When a client experiences trauma in childhood, and they aren’t able to develop crucial attachment relationships . . . . . . they may struggle to feel any true sense of belonging right up through adulthood. Instead, they can carry painful messages that they’re unwanted, unneeded, and never truly accepted. So in the video below, […]
Challenging the Fear of Abandonment, with Pat Ogden, PhD
When a client fears abandonment, they may desperately reach out for emotional connection in their relationships . . . . . . only to feel pain and heartbreak when their behavior overwhelms the other person and drives them away. And this can especially be the case when it comes to romantic relationships. Over time, this […]
Treating Trauma: How to Work with the Shame of Moral Injury
When a client experiences a moral injury, the guilt, sadness, and shame that come with it can be debilitating. It can create a deep wound at the center of a person’s identity. So how can you help a client who’s suffering from a moral injury begin to heal? In the video below, Ruth Lanius, MD, […]
A Mistake Practitioners Might Make When Their Patient Is Stuck in the “Attach/Cry-for-Help” Response
We know fight, flight, and freeze . . . . . . but recently the experts have identified several more defense responses to trauma, including “attach/cry-for-help.” This response is potentially the least understood, and it can be challenging to work with. And according to Kathy Steele, MN, CS, there’s a common mistake that practitioners make […]
How to Rebuild Secure Attachment After Trauma
When a person experiences trauma, there’s one key factor that can play an important role in whether or not PTSD symptoms develop – and that’s secure attachment. But what happens when someone has never had a connection to a secure attachment figure? How can we help our client build the feelings of safety that are […]