EMBODY with Michelle Major

Welcome to Season 3 of EMBODY!

To celebrate the start of another season, Michelle, was joined by Deirdre Nicole Heggarty,  a Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, specialising in Play Therapy.   Prior to this, Deirdre, was a primary school teacher in Ireland and  Abu Dhabi.

The theme of our conversation is intergenerational trauma.  

It’s a powerful conversation about Deirdre’s adoption story as 3-month old baby; how her body held the trauma of this rupture; and how her body’s wisdom lead her to leave her teaching career and become a child-lead Psychotherapist. 

We chat about how Deirdre repaired her early ruptures and how her own lived experience helps her to support families in her private practice in Donegal. 

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

If you'd like to get in touch with Deirdre her website is www.unlockirl.ie

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

I am beyond excited to announce Season 3 of EMBODY!  We will kick off our next season on Monday 9th October with more fantastic professionals and interesting themes and topics.

Remember to subscribe so you don't miss the episodes when they launch!

I will be taking a little break from podcasting until then to rest and recharge.  

If you have any topics that you would like us to discuss, please drop me a line at [email protected]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for tuning in every week.  Your support is greatly appreciated.  

Looking forward to reconnecting on Monday 9th October!

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

In this weeks episode, Michelle, shares the harmful victim blaming that sadly still exists in our society surrounding domestic and sexual assault.  

Michelle shares:

• Statistics for numbers of reported crimes in the UK and Northern Ireland
• The barriers that exist in our criminal justice system
• The myths and victim blaming culture for those who've been subjected to assaults 
• What happens in our nervous system when we are assaulted 
• Why consent is much more than words 
• Why we need to continue having these hard conversations
• Why the blame, shame and responsibility needs to be firmly with the person who has committed the crime

If you've been affected by domestic or sexual assault, here are  some organisations that can help support you:

https://www.womensaidni.org - 0808 802 1414

https://rapecrisisni.org.uk - 0800 0246 991

https://nexusni.org - 0808 802 1414

https://www.victimfocus.com

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

In this weeks episode I am joined by the genuine and authentic, Eilish Craig.  Eilish is a Counsellor & Mental Health Facilitator who's world came crashing down around her after a cancer diagnoses at 41-years old.

In this open, raw and honest conversation, Eilish shares her experience of first being diagnosed, to being in recovery, and how much body shaming and toxic positivity she experienced at each stage of this really difficult journey.

We chat about;

• Shock and the nervous system
• The rational brain V's the survival brain
• Why safe touch could be a helpful resource when hearing difficult news 
• The importance of language 
• Compassionate approaches 
• Why the Law of Attraction is unhelpful and harmful
• Magical thinking and spiritual bypassing
• What makes us deeply human

If you need support on your cancer journey, you can contact https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ or for local support in Northern Ireland, please click here.

You can follow Eilish's cancer journey on her Instagram blog  - coffee_cancer_chemo

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

In this episode, Michelle, is joined by ocean expert, Hannos Windisch.  

Hannos is the founder of Free Dive Northern Ireland and is a Certified SSI Level Two Instructor.  Hannos received training by the Italian national record holder Linda Paganelli.  Hannos offers a variety of unique sea activities on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. 

During this fascinating conversations we discuss:

• How Hannos' love for the ocean began at an early age and how this has evolved over the years 
• Mindfulness in the ocean
• Surfing - why riding bigger waves developed his curiosity for breath work
• Sea swimming - the importance of being sea safe and educated not just about the benefits but the risks 
• A recent sea rescue involving 3 passengers of a boat that sank in choppy waters in Portstewart Bay
• Wim Hoff breathing V's nasal breathing 
• The benefits of nasal and belly breathing
• Relaxation in the ocean
• The preparation involved in Free Diving  
• The expansion of self in the ocean 

If you'd like to work with Hannos you can visit his website Free Dive Northern Ireland.

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

In this weeks episode, Michelle, explores the theme of consent, boundary rupture and repair.  

***TRIGGER WARNING***

Please note there are references to the types of boundary ruptures we might experience.  For example, sexual, domestic/emotional abuse, control, stalking, and harassment so please mind yourself and take breaks if you need to.  Michelle has been conscious about the choice of words so this has been kept to a minimum.  

