Stress Management Summit

Biography

Biography: Funda Yilmaz

Abstract

Veil Play© is a novel movement meditation technique developed to increase arousal regulation in survivors of traumatic stress. The technique is based on brain studies that show strong relationships between creativity, improvisation, meditation, music, movement and increased neurogenesis, neural connectivity as well as the inhibition of fear conditioning. The technique facilitates integrated trauma processing through co-and self regulation using a large piece of silk cloth and music. Practitioners learn to mindfully attend to their internal and external experience, process trauma narrative, work through somatic memories that are engrained in the body, and to develop attunement with others through playful interactions. The practitioners tend to enjoy and repeat the highly portable Veil Play© experiences multiple times throughout the day because it looks and feels like dancing. The Veil Play© parties provide social support and connection with a community of lovers of music and dance. The presentation will provide scientific findings that support the rationale for the technique and practice guidelines for implementation of Veil Play© with traumatized clients. (Up to 250 words) Biography Funda Yilmaz has completed her MS in counseling from Auburn University after a career in art and design. In addition to modern dance choreographies, and productions; Funda has published two fully illustrated workbooks for preschool age survivors of interpersonal violence. Funda has worked with children and families who experience sexual assault and intimate partner violence and is currently working with military families to provide non-medical counseling in military bases around the globe. Funda Yilmaz is an individual affiliate of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force.