Human Connection Heals

The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler talks about gemeinschaftsgefühl which can be roughly translated in English as “community feeling or social interest.” Adler believed that one is only as healthy as they are socially connected. Often clients, I encounter are struggling with interpersonal relationships or a lack of belonging. According to Adler, belonging is one of our core human needs.

Dr. Bruce Perry, In What Happened to You? states,

“Our ability as a people to tolerate stressors is diminishing because our connectedness is diminishing. This relational poverty means less buffering capacity when we do experience stress. If we don’t have family meals, don’t go out with friends for long, in-person conversations, and communicate only via text or Twitter, then we can’t create that positive, healthy back-and-forth pattern of human connection.”

When someone experiences a traumatic event, having the support and presence of trusted others is one of the greatest protective factors from having a post-traumatic stress response.

Human connection and a sense of belonging are vital to our well-being. Connection creates resilience. Connection heals. If you are struggling with connection or lack of belonging, Coriander Living Collective is here to support you in getting connected via psychotherapy and workshops and retreats. Just reach out!