As someone who’s been practicing for a while, I’ve seen our view on the treatment of trauma go through substantial development. Our research, theory and treatments have all advanced considerably in the last 40 years.
And as I reflect upon this, I’m seeing 3 waves in the evolution of our outlook.
Looking back at when I first began to practice (in the late 70’s) our understanding of trauma was really quite limited. Of course we recognized the fight / flight response ever since Hans Selye introduced the notion back in the 50’s.
But our prevailing treatment option was talk therapy.
The thinking at the time was that by getting clients to talk about their traumatic event, we could “get to the bottom of” their issues and help them heal.
We were aware of the body and knew it held some power. But few practitioners used it in treatment (except the relatively few who worked with Bioenergetics, Rolfing, Feldenkrais, Rubenfeld, and to some extent Gestalt therapy).
But we were very limited in our ability to explain how body work, or for that matter, a talking treatment, affected the brain (and we had very little evidence-based research for it either). We just didn’t have much of a roadmap to guide us where we wanted to go.
That was the first wave.
Over time, researchers and clinicians started to recognize the limits of talk therapy. We realized that talking about a traumatic event held certain risks. At times, we inadvertently re-traumatized patients, especially if interventions were introduced too soon, before the patient was ready.
We also saw the memory of trauma as more often held in the right brain, the part that doesn’t really think in words.
So we began to use interventions that weren’t as dependent upon talking, interventions like guided imagery, hypnosis, EMDR, and the various forms of tapping.
And as the science surrounding the brain’s reactions to trauma became more sophisticated, clinicians grew to understand more about what was going on.
We began to realize that not everyone who experiences a traumatic event gets PTSD. In fact, most people who experience a traumatic event don’t get PTSD.
And so researchers started to develop studies to determine who did and who didn’t get PTSD. We looked for what factors might predict greater sensitivity to trauma.
And we modified our thinking to add freeze (later known as feigned death) to the fight/flight reaction.
Just adding that piece clarified our thinking about what triggers PTSD.
It also began to expand our treatment options to include sensory motor approaches.
And we started to see how more vastly intricate and multifaceted multiple trauma was compared to single incident trauma.
But I believe a third wave of trauma research and treatment innovations has just begun to crest.
And it’s only come recently.
We continue to see advances in the field of trauma therapy that are opening up more effective methods for working with trauma patients.
Because of all the research that’s been done, we are much better able to predict who gets PTSD and who doesn’t. Not only that but we’ve got a good handle on why certain people get PTSD.
And as brain science has revealed how different areas of the brain and nervous system respond to traumatic events, we don’t think so often about whether trauma is stored in the left vs right brain.
We think in terms of three parts of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex, the limbic brain and the lower, more primitive brain. And we’re much more sophisticated in thinking about which part needs our intervention.
We understand that the lower brain can command the shutdown response, totally bypassing the prefrontal cortex, totally bypassing any sense of “choice” for the patient.
And we see more clearly the part that the vagal system plays in this shutdown response.
We understand more of the role neuroception plays in feeling safe.
Knowing how the body and brain react to trauma opens the door for the third wave.
We are now beginning to use techniques like neurofeedback (based upon but a long way from the biofeedback we used years ago,) limbic system therapy, and other brain and body-oriented approaches that include a polyvagal perspective.
These are techniques I couldn’t have dreamed of when I began clinical practice.
But these are powerful tools that can offer hope to those who have been stuck in cycles of reactivity, shame, and hopelessness.
And now I’d like to hear from you:
What changes have you seen in your work with the treatment of trauma? Please leave a comment below.
Thank you. A helpful paper which resonates with me.
I value the ACTION orientation of the more modern approaches. I particularly valued Bessel van der Kalk submission to a London-conference last Saturday week, 22nd September, where he identified how neuro-science was now casting light on the use of EMDR. It is not just about movement of the eyes, but movement of the body. I sense some of the ‘chair work’ in Gestalt owed its impact to the fact that the client moved!
PLasticity, now much more accepted, is more able to explain how the brain rewires throughout our lives and this is not an age-limited process (handy to know for us partly retired psychologists.
In my own work, as some-one who questioned the basis of Rogers’ PErson-Centred approach, I now find that clients can trusted to act between sessions – to their benefit. It’s a risky business, as it assumes a degree of trust in ourselves and our abilities. To me, it is less of a risk if client and therapist learn from small defeats and inoculate ourselves against our tendency to catastrophise.
