Breaking Free from Stuck Patterns

Two Kinds of Lack: Normal vs. Trauma-Based

Feeling like something’s missing is normal. But when that feeling never goes away, it becomes trauma. Here’s the difference:

1. Normal Lack: You feel a need, you take action, you find relief—then the cycle repeats.

2. Trauma-Based Lack: The cycle gets stuck. No matter what you do, you still feel like something is missing.

How Trauma-Based Lack Affects Us

When we can’t process our emotions properly, our brains find ways to compensate. For example:

• A child is told “boys don’t cry.” He learns to suppress sadness and instead seeks comfort through distractions like work, sex, or addiction.

• A person experiences a bad breakup and, instead of dealing with heartbreak, avoids relationships altogether.

These coping mechanisms offer temporary relief but don’t actually resolve the underlying issue. Over time, they reinforce feelings of emptiness and disconnection.

How to Start Healing

Healing begins with recognizing when we’re stuck in trauma-based lack. Some steps to break free include:

• Practicing mindfulness to reconnect with emotions.

• Seeking therapy to process unresolved feelings.

• Engaging in body-based practices like yoga or breathwork to reset the nervous system (Levine, 2010).

By understanding the difference between normal and trauma-based lack, we can start making choices that help us feel truly whole again.

References

• Levine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness.

• Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions.

When Feeling Stuck Becomes Trauma

When Does Feeling Off Become Trauma?

We all feel like something’s missing sometimes, but what happens when that feeling doesn’t go away? This is when lack turns into trauma. Trauma isn’t just about big life events like accidents or loss—it’s about our nervous system getting stuck in survival mode (Levine, 2010).

The Body’s Stress Cycle

Normally, when we face something stressful, our brain and body go through a process:

1. We notice something new (a sound, a situation).

2. We check if it’s safe.

3. If it’s fine, we move on.

4. If it’s a threat, we react (fight, flight, or freeze).

5. Once the threat is gone, we relax and return to normal.

But if this process gets interrupted—like in a traumatic event—the nervous system doesn’t fully reset. This leaves us stuck in a state of stress, even when the danger is gone (Levine, 2010).

How Trauma Hijacks Our Emotions

When we can’t resolve a stressful experience, our brain starts using coping mechanisms to distract us from discomfort. Instead of dealing with the real issue, we might:

• Overwork to avoid feeling empty.

• Use social media, alcohol, or food to numb emotions.

• Stay constantly busy so we don’t have time to think about our pain.

Over time, these patterns become habits. They don’t fix the issue—they just keep us from facing it.

References

• Levine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness.

Lack and Mental Health: Why We Always Feel Like Something is Missing

Why We Always Feel Like Something is Missing

Ever felt like something is always just out of reach? That no matter what you do, you still feel a little off? According to neuropsychoanalysis, this feeling isn’t a flaw—it’s actually how our brains are wired (Solms, 2021). The good news? Understanding this can help us work with it instead of fighting it.

Lack is Normal (Seriously, Everyone Feels It)

Our brains are built to keep us balanced, but life is always shifting. Think of it like a thermostat constantly adjusting to keep the room at a comfortable temperature. Just like that, our emotions let us know when we’re “off.” Feeling lonely? That’s your brain signaling that you need connection. Tired? Your body is telling you to rest. Instead of seeing these feelings as problems, we can view them as helpful signals guiding us toward balance (Solms, 2021).

Lack Makes Us Grow

If we never felt like we were missing something, we’d never move forward. The brain’s SEEKING system, discovered by Jaak Panksepp (1998), is what pushes us to explore, learn, and take action. Ever notice that chasing a goal often feels better than actually achieving it? That’s because our brains are wired to enjoy the pursuit, not just the finish line. This explains why we’re always looking for the next big thing—whether it’s a job, relationship, or new adventure.

The Cycle of Lack

Lack isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a loop that keeps us engaged with life. Here’s how it works:

• You feel a need (hunger, loneliness, boredom).

• You do something to fix it (eat, connect, find entertainment).

• You feel better—for a while.

• The need comes back.

This cycle isn’t about failure—it’s just how life works. Walter Brueggemann (1984) describes a similar pattern in the Psalms: orientation (things are good), disorientation (struggle), and reorientation (finding balance again). Understanding this helps us accept that we’re not broken—we’re just human.

References

• Brueggemann, W. (1984). The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary.

• Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions.

• Solms, M. (2021). The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness.

Chronically anxious but don’t know why?

Our nervous system constantly, and unconsciously, scans for potential threats through an intricate process, Dr. Stephen Porges calls Neuroception. When something is detected it begins another unconscious process called, the Threat Response Cycle. This fundamental mechanism shapes how we interact with our environment and respond to new experiences, operating anywhere from milliseconds to extended periods.

