The goal of this session is to briefly describe the goals of the treatment, and to begin to educate the patient about trauma and its psychological effects. Culturally appropriate analogies promote the acceptance and recall of the core teaching principles. In this first session, the main metaphor utilized is that of the “inner child” who remembers everything and is easily frightened. This is used as a way to teach about trauma-recall triggers.

In this session, meditation and applied stretching are introduced. The therapist should be sure that the patient does the stretching and other motions, and, if the patient does not, should encourage the patient to do so with a playful mien. The therapist should maintain a playful demeanor whenever possible. At times, to ensure that a sense of relaxation is being conveyed, the therapist should purposefully slow and deepen the voice. This also creates a sense of shift in the session and so promotes flexibility.