Conscious EFT with Nancy Forrester at NeftTI.com -the National Emotional Freedom Techniques Training Institute – in Toronto, Canada. Her program is taught to all practitioners with an understanding of Polyvagal Theory and trauma whem working with every client. A powerful healing methodology. The statistic is that about 90% of us have had traumatic experiences and just under 10% of that population have developed PTSD as a result.
I only know of the last few years of trauma treatment and only because Iam the one getting the treatment. My therapist taught me to tune into my body and verbally (and sometimes physically) act out the trauma and say the things I wanted to say while my trauma was happening to me. This approach helped me in many ways and I think lowered my threshold of my fight or flight response since then. That is all I know.
thank you for a concise history of trauma treatment. I look forward to finding out more about new interventions for reactivity that occurs from trauma patients.
Thanks for this concise overview of trauma theory and treatment over the past 40 years. Definitely viewing trauma as an injury rather than a weakness is essential. I still think if we took Alice Miller’s insight seriously, and we addressed the pervasiveness of what we now call Adverse Childhood Experiences in our society, we would prevent most of the trauma inducing experiences in our society in the first place.
The new work on identifying what causes PTSD has both benefits and drawbacks. Yes, we want to prevent the development of PTSD, but we want to ensure we’re not just finding another way to “blame the victim” for not being resilient enough to protect themselves from being affected by inhumane experiences. It is our humanity that causes us to experience helplessness in the face of overwhelming inhumanity. (Re)Connecting with self, others, and nature – differentiating as individuals instead of blindly following the pack – consciously embodying our physical natures and experiencing our emotional realities rather than denying them – these will help our healing. To recover and grow, we need to be safe – within ourselves, with others, in our environments concurrently. Trauma does not occur in isolation, nor should it get resolved for the individual alone. I believe the advances in trauma awareness are resetting humanity’s existential lens. Conscious presence in our bodies, hearts, and minds, on Planet Earth. That’s my fourth wave goal. Thanks for all you do to get us there.
Thank you for your response.. I agree..
Thank you so much for putting words to the fourth wave goal, Rosalind. I am right there with you!!!
Yes, well said, Rosalind – lets make a fourth tsunami!
Thank goodness for this progression! For my whole life, I’ve been trying to survive and recover from what I now know is Complex PTSD. It’s not a character flaw, mental illness, weakness, or “just the way life is.” It is a kind of brain injury and there is an explanation in brain science. Still, it is difficult to find professional help from trauma-informed practitioners, and even harder to find it covered by insurance. Although I currently feel overwhelmed by my symptoms run rampant, NICABM and other sources of science-based trauma resolution give me the hope for recovery. As I like to say, there has never been a better time to have CPTSD.
Shay Check out Non violent communication styles and use the self compassion method.. to journal and get connected with you, this has helped me with my negative internal dialogs.. EMDR has helped me tremendously. Lastly right and left hand journaling.. Hope this helps you also on your CPTSD journey as it has me.
I have found this to be completely astounding! I one day hope that people can walk into a Mall and sit down and have a magnetic session to recalibrate the cellular activity’s in the brain. We can stop in before or after work just like stopping to pick up the milk , or to fuel your car. Insurances would pay to cover the treatment sessions . The world would be a happier place for all.
What a lovely dream!
I am a teacher who works at a residential treatment facility for male teens with substance use disorder; many of my students have PTSD as well. We have a wonderful yoga teacher who teaches trauma-informed yoga to my students. I wish more schools would incorporate yoga and meditation.
Thanks for a nice succinct overview of the recent history of trauma treatment. I look forward to better understanding of interventions to break the reactivity cycle.
Thank you dear Ruth this is so interesting I’m a yoga teacher and work with trauma that shows in the body as pain . ❤️??
Important for me as I began to work with adult survivors was to realize that survivors were working in 2 time zones, Then and Now. Like many therapy aha moments this came in the mid 1980s and with no basis other than my own observation. And no formal organization for sharing and discussing (that I was aware of in mid Iowa). This realization led to more elasticity in my therapy interventions. I am delighted with the “waves” and the continued discoveries . Now what do we do with/for generational PTSD; for those who live with the inherited effects of the trauma experienced by their ancestors?
Thank you Ruth for continuing to educate us….therapists.
