Working through trauma can trigger many perceived threats for our clients. They might start to breath rapidly and find it hard to hold still, or perhaps they start to freeze up during the session. So what are some practical ways to calm the nervous system and keep a client grounded – especially when they begin […]
When a Client Is Stuck in the Freeze Response
What triggers the freeze response? We tend to think of traumatic events, but according to Peter Levine, PhD, that’s not always the case. Even a perceived threat can be enough for a client to get stuck in a frozen state. So how can we help clients who are stuck in the freeze response to move […]
Working with the Trauma of Racism
Racism can be deeply traumatic. And for one teenager who was repeatedly experiencing racism, it was triggering a freeze response. So how did Thema Bryant, PhD work with her? She’ll share her approach in the video below. Thema will also explain the difference between traditional trauma therapy and liberation therapy, and why liberation therapy can […]
COVID-19 Frontliners and Moral Injury
The COVID-19 pandemic has put immense strain on healthcare workers around the world. They’ve had to make impossible decisions, work in unsafe conditions, and often still feel like they didn’t do enough to help. For some frontliners, they will emerge from the pandemic with moral injuries similar to what we see in soldiers who’ve been […]
When the COVID-19 Pandemic Leaves Us Feeling Helpless
For most patients, the COVID-19 crisis has created a “new normal.” They may be stuck at home, unable to work, or feeling isolated from dear friends and family. This all can leave people feeling helpless. So what can we do to help patients regain a sense of agency during the pandemic? Bessel van der Kolk, […]