Online Lecture: Cherionna Menzam-Sills, PhD

From conception on, and possibly even before, babies are intelligently perceiving their environment. Like any unicellular organism, the conceptus and developing embryo is responsive to their surrounding context, assessing if it is safe and nutritive or dangerous and toxic. Just as unicellular organisms contract to protect themselves from toxins in the fluid around them, little ones are also affected by their environment. In the womb, they are preparing to live in their mother’s world. Her perceptions of safety and support or threat and lack of support biochemically affect her womb and the fluid environment of the baby growing within her. Babies are completely dependent on others, particularly mother, for survival. Feeling unwelcomed, unwanted, or immersed in maternal stress affect the little one’s sense of safety. They are easily traumatised by maternal experiences. They also pass through important prenatal developmental milestones, each having potential for learning. All development occurs through meeting challenges. If the challenge is too much, it becomes overwhelming. Its potential may remain untapped.

This presentation offers an overview of prenatal trauma, and potential, considering some specific milestones and possible effects on the developing personality and relational tendencies of the baby. Included are a few simple suggestions for how practitioners and parents can support a baby in the womb or after birth. We will take some time to explore through journaling some experiences you or your clients might have met prenatally. Through a short meditation we will also offer support to the little one that you were and how they may still live within you.

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Cherionna Menzam-Sills, PhD began teaching Embodied Embryology through somatic movement in 1997 as part of her doctoral studies in Pre- & Perinatal Psychology, which led to her teaching at Naropa University and the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. She has taught and facilitated Pre- and Perinatal Psychology/Therapy, Continuum (a mindful movement practice), and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy internationally, often with her husband, Biodynamics pioneer Franklyn Sills. She currently offers post-graduate training for practitioners to enhance their skill in recognizing and meeting prenatal and birth material arising in session work, as well as small womb surround process workshops. Her background includes extensive study with Pre- and Perinatal Psychology pioneers William Emerson and Ray Castellino, and Continuum founder, Emilie Conrad, who authorized her to teach Continuum in 2007. Cherionna has authored two books, The Breath of Life: An Introduction Craniosacral Biodynamics and, recently, Spirit into Form: Exploring Embryological Potential and Prenatal Psychology. Cherionna is committed in her work & life to embodied presence.

You can learn more about Cherionna and her work at:

www.birthingyourlife.org – Cherionna’s website

www.resourcingyourlife.org – online school of Cherionna and Franklyn Sills

Please Note: 

Ticket sales end a week before the event.

We tried recording our lectures in the past but sadly it tended to disrupt the fluid of discussion so we decided against it. It also created issues around confidentiality and lecturers were very varied as to whether they were able to provide consent for recording or not.  For all these reason, we regret we have no plans to record lectures in the near future.