Episode 20 An Embodied Approach to Eating Disorders with Rachel Lewis Marlow

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Podcast- A Polyvagal Theory Informed Therapy

Hi everyone,
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the skilled practitioner Rachel Lewis-Marlow from the Embodied Recovery Institute.
I first heard Rachel speak at the Polyvagal Institute Summit about a Polyvagal approach to working with eating disorders. It was so interesting that I had to have her share her knowledge with you as a guest on the podcast.
Please see below for additional information about Rachel and links to the Embodied Recovery Institute.
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This episode is so rich. Please see some topics that we discuss:

• The current understanding and approach to working with Eating disorders
• An Embodied approach to working with Eating disorders- integrating Sensory-Motor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, and Polyvagal Theory
• Embodied Recovery Lens- understanding the biology such as epigenetics, birth history, attachment and........
• Role of Primitive Reflexes in the body and rhythms of moving toward or away
• Looking at eating disorder behaviour as the body's way of speaking- about your sense of safety
• Window of tolerance and ventral vagal states
• The Embodied Recovery model: moving away from traditional approaches of eliminating eating disorder behaviour, to being curious and decoding behaviours....looking for patterns
• Restricting, Binging, Purging- expressions of emotional states
• Learn about the "Action State" and the Embodied Recovery Approach
• Role of Relational Cycle- relation to others/relation to sensory or motor experiences that nourish
• Ability to differentiate Interoceptive signals in Eating Disorders
• PVT- it is the same nervous system that governs digestion that identifies and connects with safety
• Safety is not the absence of danger- there is a big difference between being protected and being safe! How does this impact ED.
• The field of treating Eating Disorders is often one of fear....."you will die if you do not eat" - how can your nervous system support nourishment when in fear!
• Recovery is an additive process to nourish the nervous system- not taking things away
• The importance of an integrated approach to recovery
• The body is a resource for recovery
• The vital role of the practitioner and their willingness to embody regulation

About Rachel.
Rachel Lewis-Marlow is a somatically integrative psychotherapist, dually licensed in counseling and therapeutic massage and bodywork and the Co-founder of the Embodied Recovery Institute which provides training to eating disorders professionals in a trauma-informed, relationally oriented and somatically integrated model of eating disorders treatment. She is a Certified Advanced Practitioner in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and has advanced training and 25+ years experience in diverse somatic therapies including Craniosacral Therapy, Energetic Osteopathy, Oncology massage and Aromatherapy.
Rachel began providing somatically integrative psychotherapy to eating disorders patients at the residential, PHP and IOP levels of care.
Currently, in private practice in Chapel Hill, NC, Rachel works with people healing from trauma, eating disorders, and dissociative disorders. She has extensive experience as a teacher and presenter, focusing on accessing the body’s unique capacity to give voice to the subconscious and to lay the foundation for healing and maintaining psychological and physical health.
Embodied Recovery Institute- https://embodiedrecovery.org/

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