What you call “freeze (later known as feigned death)” I am coining more and more with “Stuckness”. Like a care being tuck on a wet dirt road. People will use the terms “I am stuck”, “I do not know what to do.”, “There is no outcome here.”, to indicate that they think they have no options. The sentence that is being used often is: “I cannot.” (On fight/flight we feel that we still have movement, that brings options and that creates hope). But when we feel stuck we feel without options, we feel that “I cannot.” So I tell them that in my practice we work to “untie the knot, in can(k)not!”
Sam, thank you for giving hope as you untie a client’s can(k)not.
Love this.. I have 100% experienced the freeze stuck ‘ness in my life.. that comes from trauma. I can untie the (K)not.
Yay for )k( not
untying 😉
Hi
I know how much science is key to our understanding of trauma and therefore helps in our treatment approach
I come from a bottom up approach due to the nature of my work with patients coming to see me with chronic musculoskeltal pains My method integrates postural psychology as I want to call it because I read the body as the manifestation of the beliefs systems and the movement patterns , muscles imbalances etc … as the hardwired biomechanical reflection of the stress responses. As soon as I make them aware of the relationship between their body and the perceptions and beliefs they hold of themselves and the world around them They are already healing
But I have understood for myself and my patients that unless we do not embody what we are That is LIFE itself rather than wish Life to change for us Then there is no real healing possible
The education about LIFE itself and What we are is paramount to move through the « definitions » imposed on us by others
Talk therapy has its place if it is an education on Life and It becomes real when they can feel it through their posture The way they move The way they hold their body in mindfulness when confronted with triggers
For my part the trauma of sexual abuse didn’t hold the day I looked at the reality of LiFe itself. Asking the big questions! what we are, what is Life ? And I take my patients on that path so they can embody its innate strength
I hope it makes some sense. I don’t want to write a book LOL ( even though I am at the moment)
I want to really thank you for your platform I think you allow people like me to mingle with ideas and discover amazing people like Par Magden whose course I did in Sydney so I could see whether what I had discovered through years of research on the body had been investigated by psychologists and of course I found that psychology has evolved tremendously in incorporating the body in their treatment the way that I could not escape incorporating the mind into my treatment of the body
All
The best
Sylviane GJames
Thank you for sharing. Interesting.
Sylviane, thank you for your comments. As one who experiences a lot of musculoskeletal pain I found your thoughts helpful.
Several things:
– The beginnings of understanding CPTSD and accumulation of “little t traumas” over time. Pete Walker’s book on this is excellent. This is going to completely change how we deal with several forms of childhood trauma I believe.
– Better understanding of how Attachment works and the links to trauma. Work of Jaak Panksepp (mentioned by Ron Siegel in one of your courses) especially his work on differentiating panic/grief response from fear response. Work of Sue Johnson with EFT. Work based on John Bowlby and Donald Winnicott.
– Understanding specific aspects of trauma in relation to Neurodiversity (autism, ADD, giftedness, highly sensitive, SPD etc). How these populations may be more prone to acquiring CPTSD in a mainstream school environment (focus of my research).
– ACEs research is really comic along and becoming well-known
– Profrssionals becoming more “trauma-informed” and creating “trauma-aware” environments. My work looks at this happening in schools, using research from juvenile detention and teen youth work environments where trauma is very common.
– Somatic based work such as by Pat Ogden, Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine. As you mentioned, Fritz Perls’ body-based Gestalt methods too.
– Integrating aspects of Mindfulness practices, including body-based work and movement work ASD well as working with thoughts.
I also recommend the work of Dr Sam Himelstein at Center for Adolescent Studies. He runs excellent courses for professionals working with youth to become trauma-informed. Referencing several of the NICABM team eg Pat, Bessel, Stephen Porges. (If you were to create a course for working with youth, I would highly recommend approaching him. And I’d be very interested to help with research on anything to do with schools and trauma.)
Janovian primal therapy is still streets ahead of what you are describing as the “third wave”.
I don’t feel qualified to comment on this as I have no training in neurological medicine.
I have been using Brain-based therapies since 2002 ,particularly in group with patients suffering from CPS( Chronic Pain Syndrome) taking advantage of Neuroplasticity of this marvelous self healing electro-chemical organ that is constantly Rewiring itself.To name a few Drs. N Doidge , M Merzenich,J Ratey. J Arden , Bessel VK,Peter Levine,D Siegel ,Buddhist Psycholgy of meditation/Mindfulness and lastly using PolyVagal Theory of Stephen Porgess for the past decade
Having Canadian FRCP in Pathology has been a great asset too.
