A lot of trauma therapists focus on using talk therapy to help their clients work through the traumatic events they have experienced. But this method has not been shown to be very effective. This is why there has been a shift toward the internal family systems model. Today, we know that focusing on the event [...]
In Canada, approximately six million people (21% of the total population), will experience addiction at some point in their lives. Despite the fact that so many are left devastated by this, it’s still so widely misunderstood, especially when it comes to sex addiction. Urges to engage in behaviors that are difficult or even impossible to [...]
In our last post, we introduced the idea of Self-Leadership and how the 8 Cs play a critical role in getting to that place. We discussed: • Calmness • Clarity • Curiosity • Compassion We would like to continue along that same train of thought and talk about the last 4 Cs, which are just [...]
In past posts, we have talked at great length about the Self and its place in the lives of trauma victims. It can be a hard concept to grasp, but once you understand it, it can change so much about how you see yourself and the world around you. Self-leadership is the goal, and moving [...]
Memories play a big role in a trauma survivor’s life. Without being able to distinguish between the event and the memories of the event, a trauma victim could have devastating consequences from those memories. And these could last for many, many years, even longer than the traumatic experience. What are Trigger Memories? Triggers are stimuli [...]
A trauma victim can face many difficulties when trying to express everything that occurred in a traumatic event. They have to recount the trauma to numerous people that could include police, loved ones and a therapist. With every recollection of this trauma, the victim’s mind and body tries to adapt to circumstances beyond their control. [...]
In order for people to release their Self, they first need to know that it is there. The concept is a fairly simple one, though it can be a difficult one to grasp for someone who is a trauma victim. It is said that when someone asked Michelangelo how he created the David from a [...]
Everything can change once you successfully access your Self. Not only will you be able to relate better to the different parts that are within you, but you will also have the courage to better relate to the people around you as well. If you have yet to experience your Self, it just means that [...]
A trauma victim’s symptoms represent memories that their “parts” use to express survival responses. The victim continues to feel like they are not safe; as if something is happening to threaten their wellbeing immediately. This causes them to react in defense. This is a misinterpretation of the traumatic response and it only causes the fragmented [...]
Trauma typically will leave its mark in ways that do not fit traditional treatment methods. For example, it stands to reason that a victim would feel relieved when they tell their therapist everything that they have gone through. But instead, they often feel exposed or ashamed. What is considered “normal” therapy does not always work [...]