The Threat Response Cycle begins when we encounter something novel in our environment—whether through our senses or information we receive (e.g. a sound or a. Our attention naturally orients toward this new stimulus, leading to a critical assessment phase. During assessment, our system evaluates whether the stimulus represents a threat. If deemed safe, we return to a relaxed state. However, if identified as threatening, our body prepares for an appropriate response: fight, flight, or freeze.

A complete cycle concludes when we can execute our chosen response until the threat subsides, allowing us to return to our baseline state. However, complications arise when we cannot complete this cycle, particularly during the assessment phase.

Assessment disruption often occurs when we encounter situations where our natural threat response conflicts with other survival needs. Consider a child who perceives their parent as threatening but depends on them for survival, or a professional facing workplace harassment while fearing job loss. Similarly, those conditioned to suppress emotions like anger or fear may struggle to recognize these as valid threat responses.

This incomplete assessment creates a paradoxical situation: we must simultaneously acknowledge and ignore a threat. The resulting internal conflict can manifest as:

* Persistent anxiety without an apparent cause, as our system remains stuck in assessment mode without reaching resolution

* Emotional disconnection or avoidance behaviors, serving as unconscious protection mechanisms

* Difficulty adapting to new situations, as our threat response system remains partially engaged

Understanding this cycle helps explain why certain situations feel paralyzing despite no obvious danger. By recognizing these patterns, we can begin addressing the underlying disruptions in our threat response system and work toward more adaptive responses.

The Power of Play: How the PLAY System Supports Mental Health and Connection

Discover the Science Behind Play and Its Role in Emotional Well-Being

At Analog Counseling, we believe in integrating the latest affective neuroscience insights to help our clients lead healthier, more connected lives. One of the most fascinating discoveries in this field is the PLAY system, identified by renowned affective neuroscientist Dr. Jaak Panksepp.

The PLAY system is one of seven core emotional systems in the brain, deeply rooted in our biology. It produces feelings of social joy, encourages creativity, and drives connection. But the benefits of play go far beyond fun—they’re vital for mental health, resilience, and survival.

What Is the PLAY System?

The PLAY system originates in the brainstem, where it creates the neurochemical experiences that drive primary emotions. These emotions form the foundation of our consciousness, helping us process the world even before we think about it.

The primary function of the PLAY system is contingency seeking—our natural instinct to explore, try new things, and adapt to challenges. This playful curiosity enhances problem-solving and fosters social joy, an emotion that signals health and well-being to the mind and body.

Play also strengthens our connections with others, serving as a building block for social bonds. Research even suggests that play may have contributed to the development of language, a core element of human interaction.

Why Fear Blocks Play

Despite its benefits, play becomes impossible in the presence of high levels of fear or anxiety. When fear takes over, the brain perceives risks as real and immediate, preventing us from imagining possibilities or experimenting with new ideas.

This rigid mindset can trap us, much like wet concrete hardening into an unchangeable form. Without the flexibility to “play” with possibilities, our creativity, joy, and connection suffer.

The Role of Play in Mental Health

Understanding the PLAY system reveals how essential play is for mental health and personal growth. Play isn’t just for kids—it’s a biological necessity for adults too. It supports emotional resilience, strengthens social connections, and promotes creative thinking.

At Analog Counseling, we incorporate playful and exploratory techniques into therapies like Somatic Experiencing, psychoanalysis, and Enneagram coaching. By reconnecting with your capacity for play, you can reduce stress, overcome fear, and rediscover joy.

How to Bring Play Back Into Your Life

If fear or stress is blocking your ability to play, consider incorporating activities that spark curiosity, laughter, or creativity. Try:

    •    Physical movement like dancing or yoga.

    •    Creative activities like drawing, journaling, or playing music.

    •    Social activities that involve humor or light-hearted interaction.

Therapy can also be a powerful way to overcome emotional barriers to play. With professional support, you can create a safe space to explore possibilities, heal from past trauma, and rediscover your innate capacity for joy.

Start Your Journey to Joy and Connection

At Analog Counseling in Kansas City, we specialize in therapies that restore balance and foster well-being. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, stress, or disconnection, our team can help you reconnect with the transformative power of play.

Contact us today to learn more about our services, including Somatic Experiencing, psychoanalysis, and online Enneagram coaching. Together, we can help you rediscover the joy, creativity, and resilience that come from embracing play.

Sources and Further Reading for Mental Health and Play

    •    Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Oxford University Press.

