counseling that people may not have heard of. These were all developed in more recent years and have become more of the trend in the treatment of trauma.
What is TEB and how can it help?
TEB stands for Transforming the Experience-Based Brain. TEB is a somatic modality that was developed by Stephen Terrell and Kathy Kain who are both Somatic Experiencing® Practitioners.
The modality is delivered through Transforming Touch® or Transforming Intentional Touch®
Kain’s practice was focused on attachment repair and the development of young children.
Terrell had experience as a clinician and single parent of two adopted sons.
In working together with their individual and combined experiences along with their understanding of the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) study- a highly recognized study on Developmental Trauma, they agreed to work together to integrate their learning and experience to work with people who had developmental trauma (DT).
DT is trauma that happened before the individual had spoken language (usually considered from conception to about age 4).
Through their work together, TEB was developed and Terrell has been teaching Transforming Touch® as a training program designed for understanding and healing developmental trauma. He teaches this modality internationally.
TEB is considered an Integrative Neurodevelopmental Approach to the Treatment of Developmental Trauma. It creates a Safe Haven where the client can begin to experience a sense of trust between themselves and the therapist.
The modality is based on the idea that when there are ruptures during early development, they continue to disrupt a person’s life. TEB incorporates presence, regulation, and relationship to repair these ruptures by repairing early reflexes. Each and every TEB session, before the practitioner begins, he/she explains what they will be doing and asks the client’s permission.
What you need to know about TEB
There is a way to work through all kinds of trauma including Developmental Trauma (DT).
In case someone is looking, there is no actual diagnosis that exists in DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5) for DT.
Yet, we know that when we’re focused on a trauma response or stress that occurs before a child develops speech or the ability to express themselves, research has shown that not much is not resolved with talk therapy.
TEB is an effective way of helping to regulate the nervous system and can be used with or without touch, in person, or at times remotely such as during an online session.
What do you have to do in this modality?
Nothing! You don’t have to do anything but show up and be open to connecting with your therapist. Transforming Touch is most often done fully dressed on a massage table lying on your back only after the practitioner has explained what they will be doing.
What is the purpose of this modality?
To build capacity, regulation, and resilience by creating a safe and secure environment in the therapy space.
Nervous System
TEB works directly with the nervous system to reset your neurological patterns. As the nervous system builds capacity and becomes regulated we become more resilient which then allows healing. It provides the nervous system with a safe and secure response to stimuli instead of an activation/threat response.
TEB can be an effective way of facilitating regulation within the nervous system and can be used with or without touch, in person, or remotely during an online session.
Many people aren’t even aware that they’ve experienced DT.
For example:
- What was happening in your household when your mother was pregnant with you?
- How many siblings did you have?
- Who else was in your home when you were born or were young?
- What stresses were on your mother when you were in utero or in the early years of your life?
TEB sessions are usually done weekly in order to allow the body to integrate the work in between sessions.
Most people don’t feel results in the first several months but tend to surface around month 3 of 4. However, each person is different and this can vary.
When TEB is done correctly, the work is done precisely and tenderly. It is not rushed or forced in any way.
Covid has been an invisible threat to us all and many people are feeling reactivation of DT. You are not alone in this!
While many people have great success doing this work through Intentional Transforming Touch (online), our therapists and clients have experienced more success in-person, using the online option as a backup if someone is ill at the time that they are scheduled for an appointment.
If you are considering this type of treatment, we ask you to contact us so we can determine if an online session would work for you or if we see you will get better results from an office session.
We encourage you to check out our Recommended Reading page to learn more about Somatic healing and Trauma.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about how TEB can help you with your trauma, please contact our office.