Level 1

Question 1

Name the Five Stages in an SP session

Answer 1

1- Building the Container
2-Accessing
3-Processing
4-Transformation
5-Integration

Question 2

What are the 6 states of consciousness?

Answer 2

1-Ordinary Consciousness
2-Mindfulness
3-Somatic Awareness
4-“Parts” Consciousness
5-Emotional State of Consciousness
6-Heightened Awareness

Question 3

What are the two fundamental tasks of a Sensorimotor Psychotherapist?

Answer 3

Managing the stages of the process and managing states of consciousness.

These tasks help clients move through all five stages and achieve integration and completion.

Question 4

How is a state of consciousness defined?

Answer 4

By the particular qualities and conditions of awareness that a client may have at a particular moment.

Recognition of these states is crucial for therapeutic effectiveness.

Question 5

What does ‘managing consciousness’ entail?

Answer 5

Recognizing the client’s state of consciousness and developing their ability to move into other states as appropriate.

This is essential for aligning therapeutic work with the client’s integrative capacity.

Question 6

What is Ordinary consciousness characterized by?

Answer 6

Automatic habits, external attention, and fast-paced everyday conversation.

It serves for assessment, psychoeducation, and integration of therapeutic gains.

Question 7

What is the pace of mindfulness compared to ordinary consciousness?

Answer 7

Mindfulness has a slower pace.

It focuses on internal attention toward present moment experience.

Question 8

What is the focus of somatic awareness?

Answer 8

Direct awareness of body experience, including movement and sensation.

It amplifies bodily signals and is useful in trauma work.

Question 9

What does ‘Parts’ consciousness allow a client to do?

Answer 9

Effectively name and observe their ‘Apparently Normal Part’ and ‘Emotional Part’.

This state helps clients identify dysregulated parts without becoming them.

Question 10

What characterizes the emotional state of consciousness?

Answer 10

Strong emotions that are often incompatible with mindfulness.

Therapists must differentiate between primary emotions and habitual emotions.

Question 11

What is heightened awareness associated with?

Answer 11

Experiencing spaciousness, unity, and a deeper sense of spiritual connection.

This state can be empowering and is often described positively by clients.

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The usefulness of ordinary consciousness is for _______.

Answer 12

[assessment, history taking, psychoeducation, cognitive integration, deciding upon a therapeutic frame, clarifying, and discussing integration of therapeutic gains].

Question 13

What is Hierarchical Information Processing?

Answer 13

A map describing the evolutionary and functional hierarchy among levels of information processing

Question 14

What are the three levels of information processing in the clinical model?

Answer 14

• Cognitive Processing
• Emotional Processing
• Sensorimotor Processing

Question 15

Define Cognitive Processing.

Answer 15

The capacity for conceptual cognitive information processing, reason, meaning making, and decision-making

Question 16

What does Emotional Processing involve?

Answer 16

The capacity for a full range of feeling and affect, and the expression and articulation of feeling and affect

Question 17

What is Sensorimotor Processing?

Answer 17

The capacity for processing through the body, relying on fixed action patterns

Question 18

What types of responses are included in Sensorimotor Processing?

Answer 18

• Startle reflex
• Fight/flight responses
• Sequential movements
• Postural changes
• Physical defensive responses
• ANS arousal

Question 19

What is meant by healthy functioning in cognition?

Answer 19

Processing of thoughts and decision-making that meet minimum standards for rationality and effectiveness

Question 20

What qualities are important for emotional processing to serve us in a healthy way?

Answer 20

There must be a coherence and comprehensibility to emotions

Question 21

What metaphor is used to describe emotional processes?

Answer 21

‘Riding a wave’

Question 22

Which part of the brain governs sensorimotor processing?

Answer 22

Lower rear portions of the brain

Question 23

What is the role of the mid brain in information processing?

Answer 23

Governs emotional processing and holds the alarm center (amygdala)

Question 24

Which part of the brain is responsible for cognitive processing?

Answer 24

Frontal upper parts of the brain (cortex)

Question 25

How do the lower and higher levels of information processing interact?

Answer 25

They affect each other simultaneously, functioning as a cohesive whole

Question 26

What are examples of sensory descriptors mentioned?

Answer 26

* Shaking * Quivering * Tingling * Fluttering * Tense * Pulsing * Warm * Frozen * Achy * Pounding * Throbbing * Bubbly * Tightness * Cool * Wobbly * Prickly * Flushed * Jumpy * Electric * Vibrating

Question 27

What is sensorimotor processing?

Answer 27

It is foundational to other forms of processing and includes simpler, more primitive information processing.

Question 28

What are some examples of fixed sequences in sensorimotor processing?

Answer 28

* Startle reflex * Fight or flight response * Vegetative functions * Knee jerk reaction

Question 29

What distinguishes more evolved emotional and cognitive processing from sensorimotor processing?

Answer 29

They have fewer fixed sequences and more complexity and variability of response.

Question 30

What is the relationship between the 'bottom' and 'top' of the processing hierarchy?

