A.R.T. FAQ’S
Holly Bridges’ Anxiety Reframe Technique (A.R.T.) is about helping people to make the most of their gifts.
Through gentle physical movements and a neurodivergent approach, we work to build people’s strengths and individual style, and help diminish some of the many co-occurring and debilitating issues people often struggle with like anxiety, depression, digestive issues, insomnia, self-regulation, anger issues.
Many of these things can be greatly alleviated when we take a more biophysical approach.
A.R.T. employs a range of modalities that are tailored to the individual. As we move through the program the exercises become progressively more sophisticated. The client becomes equipped to use the tools at home and we often train staff and families to assist with implementing them at home – keeping a careful eye on navigating away from a behavioural approach!
Like a martial art, clients work through stages, becomming more adept and proficient as they progress. It is not possible to gauge where any set of sessions will progress to, as each and every person is nuanced and has individual capacities and needs. While some progress rapidly through the program, others need more considered support. As it does not require articulation of emotional states and interoception, A.R.T. is suitable for a wide range of ages and stages of growth and development.
What is A.R.T.?
How is the A.R.T. approach different to other somatic practices?
A.R.T. is not asking people to tell us how they feel or use interoception to follow trains of feeling in the body. We do not override the individual and impose a process. It is a therapy based in co-design and the client is part of the decision making process at all times, yet the therapist is the guide.
The therapist does not ‘know best’, we are all learning to listen to the system and see what it needs on any given day. We are building relationships with the body, not fixing it, dominating it, nor making it pliable so it will do what we want. With A.R.T., we are learning to engage with the sentience of the body and people leave with the skills and knowledge to be able to engage the exercises for themselves.
Working with an appreciation of interoceptive competence, neurodivergence and neuroplasticity makes this a game changer. Teaching people how to listen to their body in a way that is applicable to them, learning how to recognise and respond to when the body has had enough; when to move forward, when to push through, are all aspects of the work that are designed to promote inner agency, vagal tone and inner strength.
With A.R.T., we are teaching the body how to move naturally into a more neutral state and teaching the individual to have mastery over this process.
What is A.R.T. Based Upon?
THE POLYVAGAL THEORY
The PVT is a working model of what can happen when the mind and body are aligned – and when disaligned.
When the person can both recognise and stay in a parasympathetic (relaxed, restful) state, this provides the mind/body with a chance to connect and become more robust.
Central to the polyvagal theory is the crucial role of the vagus nerve in helping people perceive, regulate and manage body sensations that are often debilitating.
The vagus nerve is the largest nerve in our body and runs from the brainstem down into all the major organs of the body.
It works to influence our social engagement system and helps us be connected (or disconnected) from our world.
INTEROCEPTION
By improving internal representations of the body and internal sensory perception, this can enhance proprioception (movement, spatial orientation); vestibular sensation (coordination, balance, spatial orientation); awareness of bodily processes, and thus promote feelings of wellbeing, confidence and safety.
With A.R.T., we don’t presume interoception, we help build the conditions to allow it to become accessible.
BRAIN PLASTICITY
Not only is the brain ‘plastic’, but the more the brain changes, the more it knows how to change. We can inspire the brain to want to grow and reimagine itself. Always appreciating that this works far faster when we remember brain is connected to the body and nervous system!
We can start to inspire brain fitness, in any brain, at any age, no matter what the previous narrative. There is always room for new growth, new states of safety.
All people have the capacity to build emotional resilience, grow and gain practical skills, at any age.
NNEURODIVERSITY
A.R.T. is informed by the autistic and neurodivergent mind of Holly Bridges. This is why A.R.T. works so well. We are nit fitting people into neat little boxes, we are not using force or compliance (however nicely!). We appreciate that all people are created equal and all should have access to the best versions of themselves. With A.R.T., we help bring your unique gifts to the world.
We always appreciate that there are many unseen gifts and abilities in those who cannot speak and who find it hard to move their body and to regulate. When we appreciate these truths, people feel seen and heard and they feel safe to connect with, and trust, the work.
SOMATICS AND BODY WORK
A.R.T. is based on a wide range of somatic (body) modalities that appreciate the ways that the body can get stuck in an immobilied state – such as feldenkrais, bioenergetics, and the work of Peter Levine and Bessel van Der Kolk.
Where A.R.T. differs is that it caters to people who have had early and existential shut-down, through autism, birth trauma, etc etc .. that make knowing how you feel, knowing what emotions you are feeling, and even being able to move your body – a challenge. A.R.T. does not rely on these foundational skills, but rather builds them.
In many ways, A.R.T. precedes these therapies. It is easily accessible for all people, especially early inertia states and early trauma. Having experienced this herself, Holly has a unique insight into shut-down states.
INTEGRAL THEORY
With an understanding of Ken Wilbur’s groundbreaking work on Integral Theory; A.R.T. acknowledges that you cannot have growth unless all aspects of the person are involved. While some therapies work with social theory, some with the mind, and some with the body – A.R.T. is bringing both the body, mind and soul into the practice.
In order for us to move past our glass ceilings of truth, our knowing of self, and our identification with our strengths and frailties; the A.R.T. therapist must be proficient in understanding and holding space for the reality of the whole person as they are – while holding space for the potential of the new. This promotes safety and moves us past limiting beliefs that may or may not be true. With A.R.T., some people begin moving, speaking, seeing, and articulating their wishes and needs in ways that defy expectations. While we do not have expectations of these happening, we allow for the possibility.
We can only do this when we work with the entirety of the person in front of us. Mind / Body / Soul.
CO-DESIGN
The A.R.T. therapist is a guide and a mentor. They support your growing skills and knowledge. All decisions, big or small are made with the client. That’s the best way to learn and gain agency.
PSYCHODYNAMICS AND DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY
A.R.T. is a uniique blend of psychology and somatics. With A.R.T., we are not simply mobilising the body, we are looking at the whole person and helping them integrate the changes in a timely, safe and considered manner. Understanding the individual dynamics of the client and their family, allows us to navigate the space with kindness and respect for all.