Any pain, problem, or ailment we have exists because a cell has been impacted or altered. Just as a prism separates light, PRISM practitioners are trained to differentiate and “see” the various structures and systems of the body. Our C.E.L.L. Approach has become a staple of the PRISM therapeutic model for addressing mind, body, and soul.

Connect

At the core of all healing work exists a need for nervous systems to feel safe. Lymphatics, craniosacral, and visceral care heighten this need. They are our most intrinsic structures. Accessing them requires a bodyworker familiar with the intricacies and different expressions of nervous system activation (sympathetic and parasympathetic responses). Tissues begin to soften when approached with empathy, neutrality, curiosity, and skill. Trust is established and the connection to both practitioner and self is formed.

Excavate

Next, we begin unearthing. Sometimes it looks big and deep, think bulldozing and jackhammers. And other times it takes a much gentler touch—paintbrushes and dinosaur fossils. A skilled and present therapist will know which approach to take as we begin to ask your nervous system how it wants to be nurtured and challenged.

Listen

The layers we engage as we excavate often tell a story, so we listen. A bodyworker’s fingers are just tiny flashlights, trained to find and follow fluids and fibers. We don’t “fix.” We get quiet, we notice the narrative of each structure and system. The spectrum of care based on that narrative and the client’s physical symptoms varies widely, so PRISM therapists are trained extensively. This includes training in trauma-informed touch. Deeper levels of listening often stir deeper waters. The connection and trust established in invitational excavation help lay a solid foundation for this kind of tectonic nervous system recalibration.

Learn

What did we hear when we listened? What images and questions bubbled to the surface as we tracked the cellular stories, the pain, the relief? How can we integrate that imagery and wisdom? The study of epigenetics offers sound science to support the impact of stress, story, and situation on our physical state and gene expression. How can we shift the prism so something new comes into the light? Emotions and sensations are often hard to navigate; learning how to sense and name them all, with the body as our guide, is at the foundation of any healing journey. A story that allows for good and hard to coexist simultaneously is a powerful one! Clients often leave sessions with self-care tips, homework, and a sense of playful empowerment. Empowerment that fuels the joy, gratitude, and wonder characteristic of recovery!

PRISM’s 4-session protocol 

While every session incorporates each aspect of the approach (Connect, Excavate, Listen, Learn), C.E.L.L. also serves as the scaffold for PRISM’s 4-session protocol. Session 1 is all about that connection, establishing trust and safety between therapist and client. This is accomplished by a thorough intake and invitational, consented touch. Session two takes things a little deeper. As we begin to excavate we will unearth structures that are usually ignored in traditional massage and bodywork—we’re not just rubbing muscles anymore. We’re seeing cells and stories at every layer and level!

Thorough fascial unwinding and movement-based techniques characterize session 3. Solid therapeutic relationships established in sessions one and two lay a beautiful foundation for this third listening phase. Fascia is our largest sensory organ. Listening to such a diffuse, responsive structure can result in deep emotional releases. By session 4 the systems and stories have been seen enough to give client and therapist a starting point for a continued care plan. Homework and self-care are discussed at nearly every session along the way, making this is a great time to ask questions and review ways for clients to help support their own regulation and recovery. 

We suggest scheduling your four sessions weekly, upfront. This both allows for therapists to track and chart most effectively while supporting the most impactful change for the client. By the end of the month clients leave feeling empowered, grateful, and excited to continue on their journey toward restoration and truer cellular expression!