When a client struggles with emotional triggers, they may find themselves stuck in cycles of reactivity and overwhelm. Not only can this be mentally and physically exhausting for your client, but it often has an impact on everyone around them – including those they love the most and hold most dear. So, in the video […]
Reporting In – Giving Back in 2022
When I was young, my father and mother emphasized how important it is to give as you have received. You see, they taught us to tithe at least 10% of our allowance to the church each week. And on top of that, we were encouraged to give more to those in need. It’s a lesson […]
A Polyvagal Approach to Working with Shame – with Stephen Porges, PhD
According to Stephen Porges, PhD, some of our traditional psychotherapeutic approaches to working with shame may inadvertently amplify it. So in the video below, Stephen outlines a Polyvagal approach that can help us avoid reinforcing shame, and instead, resource clients to regulate themselves as they process that shame. Have a look. Click here for […]
Treating Relational Trauma – with Terry Real, MSW, LICSW
For many clients, the effects of trauma can impact almost every relationship they have – from casual to the most intimate. So how can we address the relational side of trauma while also helping clients process traumatic events? In the video below, Terry Real, MSW, LICSW shares a case example to help illustrate how you […]
Working with Trauma-Induced Shame – with Bessel van der Kolk, MD
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 […]
A Mindfulness Exercise To Ease Patterns of Blame – with Zindel Segal, PhD
For some clients, their go-to response to hurt or disappointment may be to find something (or more often someone) to blame it on. And when that blame is accompanied by anger and harsh criticism, it can wreak havoc on their relationships. So how can we help clients begin to manage distressing emotions, instead of jumping […]