My involvement with Nicabm , Ruth has been a great source of pleasure, knowledge and Wisdom. Thank a million Dr. Ruth B
Hi,
Billy here and I enjoyed your article,
I work in the field of mental health with people who are DTO/DTS, unknown to my colleagues, I am the victim of a kidnap and near death experience in late Sept 2015, naturally I have severe ptsd, and unfortunately sometimes I am even triggered at work.
I am excited to find any new ideas on the subject, and would like any additional information as to where I may get procedures/support as my struggle has been a difficult one, even therapy doesn’t seem to help much.
I am pro med and have always have been.
I wish there were more effort to develop a medication that would really help those of us suffering from trama/ptsd, sometimes I just want to be ok and feel safe.
Could it at least suppress the fight or flight response?
I have tried medical marijuana, which seemed to help some (moderate at best), but I am not allowed to test positive for any substances while working in the field (which I understand and respect).
What I experience, even in therapy, is people really don’t know what a life or death experience is truly like, in relating to the client they are trying to support.
Every time I speak those words of that horrible event, it not only recreates the trauma, but it sets off thoughts and emotions of distrust and once again feeling unsafe, which can and does lead to all types of desperate behaviors (Including fight or flight), until once again I can try to forget and push it down in my being.
So in summery I guess what it is really like is that I am left with the feeling that I just have to get through this just by myself, true time does heal all things and I cannot say that I have not improved greatly from where I started, and by God’s Grace am I alive.
Hopefully, and at times I think to really be able to relate, and help another trauma/ptsd victim.
In response to Billy T, just to say ditto to his experience, especially as to people not really knowing what a life or death experience is like if they have not gone through it. It does seem most of the processing is alone. It is also rather scary and lonely at times. EMDR, meditation and books have been most helpful. Thank you and Ruth so much for sharing this.
Michele
Hello Billy T, there is help to overcome this trauma, and my favorite approach would be Trauma Buster Technique, developped by Rehana Webster. Depending on where you live there could be a therapist to give you one session to interrupt the conditioned response to triggers.
Hi, Billy,
I’m sorry you had to go through that, and have to keep being re-traumatized. I found it helpful for me to write about my trauma experiences and give a printout to my caregivers. That way I don’t have to ‘splain it again and again. Also, I could write it as I was able, with long breaks if needed. (The document took me two years to complete. I did make a shorter version with just the 4 main traumas to hand out more frequently.)
I hope you find your relief.
I have been both therapist and client. Having ME in 1987 gave me much time for reflection in which I felt that the many of us who were afflicted were “the pit canaries of the Earth” living in social conditions and environments creating seriously disturbed vibrational damage. Two months ago my legs collapsed and I was an inpatient for two weeks when no diagnosis could be found. So no treatment given. Once home I was helped by homoeopathy, herbal remedies and sprays which work with the aura and using Bach Flower Remedies both orally and topically. This topical treatment is explored and explained by the German naturopath Dieter Kramer and has been a major turning point in my life. All the zones of weakness in my left leg, ankle and foot totally correspond to the degrees of emotional damage created throughout my life. I am now very much healed using these gifts of nature.
Thank you for this Judith. Your ‘pit canaries’ comment resonated with me. I have tried many treatments for my ME but never explored Bach Flower Remedies.
Practitioners of Rebirthing have realized since 1975 that this method is useful for resolving trauma. Intended at first to help resolve birth trauma, it soon became evident that all traumas can be aided. What is strange to me, having been practicing Rebirthing for 42 years, is the seemingly deliberate ignorance about its usefulness among psychologists and others who say they want to know how to help those in trauma. Whatever the excuse, it is harmful to sufferers to omit, dismiss, or degrade such a useful practice.
Brain based therapy help understand the neurobiology , physiology at molecular level and thus lead to resolution of traumatic experience
Multiple therapies now have a good rationale
Thank you
I’ve been integrating the body with art therapy and mindfulness to unlock traumatic memories that are stored in the body and I still believe in the right hemisphere as well. Integrative and creative approaches are what helps clients recall and heal trauma without re-traumatizaiton.
Energy Psychology has also been a tremendous help.
I also find that many times we have to also address intergenerational and collective trauma inspired by Bert Hellinger.
I appreciate Hala Buck’s emphasis on collective trauma, as in mob behaviour and football violence, and in the trauma handed down over generations, as many migration studies have shown. Long-term studies of families which seem to have heightened vigilance, a predisposition to suspect ‘foreign’ influence, and a pervasive pessimism may well be describing the multi-generation effects of traumatic events or thought patterns. I think we describe similar human phenomena by different names, according to the way our training traditions have shaped our observations and interpretations.