    •    Panksepp, J., & Biven, L. (2012). The Archaeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotions. W.W. Norton & Company.

    •    Cozolino, L. (2014). The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain. W.W. Norton & Company.

Understanding Trauma Response in Psychotherapy: A Professional Guide

Trauma responses often underlie many reasons clients seek therapy. These manifest as bio-psychological markers indicating perceived personal threat: heightened anxiety, panic attacks, self-protective behaviors, and depression—even when no immediate threat exists.

The Challenge of Trauma Response

The complexity lies in how trauma responses convince individuals that non-threatening situations are dangerous. While these responses feel adaptive, they often lead to:

• Relationship deterioration

• Persistent depression and anxiety

• Career instability

• Loss of motivation

• General confusion and distress

Beyond Symptom Management

Many clients initially seek tools to manage symptoms—the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that accompany their suffering. However, addressing these surface-level manifestations alone won't resolve the underlying body-mind trauma response.

Types of Trauma and Treatment Approaches

Treatment strategies vary depending on the trauma type:

Attachment and Developmental Trauma

These deeply embed within personality structures, affecting how individuals view themselves and others. Responses become automatic and habitual, influencing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Shock and Event-Related Trauma

This typically manifests as environmental triggers connected to specific events. While it can become personalized, shock trauma often responds more readily to treatment when not deeply embedded in personality.

Need help understanding your trauma response? Contact us for a free 15-minute consultation at 913-294-769.

Understanding Your Body's Emotional Language

Did you know your body might be feeling emotions before your mind knows about them? Groundbreaking research in affective neuroscience by Dr. Jaak Panksepp shows we have seven basic emotional systems that can operate below our conscious awareness, especially when impacted by trauma.

Your body tells the story through various signals:

• Your heart rate and blood pressure might spike during FEAR or RAGE

• Your breathing pattern could shift during PANIC/GRIEF

• Your muscle tension might increase during RAGE

• Your skin conductance could change during SEEKING

• Your body temperature might shift during CARE or LUST

• Your movement patterns could indicate PLAY

When trauma impacts our ability to recognize emotions, these physical signals become even more important. They're like your body's emotional morse code, sending messages about feelings you might not consciously recognize. This is valuable because core emotions tell you how to adapt to life in order to best survive and grow.

New wearable technology is making it possible to track these bodily signals, potentially helping us reconnect with emotions we've learned to suppress. While this technology is still developing, it offers exciting possibilities for understanding our deeper emotional experiences.

Remember: Your body always knows. Learning to listen to these physical signals can be a powerful part of healing.

References:

Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions

Panksepp, J., & Biven, L. (2012). The Archaeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotions

Living with Two Minds: Why Understanding Your Brain Changes Everything

Have you ever done something and then wondered, "Why did I do that?" The answer might lie in understanding how our brain works - specifically, how its two distinct sides process our world differently.

The challenge of understanding our unconscious mind is a lot like trying to explain why you love the smell of rain or why certain songs make you cry. These experiences are real and powerful, but hard to put into words. This difficulty makes more sense when we look at the groundbreaking work of psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist, author of "The Master and His Emissary" and "The Matter with Things."

Think of your brain as having two different ways of experiencing life. The right side is like being in the middle of a concert - you're feeling the music, moving with the crowd, and experiencing everything all at once. It's where we process our gut feelings, bodily sensations, and deep emotional connections. It's also where we store our life story and most meaningful experiences.

The left side is more like watching a recording of the concert and analyzing it. It breaks things down, categorizes them, and tries to explain everything logically. When it doesn't have all the information, it fills in the blanks with what seems most reasonable - even if that's not actually what happened.

So what does this mean for daily life? When you find yourself making quick judgments, jumping to conclusions, or struggling to explain your feelings, remember that you're working with two different processing systems. The key is learning to listen to both:

• Before making important decisions, pause to notice both your logical thoughts AND your gut feelings

• When trying to understand your reactions, look beyond the obvious explanations

• Practice activities that engage both sides: journaling combines emotional expression with analytical thinking

• In relationships, value both clear communication and emotional understanding

Understanding this two-brained nature helps us make better decisions, form deeper relationships, and live more integrated lives. It's not about choosing logic over feeling or vice versa - it's about embracing both as essential parts of who we are.

References:

McGilchrist, I. (2009). The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World. Yale University Press.

McGilchrist, I. (2021). The Matter with Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World. Perspectiva Press.

Beyond the Transaction: Reimagining Therapy in Modern America

In our fast-paced American society, where everything seems to have a price tag and a measurable outcome, therapy often finds itself awkwardly squeezed into existing frameworks that don't quite fit. As we explore this disconnect at Analog, we've noticed how our cultural imagination around therapy has become increasingly shaped by consumer expectations and medical metrics.

