After trauma, it can seem like the lower brain – the parts responsible for our emotional reactions and our defense system – has been severed from the upper thinking brain. This can leave clients feeling the heat of their emotions, but without insight or cognitive reflection. So when we think about treating trauma, our clinical […]
Is There a Factor That Can Predict PTSD Development in War Veterans?
In a conversation about PTSD, my colleague, Pat Ogden, PhD told me that many of her clients struggling with PTSD also had insecure attachments. Often, these clients were veterans whose insecure attachments predisposed them to develop PTSD after combat. This conversation got me wondering whether there were other predictors of PTSD aside from insecure attachment. […]
How a Caregiver’s Trauma Can Impact a Child’s Development [Infographic]
When someone experiences trauma, its physical and emotional effects can sometimes impact their children – and the impact of trauma on child development can begin in utero. You see, during times of stress, the body releases the hormone cortisol. As you may know, that’s one of the ways our body helps us cope with physically or emotionally difficult situations. But […]
How Might Epigenetics Influence the Link between PTSD and Inflammation?
Is there a link between PTSD and our body’s immune response? Well, research published in the Journal of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity has stretched beyond focusing on what happens to the body’s nervous and endocrine systems after trauma. . . . . . and researchers have discovered a connection between trauma and the body’s immune […]
One Common Mistake Practitioners Make That Can Heighten a Client’s Shame
Working with a client who struggles with deep feelings of shame can often be a delicate and nuanced process . . . . . . and according to Peter Levine, PhD, there’s one mistake practitioners sometimes make that can send clients even further into shameful feelings. Here, Peter will share what that mistake is – […]