10. Finding Common Threads Across the Globe




Mind Your Body show

Summary: <p>Amber Gray talks about body-centered approaches to her global humanitarian work, describes physical aspects of trauma memory, and advises that stronger body awareness can enhance our capacity to respond to fears induced by the current refugee crisis and political climate.</p> <p>Amber is a pioneer in the use of Dance Movement Therapy with survivors of trauma, particularly torture, war and human rights abuses. Amber’s expertise is represented in many published articles and chapters, keynote addresses, professional collaborations and presentations around the world. Amber has provided clinical training on the integration of refugee mental health, torture treatment and creative arts, mindfulness,  and body-based therapies with survivors and refugees  to more than 30 programs worldwide since the late 1990’s.  She originated a resiliency-based framework and clinical approach (Restorative Movement Psychotherapy) for mind-heart-spirit, somatic, movement and arts-based therapies with survivors of trauma in cross cultural, low resource contexts, and she has two upcoming book chapters, one co-authored with Dr. Stephen Porges, on <em>polyvagal informed dance movement therapy</em> based on her collaborations with Dr. Porges, and the wisdom of whole body, moving  intelligence.</p>