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As
published in Interface for Zero Balancing - Spring 1991 - Volume 2, Issue
1
By
Donna C. Cerio I
have been working with children for almost eight years,
and have been using Zero Balancing for the last four
years. This developing area of my practice is
fascinating for me and the children and parents
involved. I feel my work with children, still in a stage
of germination, is a direct result of my own healing
over the last fifteen years. Many
of my young clients, ranging from newborn to eight
years, have suffered severe traumas such as sexual
abuse, multi-surgical procedures, serious accidents, or
drug addictive births. They all have a thread of
commonality, however, which includes fear, damaged
self-esteem and confusion about touch. Symptoms that I
often see are insomnia, appetite abnormalities,
digestive problems, constipation, headaches, blurred
vision and anger. As
Zero Balancers we know that imprints from severe traumas
go deep into the body. ZB is the only work I have found
that addresses the energetic imprints that lay within
the most dense tissues of the body- the bone. I believe
that if these imprints are not lifted from the body they
become like an insidious poison which eventually
permeates the child's development at all levels -
emotional, physical, mental and spiritual. I
have noticed that some children have even "left
their body" (or parts of it) in order to survive
emotional trauma, and during Zero Balancing often find
themselves occupying the absent part of their body for
the first time since a traumatic experience. Zero
Balancing serves to give back to the child a clean,
clear foundation as it assists in the healthy
development of a child's boundaries, a normal process
that was interrupted by trauma. "Donkey
Touch" is important for modeling a respectful and
safe way to connect with an adult. This modeling is
essential in the healing process for children since
trauma has often left a cellular imprint that blocks
their ability to give or receive any warm, trusting,
essential touch. Often
I do not even touch a child physically in the first
couple of sessions. The quality of touch they have had
throughout their lives has often been uncomfortable and
not by choice. I have learned that it is important that
the child wants me to touch them; and for them to
learn that as individuals they do have a choice, and
that this touch will be different. My
office is set up in a fun and comfortable way. It is
warm, the sheets are of a children's design, there are
healthy snacks available, children's music is playing on
a cassette deck, and there are a variety of toys to play
with. The parent is in the room and usually involved in
some way. All of this helps to create a positive
atmosphere and a feeling of comfort for the child. I
never touch a child without letting them know I am about
to do so. I watch signals very carefully to be sure they
are receiving the work well, which means I do not
require the child to sit still. I make the session dance
with the child's movement. Sometimes
the parent is the biggest challenge I face because
parents often have expectations about how their child
"should" act. I do my best to instruct them
ahead of time to allow the child freedom in movement and
, ultimately, the parent sees that no matter what the
child does in session he or she is unconditionally
accepted. I
am deeply committed to bringing alternative work and
Zero Balancing to children. I find it is truly a
challenge that I welcome and I am quite grateful for the
opportunity. |