Denis Ladbrook
The work of Rachel Yehuda in intergenerational trauma is very interesting too.
Yes, intergenerational trauma. I’m looking at Family Constellations because, as one who comes from a long line of child abusers, it makes sense.
I did an all day workshop yesterday with Robt Grant, phd entitled “The Spiritual Impact of Trauma”. he talks about how complicated it is to treat, that it’s really about an opportunity to develop spiritually with the right kind of therapy and how reticent so many are to entertain that possibility including institutions as well as care givers…he also mentions how unpopular folks can become when proposing it. you can google him to see more about his approach and the books he has written…..
I had heard much of this before thru michail harner and stan grof…..and was reminded again.
it brings up for me my annoyance of how i practiced mindfullness under the radar from 1980 after i was swept out to sea and did several Conscious Living Conscious Dying workshops with the levine’s. then, FINALLY, psychology decided to validate what the ancients had known forever and now it’s all of a sudden valid and mainstream. it just takes too long for institutions to move forward.
Trauma as an opportunity to develop spiritually….. this is so true! As we change our focus on trauma treatment and integrate the organic spiritual intelligence of each individual person we create the ground for potentially rapid and enlightened healing.
Hi Sally
What do you mean?
Julie.jolly@hotmail.co.uk
What u say seems interesting.
Hi, It appears that trauma is a very complex dx to treat and it is working some part of the problem that little by little one could act upon the deep issue. I have found CBT and stress techniques can at first hand help very much to relieve it. I have been once told to learn more about neuro biofeedback. And recently I have found that they are selling a watch that you can wear daily to observe your mood changing. It relatively costs less than the sessions that usually aren’t paid by the insurance. Thank you for these updates that are very informative to most of us.
Mike,
While the “one size fits all” products such as the watch you mention can be useful, they are in no way a substitute for neurofeedback (neurobiofeedback). Neurofeedback is tailored to the individual and uses medical grade equipment. It is also accompanied by a qualified professional who can provide the proper support throughout the process.
Thanks. I’ve just wondered if anyone has heard about it.
I’m not a therapist but a ‘client’ and have to say I am so relieved that after 14 years of psychotherapy at last my condition makes sens to me in the context of complex PTSD. Everything I have read about it fits and that iin itself makes me feel nirmal. I’m starting a new treatment and look forward to making some improvements.
Like you, I began as a trauma therapist a long time ago – ( the mid a1980’s)
We now have Brainspotting (BSP), developed by Dr David Grand. BSP is a brain and body based relational therapy, leaning heavily into relational attunement at its core, = interpersonal neurobiology, as researched by (Dan Siegel). which uses the brains own capacity to heal itself within a highly attuned relationship with the therapists moment by moment.
Ive developed ways of using this amazing therapy to help addicts prevent relapses.
We also have Somatic Experiencing developed by Dr Peter Levine. We know we have to include the physical body in the recovery and now we know exactly how to do that
BSP + SE are powerful tools for full trauma recovery.
Obviously, the attachment theory is the great framework today for therapies, in particular the Developmental PTSD which is epidemic and which we did not know how to treat well and is still the part that we don’t handle so successfully currently. I love the blog of dr. effery Smith, howtherapyworks, because it’s right on the spot: relational therapy. Neurofeedback is far too expensive, sorry, and we need to stay grounded in basic common sense. Therapy works when the therapeutic relationship is healthy, supportive, dynamic, etc. The only thing is that hands-on work needs to be added in many cases, otherwise, that basic key is quite simple. All the research leads to that point. For shock PTSD, Somatic experiencing, TRE etc are doing wonders. All is said now in this matter, I mean, far enough to help clients heal effeciently and rather quickly.
I agree that touch is often useful. And, I also have certain exercise equipment in my therapy room for mobilization and transformation of the trauma. (Such as Bosu, balance bars, Pilates rings, rollers, and physio balls.) It expands the energy of a client so they resource and not collapse into the trauma and its negative sense of self. I think “processing” is old school, I teach transformation from an integrative approach. Bridging the worlds of mindfulness practitioners, somatic trauma specialists and hands on energy healing is quite a powerful support for clients. I find they heal quicker and deeper. Is it the next evolution of trauma work? Maybe, for me it is. Thx for all the work you do Ruth/NICABM!!!! It is nice to have platforms to discuss the outer edges of where I think things are evolving toward.