The Problem with Current Models

The medical model of therapy, while valuable in some contexts, often reduces the human experience to a series of symptoms and diagnoses. This approach, as noted by Jonathan Shedler (2010) in his influential paper on psychodynamic therapy, can miss the deeper, more nuanced aspects of human suffering and healing. When therapy is viewed primarily through a medical lens, it risks becoming what Mary Pipher (2003) calls "McDonald's therapy" – standardized, quick, and stripped of its essential relational elements.

Similarly, when therapy is forced into a corporate framework, it risks prioritizing profitability over therapeutic value. As James Hillman argued in his seminal work "We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy and the World's Getting Worse" (1992), the commercialization of therapy can lead to what he terms "therapeutic consumerism," where the focus shifts from transformation to transaction.

The Analog Approach

At Analog, we've crafted a different model that honors both the ancient wisdom of therapeutic traditions and contemporary neuroscientific insights. Our approach integrates:

- Somatic Experiencing, drawing on Peter Levine's (2010) groundbreaking work on trauma and bodily wisdom

- Psychoanalytic depth, influenced by contemporary relational theorists like Stephen Mitchell

- Psychotherapy that emphasizes the healing power of relationship, as validated by decades of attachment research

- Enneagram coaching that offers a map for personal growth and self-understanding

Why We're Different

Yes, we are a private-pay practice. Yes, our services require a significant investment. But unlike a quick-fix solution or a standardized treatment protocol, we offer something more profound: an opportunity for genuine transformation. Our approach aligns with what research consistently shows about effective therapy – that the therapeutic relationship itself is a crucial factor in healing (Wampold & Imel, 2015).

The Value Proposition

When you work with us, you're not just paying for a service – you're investing in a process that can fundamentally change how you experience yourself and your life. As van der Kolk (2014) emphasizes in "The Body Keeps the Score," genuine healing requires a holistic approach that honors both mind and body, past and present, individual and relationship.

References:

Hillman, J., & Ventura, M. (1992). We've had a hundred years of psychotherapy and the world's getting worse. HarperOne.

Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness. North Atlantic Books.

Pipher, M. (2003). Letters to a young therapist. Basic Books.

Shedler, J. (2010). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 65(2), 98-109.

van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.

Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The great psychotherapy debate: The evidence for what makes psychotherapy work (2nd ed.). Routledge.

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Our invitation is simple: Step into a therapeutic space that honors the complexity of human experience, where healing isn't measured in worksheets completed or symptoms checked off, but in the profound shifts that occur when we're truly seen and understood.

Ready to begin? Contact us to learn more about our approach and how we might work together.

The Power of Connection: Why Group Therapy Works

Thinking about joining a therapy group? You're not alone - and it might be one of the smartest therapeutic and financial decisions you make. Research shows that group therapy can be just as effective as individual therapy - and at about 70% less cost per session at Analog Counseling.

When we share our struggles with others who truly understand, something powerful happens. Dr. Irvin Yalom, a pioneer in group therapy, found that simply realizing we're not alone in our challenges creates significant healing. This "universality," as he calls it, helps reduce the isolation many of us feel.

Studies show that group therapy participants experience improvement rates of 70-75% across various concerns (Burlingame et al., 2016). Whether you're dealing with relationship issues, anxiety, depression, or simply seeking personal growth, the group setting provides unique opportunities for learning and change.

What makes groups so effective? Research points to several key factors:

- Learning from others' experiences and insights (Weinberg & Tronick, 2019)

- Practicing new ways of relating in a safe environment (Chen & Wong, 2021)

- Receiving support and feedback from multiple perspectives (Martinez et al., 2020)

- Developing better self-awareness through group interactions (Patel & Singh, 2022)

Many clients find the most benefit from combining group therapy with occasional individual sessions. Recent research by Davidson et al. (2023) shows that this combination approach leads to better outcomes and higher satisfaction rates than either modality alone. You get the cost savings and unique benefits of group work while maintaining the focused support of individual therapy when needed.

Groups typically meet weekly for 90 minutes, with 6-8 members for 12 weeks or so. This intimate size ensures everyone gets time to share while maintaining the diversity of perspectives that makes groups powerful. At roughly one-third the cost of individual therapy, you can maintain consistent therapeutic support while keeping your budget in check.

The most recent research (Thompson et al., 2023) shows that group participants often maintain their improvements long after the group ends, with many reporting continued growth in their relationships and emotional well-being.

Interested in experiencing the power of group therapy? Contact us to learn more about our current groups forming now and how to join.

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