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Research shows that both stress and trauma decrease a person’s ability to regulate their emotions. Each of us find ourselves more easily dysregulated into places of anxiety or eruptive anger on one side, and depression or utter disconnection from reality on the other side when stress is high or we experience trauma. During stress and trauma, emotions can shift from being useful guides to reactive responses that further disconnect us from others. This applies to both those of us in soul healing ministries as well as the people we serve.
On August 28, Leigh Ann Looyenga from Colorado Springs, was our presenter on this vital topic. Uniquely qualified, Leigh Ann holds an M.Div. with an emphasis in spiritual direction from Fuller Seminary, and a MS in Clinical Mental Health from Colorado Christian University. Additionally, she is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and is EMDR Trained.
Leigh Ann spoke about how to help those we are serving to increase their ability to stay emotionally regulated and connected to others in the midst of stress and trauma, by building a treasure chest of stabilizing resources. These resources include hobbies like gardening or biking and mindfulness exercises that increase their ability to experience all of their 5 senses in the present moment. They also include relational connections that are trustworthy. She emphasized that slowed down contemplative spiritual practices allow people to both learn to be present with all their senses, while strengthening their relational connection to the most trustworthy person possible.
LEIGH ANN’S LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- For attendees to receive 1–3 practical contemplative spirituality tools and practice one during the session.
- For attendees to learn about the window of tolerance and practice reflecting on their own experience of emotional dysregulation and stabilizing resources.
- For attendees to learn how contemplative spiritual resources increase a person’s ability to regulate their emotions.