SPT-Fall2014

vibrations, sensations, and
stimulation more readily than other
people. Their sensory processing
system (SPS) is more attuned and
processes bodily experiences more
deeply. Their SPS is sensitive to
sensory and emotional stimulation
and overstimulation. According to
Axford’s website, 20% of the
population are HSP; they tend to
develop autoimmune disorders such
as celiac disease and chronic fatigue
syndrome, anxiety diseases, and
struggle with addictions (food,
alcohol, relationships). HSPs often
develop gifts that benefit others
based on sensitivity; for example,
highly developed empathy,
compassion, and intuition.
Axford offers an online video to
teach people about HSP. Israel gives
Axford’s manifesto to clients to, in
turn, pass on to their friends, family,
colleagues to see if they can handle
them in the truth of their inner light.
The work is about reframing the
internalized message from “You’re
too sensitive,” to “I’m sensitive, too”.
It’s a shift from “what’s wrong with
me”, to “I belong as a highly
sensitive person, and I work in a
totally different way that’s just as
important” (retrieved from http://
sensitiveandthriving.com).
“I help people move through their
obsession with food (it could be
drugs, alcohol, sex, washing hands,
shopping) to support them in the
enormity of what they are feeling and
support them in handling them. I
coach them in being able to be with
all that they are,” Israel says.
Embodiment
Part of Israel’s work involves
awareness, helping clients sense their
sensations, sitting with the bodily
experiences, sitting with acceptance
not judgment. This process is often
labeled embodiment, being embodied
or mindful.
Israel says “embodiment is
learning to be with ourselves even if
all our sensitivity buttons are pushed.
We can stay with our self and
embrace our own experience.
Embodiment is not stagnate. It is
active, flowing. It changes every
moment. You have to go with it.
Embodiment is an intimate rapport
with your life pulse. I feel that it’s
hard to be an authentic human being
in this culture. Most people don’t
know how to do it; it takes getting off
the doing wheel.”
“When we learn how to deal with
our emotions it’s like being in the
ocean riding waves.”
Israel started working with Karla
McLaren and a tool McLaren created
called the Language of Emotion
Cards. They were designed to help
people increase their emotional
awareness and their empathic skills.
There are twenty-four cards,
seventeen offer insight into different
emotions including hate, anger,
shame, envy, sadness, and suicidal
ideation. The remaining seven cards
teach empathic mindfulness skills
supporting emotional and empathic
awareness. "Each card has questions
about what triggers the emotion,
question to ask yourself when the
emotion arises which aid reflective
explorations, such as 'what's about
this emotion is beneficial?' 'what gifts
does this emotion bring?' 'what needs
protection?' There are no wrong or
bad emotions, all have value and
offer information. For example, anger
reveals there's a boundary issue being
triggered. A suicidal urge often
means something is dying to change,
something needs to be transformed,
reborn. I use these cards daily with
clients. I work with the cards because
we are not taught how to deal with
our feelings our emotions in this
culture. The source/root of addiction
is not being able to embody the
enormity of what we feel; instead
when we feel shame, envy, etc. we
drink, binge eat and throw up,” Israel
says.
“McLaren talks about the beauty
of our raw emotions like fear,
jealousy, and anger,” Israel adds.
“They are actually a beautiful
experience before we layer on our
story. We need to be aware and learn
to feel our raw emotions. Be able to
say to ourselves, ‘Oh this is just some
heat, it will give me energy, the
impulse to do something.’ Be with
the raw beauty of the raw emotion.
Somatic Psychotherapy Today | Fall 2014 | Volume 4 Number 2 | page 79