It is easy to think that the aftereffects of trauma are only experienced in the brain, but that is not exactly how it works. Quite often, those effects become evident physically as well. This is because as they begin to feel empathy toward their parts emotionally, their bodies feel it as well. These can actually impede their progress as they heal.
I want to take a closer look at how trauma can become evidenced in trauma victims physically as well as psychologically. It is important to correct that as well because eventually it can drastically slow the healing process or even halt it altogether.
An Example of the Physical Trauma Expression
In her book, Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors, Janina Fisher discusses how the body can become impacted by traumatic experiences. She points to a client of hers named Ted, who was successful in business until that success triggered post-traumatic memories. He became very depressed and struggled to function. But Ted’s battles were not only in his mind; his body was demonstrably affected as well. He looked down at the floor and could not maintain eye contact. His spine was collapsed and his walk was even duck-like and awkward. In a sense, he was “wearing” his traumatic response.
Fisher was counselling him one day when she suddenly began to feel the same way he claimed he felt. She lost all her energy, felt helpless, and even began to question herself and her abilities as a therapist. When she verbalized this fact to him, he suddenly became very animated because he finally felt understood.
As that understanding became clear, Ted started to change. He sat up straight in his chair and looked more alive than he had ever felt before. Eventually, they stood up together and it was as though Ted became a different person altogether. He verbalized that it had been a long time since he felt like a real man.
The Importance of Movement Interventions
In Ted’s case, using movement interventions that come from sensorimotor psychotherapy had the ability to change what was happening inside of him. His body language effectively convinced the depressed Part that he was no longer alone and that he was understood. He had not felt that way in a very long time.
This type of therapy requires the therapist to change their approach. Instead of being just a listener, they become an educator. Instead of being a facilitator, they become a role model. Traditional therapy demands that the therapist emphasize the client as a whole person and not as a fragmented person with various parts. But we know now that this approach is not the most effective. The goal is to restore order and offer a sense of stability so that the client can feel free to see the different Parts and perspectives that lie inside of them.
If this type of trauma therapy sounds different from anything you have experienced, that is because it probably is. I would love the chance to talk with you about how I can help you. Please contact me today for an appointment.
