Integrative psychology brings together key emerging knowledge from neuroscience and ancient wisdoms within a solid basis of traditional and contemporary psychotherapy. For example, Porges polyvagal theory informs our use of ancient healing methods. To heal trauma, it is necessary to guide people gently out of dorsal vagal shutdown (dissociation, helplessness), and through sympathetic arousal (fight/flight). To do that safely, we need to activate and strengthen the ventral vagal nervous system. That system is the basis of connection, attachment and relationship, with other people, with self, and with the divine. There are many ways to do this; among them are ancient wisdoms of tribal community. For example, we know now that the heartbeat plays a role in human attachment, and it is available to us in bilateral stimulation in EMDR and in the drum, the heartbeat of the people. It is the first sound we hear as infants.