Answer 30

The 'bottom' is more associated with processing through the body, while the 'top' is less associated with it.

Question 31

What is 'top-down processing' in cognitive theory?

Answer 31

It indicates that the upper level of processing (cognitive) can override or steer lower levels.

Question 32

How does top-down processing influence daily activities?

Answer 32

It allows adults to plan and structure their time while overriding sensations like fatigue or hunger.

Question 33

What is an example of a top-down process in movement?

Answer 33

Deciding to walk and initiating movement sequences controlled by brain stem motor pattern generators.

Question 34

What primarily governs the activities of very young children and traumatized people?

Answer 34

Bottom-up processes ## Footnote These processes are governed by sensorimotor and emotional systems.

Question 35

What is the primary job of a child in their early development?

Answer 35

To explore her world through sensorimotor and emotional systems ## Footnote This exploration builds the neural networks foundational for later cognitive development.

Question 36

List examples of bottom-up processing.

Answer 36

* Grasping * Sucking * Orienting * Startle responses ## Footnote These responses are spontaneous and driven by sensory and emotional cues.

Question 37

How do traumatized individuals often experience their sensations and emotions?

Answer 37

They feel controlled by their sensations and emotions ## Footnote This loss of capacity to regulate functions can lead to dominant startle reactions and defensive responses.

Question 38

What are the two general directions of information processing?

Answer 38

* Bottom-up * Top-down ## Footnote Bottom-up is initiated from sensorimotor and emotional realms, while top-down is initiated by the cortex.

Question 39

What is the role of lower levels of processing in the hierarchy of cognitive functions?

Answer 39

They set the parameters within which upper levels can operate ## Footnote Lower levels are fundamental in both evolutionary and functional terms.

Question 40

What does top-down processing involve?

Answer 40

Cognition initiated by the cortex ## Footnote It involves observation, monitoring, regulation, and direction of lower levels.

Question 41

What term describes the combination of holistic functioning of the triune brain with hierarchical functioning?

Answer 41

Holistic hierarchy ## Footnote This concept reflects the interactive development of brain processing throughout one's lifetime.

Question 42

What is the crux of the problem in trauma according to the text?

Answer 42

Unregulated sensorimotor and affective processes ## Footnote This leads to disabling effective cognitive processing.

Question 43

What happens to sensorimotor systems when encountering traumatic events?

Answer 43

They are triggered into high activation and risk being overwhelmed ## Footnote This can lead to truncated processing and blocked effective responses.

Question 44

What are habitual responses to the environment that can truncate effective information processing?

Answer 44

Top-down and bottom-up responses ## Footnote These responses influence how individuals process information and react to their surroundings.

Question 45

What is Top-Down Conditioning?

Answer 45

A form of top-down processing that conditions lower levels of information processing ## Footnote It is influenced by belief systems that affect sensorimotor and emotional processing.

Question 46

How does the belief 'I'm not good enough to do this' affect lower levels of processing?

Answer 46

Adversely influences musculature, breath, perceptions, energy level, and emotions ## Footnote This belief can lead to a diminished capacity in various physiological and emotional responses.

Question 47

What happens when a person believes 'I can do this'?

Answer 47

Maintains balanced tonicity, full breath, sharp perceptions, sufficient energy, and responsive emotions ## Footnote Positive beliefs can enhance functioning even in adverse situations.

Question 48

Why is top-down conditioning not sufficient for processing traumatic reactions?

Answer 48

It cannot fully address lower levels of emotional and sensorimotor processing for trauma recovery ## Footnote Trauma-related responses need to be processed according to their own logic and language.

Question 49

What does the clinical implication of a hierarchical information processing model suggest?

Answer 49

Each level of processing yields different information and requires different interventions ## Footnote This highlights the need for tailored approaches in therapy.

Question 50

Define Top-Down Management.

Answer 50

Voluntary and conscious sublimation of sensorimotor and emotional processing through goal-directed activity ## Footnote This includes behavioral discharge, cognitive override, and distraction techniques.

Question 51

What occurs during top-down management of emotional reactions?

Answer 51

Cognitive processing observes and manages patterns of arousal, perception, emotion, and sensation ## Footnote This helps individuals implement alternative behaviors to cope with high arousal.

Question 52

What is a common behavior used in top-down management after a traumatic situation?

Answer 52

Engaging in activities such as jogging, having sex, watching TV, or meditating ## Footnote These activities serve to distract or discharge arousal.

Question 53

What is a benefit of top-down management in therapy?

Answer 53

Allows individuals to pace themselves and avoid impulsive actions during overwhelming experiences ## Footnote This can help manage arousal levels effectively.

Question 54

Describe the therapeutic example of Harriet's top-down management of hallucinations.

Answer 54

She visualized her library and counted books to control her hallucinations ## Footnote This was a voluntary act that imposed top-down control over her experience.

Question 55

True or False: Top-down management is a recent development in psychology.

Answer 55

False ## Footnote Top-down management has been a hallmark of cognitive-behavioral approaches since the inception of psychology.