Waki: Is Somatic Experiencing not also good for developmental trauma?
yes that is the reason I studied Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and became a certified advanced practitioner.
Ruth. This is very helpful. I’m thinking in terms of an “eclipse” of the prefrontal cortex and am working on an article about this. Also, I am seeing that there needs to be a “We” in the relationship that helps the patient feel less shame and reactivity that maintains healthy boundaries yet allows for an experiencing of the relationship as a true partnership in the journey. This focus stays away from transference and requires the therapist to have “extraordinary presence” as referred to in Castonguay and Hill’s edited book recently released. Another piece that I hope to discuss in an article focused on what makes a good trauma therapist.
Thank you
Moreen Halmo Ph.D.
Very Enlightening
Having practiced for over 30yrs,I, too, have seen tremendous progress in understanding and approacges. The primary change has been from a top-down approach to a bottom-up appriach. And it more clarity regarding preventing re-traumatization.
However, I’m still surprised that even the so-called “experts” know relatively little about working with shame and how it is one of the most important facets of trauma recovery.
I agree. Tell me more abut your shame work. I would love to hear your take on it. For me, I find shame and victim consciousness are the two tough challenges for clients to transform. I find when I work with clients on this topic, the shame covers up the deeper wound around being imperfect or being responsible for the “shameful” thing that happened to them. It zaps their sense of self. Yes, I find as I help clients own their imperfect parts and/or past – yet not let imperfection or their past be a litmus test on their inner value…shame transforms because they drop deeper to the pivitol ego issue involved. Differentiating their sense of self/value from mistakes, miss steps or the past has really helped my clients move forward in healing trauma. Shame can be like a shell covering the meat of the real issue. Unless we can help a client deepen into the deeper sense of self issues that keeps shame in place, it can loop and recycle. I wish we can all accept and love our imperfect human parts. For the imperfect past and our imperfect aspects need love and acceptance and WISDOM that the brokenness or imperfections do not define the client’s (or our) inner value. Thanks for discussing this topic! So very important.
Talk therapy, immersion may be effective for some; for others, the brain is altered by the traumatic events. Learning meditation, relaxation, etc. may help some calm; however, there are some people whose brains have been hijacked and rewired which makes self soothing pretty much impossible. When people are so seriously impacted, many are blindsided by their symptoms coming out of left field and are not equipped to manage to turn reaction to response. Despite no research on the use of marijuana in treatment of PTSD symptoms, there has been some anecdotal information presented that it offers to alleviate some of the impact. Doubtful any reputable MH practitioner would present that option to a client under their care for fear of losing their license; still, I would be curious of there is any experience or feedback re this issue. I am retired, no longer practicing, but my interest in this concern hasn’t waned and have no opinion on the use of pot for therapeutic purposes.
I am excited to see that neurofeedback is becoming known as helpful for trauma. I have been practicing neurofeedback for almost 9 years. Things are constantly changing in both the technology and protocols. The results I see in my office are often nothing short of amazing. So many clients have suffered for so long before even hearing about neurofeedback. Their success often comes with anger that they were not informed about this option sooner. Thank you for spreading the word!
I wrote about Robert Grant’s book, but neglected to mention that the last two trauma brain workshops I have conducted I used the concepts he discusses in his book, and people there were deeply grateful. We did meditation, and they were able to go deep within. I then invited them to share their true self with those in the group. We had a very loving community. I wove them all prayer shawls, and after our discussions I said that our community closeness reminded me of weaving different yarns together into a prayer shawl. They all smiled and wrapped themselves in their prayer shawls. Several have told me over the years that when they wear a prayer shawl they feel held by God. I loved making them and giving them to trauma victims.
Wow. What a generous and compassionate gift, Tanda. Both the weaving and the metaphor. A gentle reminder that therapists are not “fixing” their clients; they are touching hearts, minds and spirit.
I have enjoyed reading the diverse practices of this professional group. I’m so glad there are many ways to heal hurting people, especially children and older clients deeply wounded in childhood. Still, there is no replacement for an attuned and compassionate therapist who guides this process when early attachment was disrupted. That gift is like the prayer shawl.
I love Robert Grant’s book “The Way of the Wound, The Spirituality of Trauma and Transformation”. In this book he outlines how one who has experienced any kind of trauma is invited by the Holy Spirit to go deep within and discover one’s true self.
