​Weighted blankets gently hug the body to create the comforting benefits DTP therapy. It creates a safe, cozy cocoon to relax in and calms the mind and body for deep, natural sleep.

Improved sleep and reduced stress and anxiety are among the most common benefits of using a weighted blanket, but there are many more reasons to try one yourself. Here are 13 benefits of using a weighted blanket and the research supporting them.

Get yours here.

The definition of resilience is ‘the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness’…. All I hear from that definition is “suck it up”, “harden up” and other societal or familial messages that don’t allow for ones’ authentic feeling and response to the impact of significant events that one experiences. This is especially important for our children who are being exposed to earthquake trauma and terror.
A child is no better off showing they’re stoic in the face of trauma and natural disaster if that is not their authentic feelings. Instead, the denied emotion becomes stored elsewhere in one’s body which can then manifest in other ways such as anxiety, headaches and tummy pains. Bessel van der Kolk (2014) offers brilliance in his writings of the imprint of trauma on the body in ‘The Body Keeps The Score’ (2014).

​​Working within a trauma-informed approach (TIA), gives rise to necessary consideration of the environment or service ‘umbrella’ under which one is expected to deliver such a framework. Research evidences the cumulative burden of adversity on increasing risk for many negative outcomes, such as mental illness and a response in many service sectors has been to consider invoking concepts of trauma and adversities in policy and practice.  In my career as an Occupational Therapist, I predominantly worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Forensics in the public health system.  In more recent years, I gained qualifications as a Psychotherapist and I now work mainly with ACC Sensitive Claims individuals.  I want to discuss the response and extent to which I have experienced these services to work within overarching principles of TIA firstly as an Occupational Therapist, and secondly as a Psychotherapist within what can be regarded as an insurance-based model to trauma care.  Briefly, it is important to outline the principles that a TIA is based (for more information see Te Pou Te Pou o te Wakaaro Nui: Trauma informed care, 2018).  TIA aims at creating a culture that embodies the following –  

safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment, voice and choice; and understanding cultural, historical and gender issues.

The Window of Tolerance is a way of noticing when one is feeling regulated, orientated to the present and not in a state of overwhelm or shutdown.  In order to be able to use coping strategies, think clearly, manage one's thoughts and make informed choices, achieving optimal arousal is the ideal state.
We are often ineffective when attempting to assist someone by telling them to calm down, when outside of the window of tolerance - we need to regulate to be able to access our ability to think and therefore act.

Kia ora from lockdown Level 3 – not as bad as Level 4 but still seemingly taking it’s toll somewhat.

I find myself getting annoyed at the advertising about connecting with others through the use of screens and devices and I am aware of how contradictory I am going to sound as I work my way through this post. I do not want to envision a future where it is acceptable to conduct relational psychotherapy through technology – and hopefully in my professional lifespan, that won’t have to happen again. I say hope, because no one knows! No one has a crystal ball, so there is part of me resigned to the fact that I a glad I have gotten my head around HOW to use technology to sustain therapeutic relationships should the time come again. For now I am feeling grateful for what seems to be something intangible and something that cannot be communicated through a screen, that I offer in my therapeutic space.