With more than 5,000 practitioners tuning in to my webinar with Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD this week, I expected some really insightful thoughts on our comment boards. And you didn’t disappoint. I’d like to take a moment to share a few of my favorites with you. First, it’s always wonderful to see practitioners drawing links […]
The brain’s attempt to help us heal from trauma?
When people are jarred from sleep because of a nightmare, the disturbing images can be difficult to shake. Even though they’re “just dreams,” nightmares can be very upsetting and can sometimes haunt us long after we’ve awoken. But believe it or not, there may be a good reason for them. Nightmares are part of the […]
Could simply writing about trauma reduce PTSD symptoms?
People sometimes privately express in a diary thoughts that they don’t feel comfortable sharing with others. But does this process actually contribute to healing? A recent study led by Gail Ironson, MD, PhD, from the University of Miami, investigated whether a written trauma disclosure intervention would be effective with populations of HIV infected individuals. Dr. […]
Do stress and emotional trauma affect child development?
Can trauma pass from parent to child? It’s an interesting question. Some leading-edge research suggests that it’s possible – trauma felt by survivors might even affect their children’s gene expression. But we don’t need epigenetics to study how trauma strikes across generations. For example, researchers at Auburn University studied a more mundane form of intergenerational […]
How PTSD changes children’s brains
Trauma can change the brain . . . . . . but it doesn’t just change the survivor’s brain. In fact, it can actually change the brains of the survivor’s children – in some pretty insidious ways. Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD explains how traumatic experiences can affect a mother’s children, even if the children themselves […]
How to heal trauma through community: A trauma therapy network
More than 6,000 practitioners from 59 different countries – including Ireland, Costa Rica, and Lebanon – tuned in to Peter Levine’s webinar on Wednesday night. And many of those folks left some really remarkable feedback. The comments section was full of insightful, perceptive thoughts on my webinar with Dr. Levine. And we’re just getting started. […]
Preventing post traumatic stress disorder with immediate trauma therapy
We see clients who were traumatized as children, and yet their experiences may only be bubbling to the surface now. And sometimes, the longer traumatic experiences lie in the subconscious, the more disruptive they can be to our clients’ lives. But an interesting study conducted by Emory University researchers raises an important possibility. What if […]
Helping Survivors Feel Safe Again With Trauma Treatment
One of psychological trauma’s most insidious effects is how radically and completely it can take away someone’s sense of safety. That’s often why job number one for many practitioners is making sure to create a safe space for trauma survivors within the confines of treatment, which is essential . . . . . . but […]
What Does Beethoven Have in Common with Jimi Hendrix?
A while ago, I went to a concert at the University of Connecticut. An orchestra from Germany was playing the music of Beethoven, but I came away with an appreciation of . . . . . . Jimi Hendrix? It might sound rather unlikely, but stay with me here. Because as it turns out, even […]
A new beginning for mindfulness
Mindfulness can be a foundation for something big. If you have a mindfulness practice, you know how motivating and energizing it can be. But as I read through people’s thoughts on the comment boards, I noticed a powerful theme. . . . . . new beginnings. Practitioners from around the world were sharing their hopes […]