When we begin to work through a client’s trauma history, shame can sometimes bring the therapeutic process to a standstill. So, how do we help clients begin to unpack deep layers of shame without halting their progress? In the clip below, Bessel van der Kolk, MD gets into a parts approach for working with trauma-induced […]
[Infographic] 4 Signs of the Attach/Cry-for-Help Response
When people are in distress, seeking out the support and comfort of others can be a natural response. But for clients who’ve experienced trauma, this response can sometimes signal something more. Their persistent attempts to elicit help from others may indicate that they’re stuck in the attach/cry-for-help response. So how can we better recognize this […]
How to work with Shutdown vs. Freeze – with Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD
In the face of a traumatic experience, some clients become unable to move. This can sometimes indicate that a client is experiencing either a freeze response or a shutdown response to trauma. And according to Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD, there are key neurological differences that can help us distinguish between the two . . . […]
2 Strategies for Working with the Freeze Response
As therapists, we may sometimes feel unsure about what to do when a client enters a freeze response and loses their ability to speak. What’s more, it can be difficult to gauge a client’s sense of safety when they’re unable to talk to us. So in the video below, Janina Fisher, PhD walks us through […]
Stephen Porges, PhD on Helping Clients Regulate Distressing Emotions
For many clients, stress can feel like a natural byproduct of having a family, holding down a job, pursuing an advanced degree, or keeping up with the hectic pace of life in general. The problem is, when stress becomes chronic it can impact their brain, body, and virtually every aspect of their life. So how […]