My associate and I focus on Emotional Trauma from a research perspective in the neuroscience field. The challenge was to piece together a working template for how the subconscious mind stores and accesses negative emotions / emotional traumas, which our research found was quite different than what conventional wisdom teaches. There is an interesting science article that came out a few months ago where scientists discovered that the brain operates on up to 11 different dimensions, creating multiverse-like structures!
Our preliminary research indicates that negative emotions basically stick or freeze to memory events that create something akin to a Window’s operating software application that continues to run behind our conscious thoughts 24 /7. The subconscious mind utilizes various coping mechanisms such as drugs and alcohol that are normally referred to as addictions to distance and distract the conscious mind from the pain associated with the repressed / suppressed trauma.
Dr Gabor Mate Psychiatrist in Canada spent over a decade working with drug addicts on the streets in Vancouver and found that 100% of the women addicted to drugs were sexually molested growing up. You can catch some of his lectures on youtube. He research concurs with our findings that addictions are merely coping mechanisms rather than occupy some kind of brain chemical / genetic basis. We also find conditions such as OCD and ADHD can function as coping mechanisms.
Our research also coincides with Dr Mate’s belief that early childhood traumas from birth to about age 7 set the stage for how the subconscious mind will connect future negative emotions with the past.
Our research shows that when an emotional trauma is cleared the subconscious mind will release the established coping mechanism as no longer being necessary.
The third wave barely scratches the surface of what will unveil over the next few years.
Hi EA, Can you tell where I Can find the article, you mentioned.
Thanks
I completely agree on the connection between trauma and addictions and OCD from my own professional experiences. I saw also, that the trauma signature passed to the next generation weakening the resilience to deal with every day challenges, not to speak about ‘heavy stuff’, opening the probability to increased failure at school, socially, professionally, in relationships… and to develop addictions… as coping strategies. Can you tell more about the research you mentioned: “when an emotional trauma is cleared the subconscious mind will release the established coping mechanism as no longer being necessary.”
Hello EA Helwick,
I am wondering if you are familiar with the work of Courtney Armstrong, Bruce Ecker, or the work of Jon Connelly with Rapid Resolution therapy. I mention these individuals because they target the negative emotional meaning attached to the traumatic experience and destabilize it by either creating an experience that is a mismatch for the old held belief or bringing into awareness contradictory ways of perceiving that same event so the the new held belief or perspective supplants the old distorted belief. Their work sounds very much in line with your statement, “When an emotional trauma is cleared the subconsious mind will release the established coping mechanism as no longer being necessary.” Basically they update a memory using memory reconsolidation. Is this the research you refer to? Do you have information I could get my eyes on that would expand upon that which you have shared?
Thanks for providing an overview of a history of views and treatments for trauma.
I would like to hear more on neurofeedback, limbic system therapy, and other brain and body-oriented approaches that include a polyvagal perspective.
I am interested for myself who had multiple early infancy, childhood and adult traumas, including physical abuse at ages 1-6 months old. As well I was exposed to D.E.S. (diethylstilbestrol) in utero, which has proven through recent studies to have had an 83% effect of psychological disturbances in those exposed. ( it was the next ” wonder drug” after thelydamide). I have spent a lifetime searching for proper suppport and have found some therapies to be most useful, too many to name.
Thanks kindly
ML
This “Third Wave” has been long used by those involved in the creation of alters through ritual abuse and calculated mind control. True we use it thru things like EFT, EMDR and NFL – but “they” also use these methods.
Working with the vagus nerve through a breathing exercise given to me by an enlightened physical therapist has been helpful. I take a breath, hold the breath, then shift between pushing my abdomen out and the push my chest out. Thank you for your work.
I am interested in working with therapists as a massage therapist and bodyworker.
I want to explore the impact of safe, soothing touch integrated before (after, or both) the therapist session.
I have found a little time gently softening the body allows more spontaneous release of stress and tension than can be achieved without, regardless of technique.
As a person living a life of trauma recovery for decades, i know first hand the physical pain of mental illness. We have tools to relieve some of those pains. Let’s use them!
Abbie Yandle, LMBT
NC #2796
I am a LMHCA in WA state and use Lifespan Integration treatment for trauma. I have also been a client of this mind body therapy and it has changed my life. I am grateful for all of the research and practice that has brought trauma treatment to this point. However, I am also in agreement with Bessel Van der Kolk that PTSD and trauma from long term abuse need to be handled differently. Any thoughts about this?
