The window of tolerance is such an important concept when we’re working with trauma and dysregulation. For clients who have experienced trauma, that window often becomes quite narrow. They may space out and dissociate, or get too angry or anxious to focus. Or, they might fluctuate between hyper- and hypo-arousal. When they’re too far outside…

Trauma can have a profound impact on a person’s memory . . . . . . and traumatic memory can affect not only the brain, but also the body and nervous system as well. But conceptualizing how trauma can impact the different types of memory can be challenging, so we created a free tool for…

When it comes to the treatment of trauma, our work often centers on our clients’ feelings and sensations . . . . . . and sometimes, those sensations can present as physical pain. In the video below, Peter Levine, PhD shares a powerful story of how he helped a man trace the source of his…

Caring for someone with PTSD can sometimes lead to secondary trauma. And researchers at the University of Utah wondered just how bad that secondary trauma could be. While completing her graduate studies, Catherine Caska Wallace, PhD and her research team studied two groups of male veterans, along with their female partners. In 32 couples, the…

When a person experiences trauma, there’s one key factor that can play an important role in whether or not PTSD symptoms develop – and that’s secure attachment. But what happens when someone has never had a connection to a secure attachment figure? How can we help our client build the feelings of safety that are…

After trauma, our clients are often left with many painful sensations and emotions . . . . . . including shame and guilt. And that’s especially true if they weren’t able to protect themselves or escape. That’s why it can be so useful to help our clients understand how their brain and body did work…