A phase-oriented framework can organize attention to safety and regulation, processing traumatic experiences, and integration into everyday life. These concerns may overlap or recur; they are not a universal sequence every person must complete. Treatment decisions should reflect your needs, preferences and the evidence for the particular approach.
When treating trauma with prolonged exposure therapywithout titration, feelings of powerlessness and loss of control can reactivate for the person and cause them to re-live the traumatic experience in the moment. That means that a person can be again overwhelmed or distressed and there isn’t really any kind of movement forward, though healing or comfort, but a re-experiencing. Distressing reactions during treatment need careful assessment and do not automatically establish harm or retraumatization. The term sometimes used is traumatization. I have many clients who have experienced traumatization and the counter therapeutic results can be greater degrees of avoidance and prolonged time in phase one. Re-experiencing trauma in treatment, is not always unexpected, nor is it particularly welcomed.
Trauma therapies, are circling and moving towards centre of distress in a client We go towards the trauma and then steering away, and then circling and coming back and then steering away. Titrating our way towards the greatest distress but regulating the overwhelming emotions that can be activated. Then when the time is right going through the trauma once then steering away again. Then ultimately as we build on the felt feelings of relief and progress, we stay a little closer a little longer till finally we can sit with this trauma and go into it deeper. We safely process the trauma by finding any unfinished grief and loss. We resolve the defensive reactions and calm the nervous system. Then we are through it.
We know there is growth and healing when the defensive responses are replaced with a deep feeling of relief and renewed creativity, meaning, purpose and self-compassion. These are indicators that the person has gone through the trauma in a way that leaves them feeling relief, comfort and new life. Spending time staying with this new way of experiencing the event helps consolidate the changes and deepens new cognitive and emotional patterns. I’ve gone through it in a way that has left me feeling relief, comfort and new life.
Understand trauma therapy approaches, their research foundations, and how Gentle Currents therapists connect treatment with your experiences and goals.
A phase-oriented framework can help organize trauma care. Explore safety, processing and integration alongside individual goals and research-supported treatment.
Choosing a trauma counsellor involves relevant treatment training, research-informed care and a relationship that respects safety, choice and collaboration.
A traumatic incident frequently causes the mind, and body to be overwhelmed with feelings of powerlessness, horror and terror. Traumatic stress has the same effect.
Understand PTSD symptoms, military and first responder experiences, family life and treatment choices, with research and clinical perspectives connected with Dr. Michael “Mike” Dadson’s work.