I have worked for several years ( and written my dissertation on it ) with the way somatic bodywork such as the Rosen Method is a way to release trauma in a safe and profound way that truly shifts the client’s experience and outlook on life and allows for profound post traumatic growth experiences. The term relational Somatic Presence that I coined in this work stands for a certain way the therapist relates to the client and brings her own authentic presence into the process.
I would be happy to share more about my research, and this powerful method !
I tried talk therapy, which was less than satisfactory. I received training in Traumatic Incident Reduction, an in vivo exposure technique, which seemed almost too violent for some people. Now I am practicing with sensorimotor techniques, which seem to hold promise. Most people are very receptive, able to use the tools, and find so e measure of relief.
I work with wives and partners of compulsive-abusive sexual-relational disordered men (often mis-diagnosed as sex addicts). When Dr. Steffens’ research showed that wives and partners were more correctly diagnosed with post traumatic stress symptoms (nearly 70% with PTSD) instead of codependence, the world of healing opened up. Women started to get better. Even if I can only get then to do breathing at first, symptoms are diminished and managed more effectively. Their ability to concentrate and process information returns, and they make better decisions for themselves and their children. Sometimes these women have come from other treatment streams that use the word trauma but don’t actually treat it. I am struck be how many of these women were constantly shamed and berated for “not getting over” what happened. It became clear to me that the counsellor’s trust in the woman’s capacity to get better and affirmation for each step in healing process was critical for recovery.
Diane thank you for sharing. I’m so glad the women affected have your support. Sounds like you’re doing some truly magnificent work.
Loving all this. I have been on a mission all my life to deal with my childhood trauma and I have tried many of the therapies that u talk about above and more. After many years you tend to give up hope because although you are very knowledgeable, the trauma and the symptoms remain. Phase 3 has very much given me renewed hope. Thank you
It is very exciting times. I also feel that there is a fourth area of the brain to to be explored – the role of the cerebellum in relation to freeze in relation to the importance of mindful movement as a healing approach. Also the importance of the voice/ hearing is rarely mentioned and is so important in ventral vagus healing. So often PTSD involves long periods of silence in freeze because there are no words to describe what is being experienced. Just sounding on the out breath can be very healing.
s a psychologist working with people who are working through trauma and as a woman healing herself I can see that a one size fits all approach does not work. Our understanding of how trauma works and the fact that our traumatic experiences our lived in our body naturally will inform us to create tools and processes that can facilitate wholeness. However, it seems that each person’s journey will be different and what that person needs to heal will also be different. Personally, I have sought many body based therapies and sometimes dance and journalling will be all I need to work through whatever I am experiencing. At other times I have wanted to talk or be supported from a therapist who can create a safe space. Ultimately though what I have found that works the best is for me to create a safe place inside of me. Inviting, holding, accepting, softening into numbness, pain, frozen parts of ourselves can go a long way to ease us back into the flow of life.
Thank you, Ruth, for inviting us all into this conversation. Your work is much appreciated!!
Hello from Iowa! I’ve worked primarily with complex trauma throughout my career and I agree it is an exciting time but I think we have far to go. I use E.M.D.R, E.F.T, art and play therapies, and guided meditation to access that right brain toward integration of trauma into the client’s narrative. I wish i was taught these techniques right out of school years ago. But thanks to the work by many wonderful pioneers and researchers in the field of trauma, I’ve learned much over the last decade. When treatment works for someone who believed they would suffer for the rest of their lives, it feels like a miracle. We have to keep exploring new treatments and training the next generation of young therapists. I really appreciate your trainings and articles and share insights with my colleagues. Your work and the work of the practitioners is important! Thank You!
As a psychologist working with people who are working through trauma and as a woman healing herself I can see that a one size fits all approach does not work. Our understanding of how trauma works and the fact that our traumatic experiences our lived in our body naturally will inform us to create tools and processes that can facilitate wholeness. However it seems that each person’s journey will be different and what that person needs to heal will also be different. Personally I have sought many body based therapies and sometimes dance and journalling will be all I need to work through whatever I am experiencing. . At other times I have wanted to talk or be supported from a therapist who can create a safe space. Ultimately though what I have found that works the best is for me to create a safe place inside of me. Inviting, holding, accepting, sofening into numbness, pain, frozen parts of ourselves can go along way to ease us back into the the flow of life.
Thank you Ruth for inviting us all into this conversation. Your work is much appreciated!!
Also, EMDR is a combination of light, tolerable exposure and cognitive interventions – the bi-lateral stimulation works with the way the brain works to properly store memories and end re-experiencing. I would not list it with guided imagery and hypnosis though I understand why one might.