During the conversation, Michelle shares:

• What is consent?
• The balance of power
• Why power is impactful 
• Nervous system responses 
• Moving from immobility to mobility 
• Why consent is important in the therapeutic relationship
• Cultural and societal impacts 
• Myths 
• Victim Blaming 
• Repairing our boundary ruptures
• Why nervous system work can help change the world 

If you have been impacted by any of the issues discussed in this week's podcast, you can contact Michelle directly - [email protected] to explore 1-2-1 support.

Resources

If you are in danger, please contact the PSNI on 999.

If you require support on leaving an abusive relationship, please contact Women's Aid
where you can received valuable information on safely leaving, help with housing, dealing with the police and more.

Rape Crisis - 0800 0246 991

Nexus (Domestic & Sexual Abuse Helpline) - 0808 802 1414

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

In this weeks episode, Michelle, talks about embracing cycles as we prepare to transition from the summer months to term time again.

Michelle shares:

• Why transitions take time and need space
• Why the rhythm and routine are supportive for our nervous system
• Term time is not just for our children 
• Why September feels like January
• September's offerings for personal and professional development 
• Resources 

Hope you enjoy!

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

In this episode, Michelle, shares 6 important questions for clients to ask potential professionals when seeking out emotional support.  Sadly there is a lot of misinformation and misrepresentation on social media which can cause confusion and misplaced credibility.

Here are the 6 key questions explored in this conversation:

1)  Are they a member of a Professional Body with an explicit code of conduct, ethics and a complaints procedure?  Are they accredited?
2)  Do they have regular supervision?
3)  Are they committed to their own personal therapy?
4)  Do they engage in CPD?
5)  Do they have peer support?
6)  What is their hourly rate?  Do they offer sliding scale?

Hope this was helpful!

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

On this week's episode, Michelle, shares the hope and optimism of how we can renegotiate trauma to live a more vibrant, whole and authentic life!

As always, please mind yourself whilst listening and take breaks or seek support if you feel triggered.

Michelle share's:

• The story of 'Nancy' - a client of Dr Peter Levine's back in 1969 who inspired further trauma research and shaped how we renegotiate trauma today
• Trauma in the wild
• Stress responses in the body
• Why incomplete fight and flight responses keeps us stuck and causes trauma
• The freeze response 
• Coming out of freeze 
• Starting to feel again
• Creating healthy boundaries 

Hope you enjoy this conversation!
   

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx

In this weeks episode I am joined by Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist and Play Therapist, Siobhan Wilson.  Siobhan is also the owner of Roe Valley Therapy Centre in Limavady and just so happens to be one of my closest friends!

Siobhan and I met back in 2005 during our Counselling Skills course in Limavady College.  We sat beside each other on the first week and we've been beside each other ever since, supporting each other through life’s big moments.  

When I began recording the introduction with Siobhan I got really emotional talking about our journey together over the last 18-years.  The tears flowed as I reflected on the trajectory of our personal and professional lives over almost two decades.  Whilst there has been so much change, growth, healing and evolution, the one constant has been our support and deep respect for one another.  I am so grateful.    

When the tears settled, we then experienced another big release through lots of uncontrollable belly laughter!  The tears were tripping us but in a different way!  Finally, with the help and support of some of Siobhan’s sensory balls and through co-regulation, we were able to feel grounded enough to start recording the podcast.  And just as I expected, it flowed beautifully.

During our warm and insightful conversation about the healing powers of play, we discuss:

• The therapeutic process
• How children express their stored stressors and trauma through play
• The role of the parent 
• The therapeutic use of self
• Befriending our nervous system system
• Co-regulation 
• Attunement 
• Rupture and repair  

If you'd like to work with Siobhan, you can contact her on:

www.thecreativepsychotherapist.com or www.roevalleytherapycentre.com 

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

Follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

If you'd like to explore how my Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy can support you, please get in touch to book a free consultation.

Registration has now opened for our trauma-informed Certified Laughter Yoga Leader training in March. Click here to learn more and register.

Warmly,

Michelle xx