Can trauma haunt the body the same way it haunts memories? According to Stephen Porges, PhD, and polyvagal theory, not only does the body remember a traumatic experience, but it can actually get stuck in the trauma response mode. So even when the threat is gone, the body still perceives danger and its defenses stay […]
How to Work with Trauma without Triggering Fear
We know plenty of strategies for engaging our trauma patients. But do we know what to avoid? How to help patients heal is not always clear. And trauma patients, given all their diverse history and symptoms, can be some of the most challenging. So it almost goes without saying that, when working with clients who […]
Self-Compassion: The Secret to Reducing PTSD Symptoms?
One thing that can frequently increase the suffering of many patients with PTSD is shame. Even worse, shame can limit a patient’s treatment – even if they objectively know that there’s nothing to be ashamed of. But is there a way to trade self-judgment for self-compassion? And would that reduce a client’s symptoms? Asle Hoffart, […]
Helping Trauma Patients Shed Feelings of Shame
For someone who’s experienced trauma, feelings of shame often remain long after the painful event. So how can practitioners help clients begin to reclaim a sense of self-worth? Kerstin Jung, PhD and Regina Steil, PsyD, at Goethe University Frankfurt, in Frankfurt, Germany, wanted to find out whether Cognitive Restructuring and Imagery Modification (CRIM) could empower […]
Working with Memory to Reframe a Traumatic Experience
A single moment can last forever in the memory . . . Now when the memory is of something special, a time or an event that we hold dear, reliving the experience can feel almost as good as the actual moment did. But when someone is remembering a traumatic experience, that memory can trigger a […]