FAQs
What is Conscious Connected Breathwork?
Breathwork is the practice of using an intentional breathing pattern to achieve non-ordinary states of consciousness, aka “altered states”. It opens the door to self-discovery, transformation, and healing of the emotional, spiritual, and physical body. Conscious Connected Breathwork implements a continuous circular breath through the mouth while giving full awareness to the breath. Throughout the session, the Breathwork Facilitator creates a safe container to hold space for emotional releases, providing breath guidance, prompting self-inquiry, and supporting the process with a specially curated musical journey.
Do you currently offer psychiatric treatments in conjunction with Breathwork?
Yes! I have a private practice in Providence, RI, PVD Ketamine & Wellness, offering ketamine assisted psychotherapy for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, particularly for those who have not responded well to traditional psychiatric medications or talk therapy. Breathwork can be used in conjunction with ketamine assisted psychotherapy as part of the preparation and integration work, before and after medicine sessions, and as a non-pharmacological maintenance treatment to extend the time between ketamine sessions. Please visit the PVD Ketamine & Wellness website for more information and to schedule a consultation call!
Do I need to have experience with meditation or breathing exercises in order to do Breathwork?
Absolutely not! All that is required is consciousness and the ability to breathe, so if you’re reading this sentence, then you’ve met all the requirements :)
Who is breathwork for?
Breathwork is an extremely versatile tool that has a wide range of therapeutic applications.
For those who are feeling stuck, burned out, over stressed, or stagnant, Breathwork can be an incredible tool to promote deep relaxation, boost creativity, and open the doors of self-discovery.
For those living with Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Addiction, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, and many other psychiatric conditions, Breathwork can be a game changer when added to your current treatment, or as a first step in your journey to wellness.
For those living with various chronic physical conditions such as back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, etc., Breathwork often brings physical as well as emotional relief. The mind and body are intimately connected and the practice of Breathwork strengthens and heals that connection, creating a safe space within one’s self to feel and release difficult emotions and memories so that they no longer manifest as physical symptoms.
How does Breathwork differ from other breathing practices?
Many breathing practices, such as yogic breathing, box breathing, alternate nostril breathing, etc., utilize the breath as a focal point for meditation, a tool to balance energy, or to calm the nervous system when experiencing agitation or anxiety. They are great tools and can be used in addition to Conscious Connected Breathwork.
In contrast, Conscious Connected Breathwork also uses the breath as a conduit to enter a state of consciousness that is markedly different from one’s ordinary waking consciousness. While in this open state, the breather is able to reach below the resistances of the mind to uncover and actually address root causes of problems. As the breather, the power is in your hands as you use the breath as fuel to dive into yourself and access your capacity for self-healing.
What are the benefits of Breathwork?
When used as a maintenance tool for self-care and/or self-exploration, Breathwork can nurture the ability to manage stress, improve sleep, relieve physical discomforts, increase self-compassion, release limiting beliefs, access inner wisdom, make new connections, and “think outside the box”.
When used as a treatment for psychiatric conditions it can bring significant improvements in mood, anxiety, sleep, and dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns. In the context of grief, trauma, and PTSD, Breathwork offers a safe container in which to experience, process, and ultimately release traumatic or difficult memories, without necessarily having to use the “rational brain”.
Are there contraindications for Conscious Connected Breathwork?
The Conscious Connected Breath can create transient physiological changes in the body that may not be appropriate for certain individuals with the following conditions: epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension, aneurysms, detached retina, glaucoma, pregnancy, recent surgery.
However, anyone can safely participate in group and individual Breathwork sessions by simply using a modified breath — in and out through the nose while maintaining the natural pauses between inhales and exhales— instead of using the Conscious Connected Breath.
Do you accept health insurance for Breathwork sessions?
I offer a sliding scale for all my Breathwork offerings in place of accepting health insurance.