Sensory Ladders are not linear – people can jump about – and no one person is the same. This is why we need to work with clients to understand each person’s unique presentation – and as you work changing presentations and ways of ‘being’ and moving/shifting between different self-states.
It’s always important to refer to what we know from science to inform practice – this is the science and art of practice. Sleep and lower alertness like when snuggled on sofa a bit comfy and safe very relaxed’ nearly sleepy is not the same as disassociation and shut off self-states in times of stress; like when overwhelmed or triggered.
Being over alert when “psyched up” to play rugby to win with lots of adrenaline is a positive flight and fight, similar but different to similar fight and flight triggered by the smell of the abuser.
The brain is not a simple machine – it is a complex organ influenced by complex interactions between different centres, altered and influenced by neuro-chemicals and hormones, and can be affected and altered by sensory input, cognitive thoughts and even illness.
InspirationPeople may jump between states, miss rungs on the ladder, not even have them on their ladder – one young man only had 2 states when we met. Another client, a young woman with EUPD and trauma had only only sleep, under and shutdown.
That’s why each ladder is created and made separately as we explore the person’s own unique presentation. Sometimes we make step ladders and step stools. People can come out of immobilisation via sleep at the bottom too – or go from under to shutdown having no calm and alert.
I am hopefully making this clearer here than in some of my presentations. Think about the clothes peg on the lolly-stick ladder – that can be moved up and down without going through other states.
While some colleagues have made thermometers and sliders, I generally don’t – I try to deter colleagues and clients from making them for this reason whenever possible.
You can be at the exploding volcanoes and quickly change to bobbing in a boat in the calm bay.Volcanoes can rumble and grumble for hours and then suddenly be explode – with steam and air and then immediately the island get peaceful again – another young person’s ladder.
We also do animals – and ask what animal are you now?
This is also why we sometimes keep the diary sheet too – to track the changes.
And if we make them on paper, we sometimes fold it up to show people missing spaces like calm and alert waking from sleep into over alert or even shutdown.
This is why ladders are created unique and individual and grow and change with clients as they develop.
The initial time personalising the person’s ladder is important. Do forget going up and down a ladder can be climbed missing rungs, sliding down, jumping off.