Comments on: How do You Heal Trauma Without Re-traumatizing?

By: John Lee LMHC

John Lee LMHC — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:12:34 +0000

A chill went up my spine, when the author refered to “Internal Family Systems” While in Graduate School, I joined a “Family Systems Group” led by one of my professors.
Being in Practice and working with prople who suffer from Chronic Mental Illness, I have witnessed the damage “well intentioned” people have in trying to get a person to return to the horror of their trauma! I am a PTSD, sexual assault survivor! That part of me does come out at times with a scent in the air. I found it best to get in the moment using my 5 senses. What I feel, What I see, What I hear what ever to change the chanel in my head and let go of the horror that emerged from my unconsciousness!

I had back surgery last fall. Would it make sense to reopen the wound on my back? No! I need to know my limitations and learn the skills to “Let Go” and re chanel my focus on the now!

By: Art Becker-Weidman

Art Becker-Weidman — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:26:02 +0000

Have you looked at Principles of Trauma Therapy by Briere & Scott? I found this an excellent book. He presents the concept of Therapeutic Window. This idea is that the therapist must work with the client to have some affect present by revisiting the trauma, but not so much that the person is dysregulated; hence the idea of window with a sill to stay over and a top to stay below.
Nice article, thanks.

By: Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:57:58 +0000

I,too, specialize in trauma work in my practice. I enjoyed your article, and the question. I agree, containment of overwhelming experiences (feelings, thoughts, images, sounds, and body sensations etc) is such a key part of this work. As you indicated, the wounded parts of self are so often needed to be “approached” and “modulated.”

For me, the parts of the client that can provide containment are the ones that the client identifies as being the most capable of doing so. I always want to learn the “role” of each part, its function, before doing the trauma work. I then ask that part permission for it do be part of the “team” that will work on the trauma. Once each part has identified its role, and has voiced its opinion on “doing the work” I can then identify who to “go to” to find the client’s internal resource.

As a result, the client’s system, itself, gives me the message about how to contain what is triggering and overwhelming in that moment. I then ask the part that “knows the most about” the trauma being worked on and the part that knows about comfort, to try to work together. Again, everyone’s system is different, and every internal system of containing is different. Nevertheless, I find that working with each part’s role makes a huge difference, and helps the client find his or her internal resources as well. It also helps me to gain an alliance with the rest of the client’s internal system, by us negotiating how we will work together to process and release the trauma.

Thanks so much for this question. Very thought provoking!