- EZ Reflections
- Posts
- Integrating Awareness
Integrating Awareness
Furkhan Dandia
May 27, 2025
In partnership with
Integrating Awareness
In last week's episode of EZ Conversations, Dr. Foojan Zeine joined the show and shared the framework she has developed, Awareness Integration Theory or AIT (Listen Here). Dr. Zeine explained how she built the framework, especially from the personal experience of being triggered while on vacation and tying back the sense of abandonment she felt in the movement to a childhood experience. Many of us can relate to isolated situations in our daily lives where we become flooded with emotions, not knowing why we feel a certain way. Unfortunately, most of us cannot connect the dots and recognize the earlier experiences because we have them buried away as a coping mechanism. However, with AIT, we can gain awareness of these trapped memories and integrate them into our lives to help find meaning and fulfillment.
Many of us are aware but unwilling to do the work required to integrate awareness into our lives. Therefore, we continue repeating patterns and behaviours without experiencing significant change. Integration can be extremely overwhelming and downright scary, because as much as we know the way we are repeating certain behaviours is not serving us, we often prefer to choose comfort and familiarity over what might be better for us in the long term. There lies the predicament, and the suffering continues. I appreciated the principles and phases of AIT that Dr. Zeine shared, because we can all benefit from this framework. But in this week's edition of EZ Reflections, I also wanted to expand on why we choose to remain stuck, a frustrating dilemma, but somewhat self-sabotaging.
In his seminal work The Body Keeps the Score, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (2014) explains that trauma is stored in the body, and cognitive awareness alone does not resolve it. Integration involves creating new neural pathways through experiential practices such as somatic therapy, mindfulness, and behavioural changes that allow the body and mind to align.
The Neuroscience of Integration
Research in neuroplasticity supports the idea that new behaviours and emotional responses are only developed through repetition and embodied experiences, not just intellectual understanding (Siegel, 2012). Daniel Siegel, a pioneer in interpersonal neurobiology, emphasizes that integration—linking differentiated parts of the brain—is the foundation of mental health.
Moreover, “top-down” versus “bottom-up” processing is crucial. Awareness is “top-down” (thinking about the problem), whereas integration often requires “bottom-up” approaches like movement, breathwork, and emotional regulation to rewire the limbic system and autonomic responses (Porges, 2011).
Practical Integration Strategies
Mindfulness and body scans to help notice sensations associated with stuckness.
Journaling with action steps that transform awareness into commitment.
Polyvagal-informed practices to regulate the nervous system and promote safety (Dana, 2018).
Therapeutic repetition—noticing when old patterns appear and choosing a new response.
Final Thoughts
Awareness is a powerful doorway, but it is not the destination. True transformation happens when we live awareness, embody it, and consistently act upon it. Integration is the bridge between knowing and becoming.
References
Dana, D. (2018). The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Siegel, D. J. (2012). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
A snippet of the Episode
Head to YouTube for the full episode. Or Subscribe below:
What people are saying about the podcast:
Quote of the Week:
“Wholeness is not achieved by cutting off a portion of one’s being, but by integration of the contraries.”
Would you like to work with me?
Book a 1:1 Call with me! I am taking on new clients in July and offering a free consultation.
Subscribe to the Podcast and Newsletter
Sponsors
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
Your best practice starts with accepting insurance
When looking for a mental health provider, over half of patients want one who takes their insurance.
Headway helps you do it with ease. Get credentialed, secure better rates with top plans, and earn a steadier income with bi-weekly payments.
It's all on one free-to-use platform, no commitment required.
Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.
Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.
Reply