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JAX ENERGETICS:  The Crucial Need for Trauma-Informed Healing and Energy Work.

In my first ever breathwork session, I experienced something unexpected. I was transported back in time to the place where my brother had died. Bear in mind, I was still heavily traumatised and living in fear at this time in my life. Up to that point, all the help I had received was medication, essentially suppression without any experience in energy work. So, when I revisited this memory, my body reacted intensely. It came alive with all the pain, and I started shaking quite violently. My head was shaking, I began sweating, and it felt like daggers were being pulled from my heart. At this point, two facilitators pinned my body down and asked me to be quiet as I was disrupting the class. I left horrified that I had so much pain in my body, confused why breathing brought it up, and re-traumatised with the energy now very much alive in my body after being shut down. I was more dysregulated than when I went in.

The first time I experienced an energy transmission, I was told that when I could see violent flashbacks of my brother's passing and me violently hurting all those that were in my way, that the energy was magical and I should trust it. I also left feeling very confused, angry, and re-traumatised.

I worked with a client who had remembered the sexual abuse from when he was 6 years old by his father. His previous somatic therapist had told him that it was his karma and in his soul contract. He fell into a deep depression shortly after, believing it was all his fault.

One day, a woman came to me with an incredibly profound and sensitive experience. She had recently given metaphysical birth to the remnants of her child she had lost through a miscarriage. This was not just a physical experience but a deep energetic clearing within her womb, and something extraordinary happened. The spirit of her unborn child came to her with a powerful message of hope. While there may not be conclusive scientific explanations for such occurrences, the impact on this woman's life was undeniable. She reached out to her energy worker for guidance and validation. However, to her dismay, the energy worker dismissed her experience, attributing it to being "all in her head." This response deeply affected the woman, leaving her in a state of confusion and self-doubt. She found herself having to invest significant time and effort in regaining trust in her own experiences, in her connection with her womb, and in the profound message delivered by the spirit of her baby.

This story underscores the paramount importance of being trauma-informed in the field of healing and energy work. It's not enough to merely explore the depths of metaphysical experiences; we must also possess the knowledge and sensitivity to hold space for individuals who carry trauma within them. The point I am trying to make here is that many people in such an unregulated field want to move into these roles of helping people, supporting them, and perhaps playing a role in raising the vibration of the collective. However, one huge point that we are missing is the importance of being trauma-informed.

We need to know how to hold a safe space for people when they come in with their horrific experiences in life. We are opening the door for many people and their pain to come into this space, and many fail to see the importance of not only embodying the energy themselves so they gain the attributes of the energy as well as becoming a clear conduit of it but also knowledge and understanding of trauma symptoms, effects, the autonomic nervous system, PTSD, CPTSD, nervous system regulation, creating safety in the body, energy anatomy, trauma and memory, trauma cycle completion, trauma responses, resolution of trauma – all of these things are what can make any energy worker grounded and safe, knowing how to create safe physical and emotional environments for clients where they can create and sustain opportunities for choice, power and control whilst reducing the possibility of re-traumatisation.

In a world where anyone can attend a 2-3 day workshop in breathwork, energy healing, or similar practices, the crucial question arises: What kind of space are you creating and inviting for others in this case? When someone is reliving their most sacred pain in front of you, do you know how to hold that space for them? This question lies at the heart of our responsibility as healers and energy workers. It's not enough to simply explore the realms of energy and metaphysical experiences; we must also be deeply informed about trauma and its profound effects on individuals.

Because this work, when in the wrong hands, has the power to deeply re-traumatise someone, being trauma-informed is about more than theoretical knowledge; it's about embodying compassion, sensitivity, and understanding. It means having a profound awareness of trauma symptoms, the intricacies of the autonomic nervous system, the complexities of PTSD and CPTSD, and the crucial aspects of nervous system regulation. Creating safety in the body and understanding energy anatomy are foundational.

Trauma can originate from acute stress triggered by a perceived life-threatening situation or emerge gradually due to the cumulative effects of stress. Regardless of its origins, trauma can significantly disrupt an individual's capacity to function with resilience and well-being. Trauma can stem from diverse stressors, including accidents, invasive medical treatments, instances of sexual or physical assault, emotional abuse, neglect, exposure to war, natural disasters, experiences of loss, birth-related trauma, or the corrosive impact of sustained fear and conflict.

In the realm of energy healing, it is imperative that practitioners possess a profound understanding of trauma and its intricate manifestations. For individuals seeking support through their traumas and experiences, it becomes imperative to seek out a healer or energy worker who can provide trauma-informed space holding. On the other hand, if you are a space holder and recognise the need for enhancing your ability to provide more comprehensive support, consider furthering your expertise and studies in trauma-informed practices. And for those already well-versed in both trauma-informed approaches and space holding, kudos to you for making impactful strides in the realm of energetic support.