What is Re-Patterning?

Each of us have patterns or particular ways in which we relate to ourselves, to others, and to our environments. These patterns are physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual AND they are powerful means of support as we travel through our lives. (Observe the image above of the spiral staircase in La Familia Sagrada, Barcelona…hundreds of years of footprints have left patterns/imprints in the stone.) Many of our patterns began in utero, early infancy and childhood; some of these patterns are specific responses to events in our lives. Patterns ‘stick’…that’s why they are ‘patterns’ [Middle English: patron, protector, advocate]. Sometimes patterns that supported/protected us at one time in life are no longer supportive; in fact they might even become UN-supportive or mal-adaptive habituated responses. As a Somatic Movement Therapist, my privilege and responsibility is to help my clients to re [Latin: in the case of, with reference to] -pattern. Together, in a relationship of respect, trust, and compassion, we explore movement patterns,nervous system patterns, psychophysical patterns through, as one of my teachers Dr Martha Eddy, states: Observe—Support—Options.

Observing begins with noticing what is already there. Any pattern we have exists for a reason and we acknowledge the wisdom of that pattern and how it has supported us.

Supporting is about exploring that pre-existing pattern, how it flows through our body-mind, and how it manifests in our current life.

Options are the suggestions that allow new pathways of relating to self, other, the environment. These suggestions may come from a practitioner offering a different sensory-motor pathway AND/or may arise from novel sensations that the mover experiences within themselves. Following these sensations allows new movement pathways and new perceptions to arise. Herein lies a powerful alliance between you (the client) and the somatic practitioner (me) to explore, digest, discuss, and absorb.