There is cumulative evidence that Yoga as an adjunct practice to psychotherapy can be beneficial for people who are living with the effects of trauma, specifically anxiety and depression, which are co-morbid with PTSD and trauma exposure. In the training I offer for mental health professionals my approach is somewhat unique in that I teach ways that yoga can be seamlessly incorporated by the therapist directly into client sessions and treatment protocol. I offer group training and one-on-one mentorship for mental health professionals who want to learn how these principles and tools of Yoga can support their clients.

My Methodology

My work is based on the principles of Pancha Maya Kosha model of Yoga philosophy that considers the 5 “layers” of humanity, the outer layers - body, energy (breath), and the inner layers - mind/emotions, wisdom, bliss (spiritual unity). This philosophical model suggest that each of these layers must be resilient in order for a person to reestablish equanimity after trauma.

As a mental health professional you are very aware of how to support clients’ mind/emotional layer and may work with clients on the deepest layers of wisdom and bliss. You are likely also aware of how challenging this task can be when a client’s is dysregulated. The link between a person’s mental/emotional state and their body systems is clear, if a person’s nervous system is dysregulated so too will their inner world be dysregulated. This supports Yoga’s viewpoint that it is critical for the initial layers - body and energy - to be resilient before a client can fully address the inner layers. A growing body of research is demonstrating that Yoga practices are unique in their ability to regulate a person’s nervous system. Yoga also has a great deal to offer with regards to the inner layers and establishing mind/emotions, wisdom and spirit (even when secular) as an embodied experience.

Integrating Yoga Practices Into Therapy

Within the context of a therapy session this is done using techniques that are accessible in any setting (you aren’t teaching a yoga class!) using embodied practices that focus on positive feelings and empowerment. The tools I teach include simple accessible postures, mudras, mantras, breathing, visualization/meditation, mindfulness, and intention setting.

Within the training and mentorship I offer, I teach concrete instructions on how to integrate these tools into a therapy session.

Currently my work is being integrated into Emotion-focused therapy for complex trauma (EFTT) (adults with histories of childhood maltreatment)- Paivio, Robinson, Pascual-Leone, in press; Yoga therapy as a complement to EFTT: Integrating body-based interventions, in S. Paivio & A. Pascual-Leone, Emotion-focused therapy for complex trauma (2nd ed.) New York: American Psychological Association.

I am participating in professional training for mental health professionals integrating yoga therapy into EFTT at York University Psychology Clinic (September, 2020) and upcoming EFTT training at German Institute for Emotion-focused Therapy, Munich Germany (October, 2021). I also run on-going Yoga for mental health and trauma informed training for Yoga professionals.

If you would like to find out more about the trainings I offer please send me an email iam@katlinrobinson.com

professionals training

Yoga Tools for Mental Health Professionals

My Methodology

Integrating Yoga Practices Into Therapy

Further Reading