Mind the Gap: Moving From Brain to Body | Dr. Andy Harkin | TEDxBunbury

The importance of reclaiming a sense of health, and a sense of belonging in the body as a birthright .

For a not inconsiderable portion of the last 30 years Andy has been a student of the body – initially Medical School studies and working as a Doctor, then years of training as a body centred psychotherapist. In the latter regard he specialised in working with people suffering from the legacy of psychological and emotional trauma principally within a method known as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.

Sometimes this work was helping patients restore a sense of stability inside were none or little existed. Other times this meant helping folk release held trauma from the body. For the last decade Andy has taught this work to Mental Health professionals in North America, throughout Europe and in Australia.

Andy lives in Bunbury, Western Australia where he runs his own private practice.

[kenbenau]

Andy, your simple truths and quiet wisdom emanate gently out from your body ;). A few of my favorites: "Wellness is not the absence of illness". And, with respect to an indigenous person's walking, "The dominant quality of their movement is stillness"... And again, "Here I stand... I belong here". Lovely. I would add, as a body-informed psychotherapist, helping patients attend to their somatic experience of "wellness" (it often shows up as quiet joy), to notice it, describe it-- not uncommonly in poetic language, in images, in texture, in sound, etc.-- brings this wellness alive and, in my experience, provides for these patients what I like to call a "home base" within their own bodies, always there to return to once they've (re)discovered it This is particularly important in our work with trauma survivors, as you allude to, Andy. As with walking, "Here I am... I belong here (with my self, and my/our shared world)".

Thank you for this talk, Andy.

[thisiswater]

I have arrived, I am home. This has resonated with me on many levels, something I have felt and experienced before. I have struggled with the speed of urban life, particularly in the work environment where you're often expected to be accessible nearly all the time, which has always felt too quick for me. As a result I started to experience some episodes of anxiety. I still struggle with how to approach the work sphere while caring my wellness, which needs a much slower pace of life, even though I have a mindfulness and meditation practice. Your talk has made me think of days when I used to dance and how healing it was for me, without intellectualizing it at the time. Thank you for your wonderful talk and reminder. With smiles.

[theresakozar]

Heartfelt thanks for Dr Andy’s talk. It has finally brought me to feel the words he said at the end, “ Here I stand. On this Earth. I have arrived. I am home!” Forever Grateful.

[phyllishunt]

Andy great to see you, to hear you, hope this is the beginning of many more talks. It is such a lovely reminder of the simplicity yet the magnificence of our own direct experience, a felt sense of self, yes, yes, yes. What you address here is what makes life meaningful and body centered therapy unique. Please do some more. We all miss you here. Phyllis. (The West of Ireland is bursting with Nature at the moment and a few drops of rain.) xx

[janethills]

I last saw you in Lincoln, England, several years ago - so good to hear you again,  speaking so simply but compellingly of things that matter. thank you.

[rubypeterson]

Thank you very much Dr. Andy Harkin! You haves said it so beautifully, eloquently, succinctly and deeply movingly. You have helped me offer a way to describe to my loved ones how this work connects to our wellness, but also our teachings of Natural Law - connection to mother earth. Moved me.

[deirdrefay]

Great to see you, Andy, and to hear your wisdom of the simple wisdom of being connected, moment-to-moment in our bodies.

[TheCelestialhealer]

Very moving, very interesting. A bit hard for me to follow, but still my body resonating with his words. He really knows what he is talking about. Thank you.

[andysluckin]

Lovely to see and hear you again; a beautiful talk, really helpful also for introducing my clinical psychology trainees to body psychotherapy. Thanks

[pikkuoo]

I had tears in my eyes in the end. Beautiful!

[peterkeenan]

Hi Andy.. remembering Eden Park in Glasthule days... ! Elaine Fitz

[markgrant]

This message comes from someone who knows - Andy lives what he teaches and teaches what he lives and oh yeah - he’s quite smart

[tonyowens]

Andy inspirational, hope you are well, I'm in Donegal.
Where are you I have the beginnings of some mindful first processing that leverages the science in Complexity theory and makes internal self referencing part of the dynamic metrics which are scientifically sound and flow from the local data/body/feelings/mind.

[tonyowens]

s/r 'Self Reported' locally body/feelings/mind

[YOYO-ewmp]

I'm sure its very interesting but its boring to listen too :/

[usapartner]

really hard to follow and hard to understand his words. as an American, he was difficult to understand and spoke too softly. at times he did not seem to enunciate his words. it got better as he went along. he raised his volume and got more animated.