South Sound Healers Network

by Jennifer LeMay, MA

We’ve all heard the importance of “being in the moment” thanks to Eckhart Tolle’s book, Power of Now and more recently, The New Earth, amongst other well known authors as sages. But what about when we find ourselves triggered in the moment? Often we revert back to an old way of being or get triggered into an emotional state we experienced in the past. Sometimes we are not even aware the past emotional trigger is being activated.

In the past two decades, much has been revealed about the workings of the mind. Neuroscientists have discovered the “plasticity” of the brain, meaning our minds are more malleable than we realized. Scientists used to believe that once the brain was fully developed, by early adulthood, it was pretty much set, meaning the window of opportunity to learn and grow new neurological connections was closed. In more recent years, scientists have learned that at any age we can “grow” new neurological connections, creating new patterns of information flow in the brain. This also means the mind is separate from the brain. Certain areas of the brain are considered the powerhouse for specific functions. Yet, if one of those specific areas is damaged, as can happen in a stroke, or even surgically removed, other areas of the brain can adapt to learn the new function required. Younger brains, like those of babies and young children, are like sponges absorbing new information with little effort. Older brains can still learn knew information of course, but the key difference is that intention is required to make the new information stick.

So what does all of this mean when we consider what is triggering us emotionally? Is it possible to reorganize the connections of the brain to not only learn new things or think more positively but even eliminate the thought patterns that sabotage us? YES! According to Lifespan Integration, a technique developed by Washington mental health therapist Peggy Pace. Lifespan Integration (or simply L.I.) works by connecting the current struggle or problem with the “source memory” or original trigger. Often times this source memory shows up as a memory from the early years in one’s life.

L.I. is an especially useful technique for survivors of trauma without re-traumatizing. Peggy likes to say, “L.I. is like doing brain surgery without a scalpel”.

Rather than talking about the problem, which ingrains it more in the brain by reinforcing the same neurological patterns, an L.I. therapist will help the client move through a sequence of memories, the clients timeline of life, to remind the mind it is no longer in the “source Memory” and now has more resources available. Another key element of L.I. is its use of inner dialog to make corrective repairs.

Rather than spending years in talk therapy discussing a problem, and probably reinforcing it, L.I. can make real and lasting changes in just a handful of sessions, truly getting to the core of an issue and resolving the problem at its root.
When using the L.I. technique with clients in my practice, I notice major reductions in the presenting problem after only 4 or 5 sessions. Because little talking by the client is required with this technique, it can be especially useful for people who don’t typically enjoy the traditional talk therapy approach. Instead we focus on moving through the timeline sequence and using the mind’s eye (or imagination) to have an internal dialog with the younger ego state to resolve the emotional trigger or wound.

L.I. is especially useful in treating anxiety, depression, self-esteem and attachment issues.

With each new moment, we can choose to re-live our patterned way of being or tap into a new response, independent of our emotional baggage. In that light, we all have hope and the capability for renewal!

Jennifer LeMay, M.A., is a holistic psychotherapist in private practice in Tacoma. She is a Bastyr graduate with additional training in Lifespan Integration & hypnotherapy.
To learn more about her services visit www.inspiritcounseling.org, or call 253-970-3182.
Jennifer is also the founder of South Sound Healers Network, www.southsoundhealers.com.