Research Assoc. Professor, University of Washington
Director, Center for Mindful Body Awareness http://www.cmbaware.org/.
My research on Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) is designed to teach interoceptive awareness (awareness of physical and emotional sensations in the body) and related skills for self-care and emotion regulation. This approach combines psychoeducation and emotional processing, touch, and mindfulness training. Almost all of my research on MABT has been with individuals with a history of interpersonal trauma including women in recovery from childhood sexual abuse, female veterans with PTSD and comorbid chronic pain, individuals living with HIV, and women in treatment for chemical dependency. Research findings highlight the safety and acceptability of MABT, the feasibility to implement MABT in community clinical settings, and improved health outcomes among those who receive MABT compared to those who do not. Primary health benefits include reduced symptoms of depression, dissociation, stress and pain; and increased emotion regulation, interoceptive awareness and mindfulness skills. Findings from research also show that MABT is experienced as an empowering approach that facilitates mind-body awareness and promotes use of new body awareness strategies that are incorporated into daily life for self-care.
I have been funded by NIH and I serve on the Advisory Council of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at NIH. The majority of my research and clinical publications can be accessed through the Center for Mindful Body Awareness website (see tab titled “Research” that has links to most publications): http://www.cmbaware.org/. This Center was established to disseminate MABT through teaching and by program development in collaboration with clinics and treatment centers. The website lists MABT training opportunities – offered locally (in Seattle) and through an intensive to be held in April 2018 through the UCSD Mindfulness Professional Training Institute http://mbpti.org/programs/other-professional-programs/mabt-mindful-awareness-body-oriented-therapy/.
