Understanding Trauma and Healing through Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Somatic experiencing.
The word trauma often evokes images of natural disaster or chronic child abuse, while these events are undeniably traumatic, a trauma response can come from a wide range of experiences, such as a parent being unable to meet our needs for safety, emotional support or physical needs.
Trauma is a response that occurs when our needs are not met as children, or we experience something harmful as an adult.
Trauma is an emotional response to an experience that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope. This could stem from a single incident, like a car accident or a natural disaster, or from prolonged experiences such as ongoing abuse or neglect. Trauma is at the root of our deepest wounds and the cause of so much suffering in adult life. Trauma is the response to the event or experience, not the experience in itself. Trauma is what happens inside of us, the wound that is inflicted. While this may sound demotivating, this is, in fact, the good news.
The experience can never be changed, however the response within us can be healed, we can understand our experiences, make sense of our reactions and feel empowered to respond in a different way.
The Impact of Trauma.
The impact of trauma is profound and multifaceted, affecting individuals on emotional, psychological, and physiological levels. Emotionally, trauma can lead to feelings of intense fear, helplessness, and anxiety. Psychologically, it might manifest as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health disorders. Physiologically, trauma can alter the brain's structure and function, affecting areas responsible for stress response, memory, and emotion regulation. These changes can lead to symptoms like hypervigilance, insomnia, and physical ailments such as headaches and digestive issues.
Trauma also affects relationships and social interactions. Individuals may struggle with trust, intimacy, and connection, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. The ripple effect of trauma can thus permeate every aspect of a person's life, making the healing process seem daunting, however there is hope, many trauma survivors underestimate their own resilience and the possibility of recovery and growth, trauma can lead to a disconnect with the self, however therapy is a path to finding yourself again and fostering self compassion. Trauma responses are normal responses o abnormal situations, trauma responses can lead to survivors feeling isolated and that they are broken or abnormal, this couldn’t be further from the truth, survivors are left with a wound that requires careful and compassion care. Gabor Mate, trauma specialist stated “Healing is not fixing something broken, but discovering something previously unseen." Therapy can help find the unseen resources that trauma has taught us to distrust.
How Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Works with Trauma
I use the Psychodynamic approach to delve into the unconscious mind to uncover unresolved conflicts and past experiences that influence present behaviour and emotions. It is particularly effective for trauma because it addresses the root causes rather than just the symptoms. Leading to lasting change and a feeling of choice and control.
Therapy can help by;
Exploring the Unconscious: Psychodynamic therapy helps individuals access and understand unconscious thoughts and feelings related to their trauma. By bringing these buried emotions to the surface, individuals can begin to process and integrate their experiences.
Understanding Patterns: This approach helps individuals recognise patterns in their thoughts, behaviours, and relationships that stem from their trauma. By understanding these patterns, they can begin to change maladaptive behaviours and develop healthier ways of coping.
Therapeutic Relationship: The relationship between the therapist and the client is central to psychodynamic therapy. A safe, trusting relationship allows the individual to explore their trauma without fear of judgment. The therapist provides a supportive environment where the patient can express their feelings and thoughts freely, fostering a sense of security and acceptance.
Working Through: This phase involves revisiting traumatic experiences in a controlled, therapeutic setting. Through guided exploration, individuals can confront and process their trauma, which helps diminish its power over their lives. This process can be emotionally intense but is crucial for healing.
Building Resilience: As individuals work through their trauma, they develop greater self-awareness and emotional resilience. They learn to understand their triggers, manage their responses, and build healthier coping mechanisms. Over time, this leads to improved mental health and a more balanced life.
Body and mind connection in the healing of trauma
Psychiatrist and trauma expert, Bessel van der Kolk, said: “Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body.”. In his book “the body keeps the score” he highlights the importance of key factors in the healing of trauma.
The importance of safety and stability: Having a therapist who can create a sense of safety and stability is a key part of recovery. This can be achieved by building a trusting relationship with your therapist and the therapist helping you to use grounding techniques and strategies within sessions.
Creative therapeutic intervention. Encouraging individuals to express themselves via activities like dance, yoga, creative writing, journalling and art can be powerful tools to express and process emotion to support talking therapy.
Trauma informed physical exercise: Activities such as walking, swimming or yoga, or any non competitive movement can help release tension and enhance the mind body connection.
Breathing and mindfulness. Safe breathing techniques can help regulate the autonomic nervous system of hyperarousal and promote relation, providing relief in highly stressful situations.
Somatic experiences. Therapist can guide you and help you to understand where you experience trauma in your body and help individuals to release stored tensions.
The Path to Healing
Healing from trauma is a journey that requires time, patience, and commitment. Psychodynamic psychotherapy, accompanied by safe body movement, offers a path that leads not just to symptom relief but to profound personal growth and transformation. The therapy's focus on understanding the deeper layers of the psyche provides a comprehensive approach to healing, addressing both the conscious and unconscious effects of trauma.
Evidence has shown that those who undergo psychodynamic psychotherapy emerge with a renewed sense of self. They often find they have greater emotional strength, enhanced self-awareness, and a better capacity for forming healthy relationships. The process of confronting and understanding trauma can be empowering, leading to a deeper appreciation of one's resilience and capacity for growth.
Trauma can have a significant impact on every aspect of a person's life, however it is possible to heal and thrive. Psychodynamic psychotherapy offers a powerful means of understanding and integrating traumatic experiences, allowing individuals to reclaim their lives and move forward with hope and strength.
You are deserving of help, and with the right support can embark on a journey that is empowering and life changing.
References:
Van der Kolk, B.A., 2014 The body keeps the score: brain, mind and body in the healing of trauma. New York: Viking.
Mate, G., 2022. The myth of normal: Trauma, illness, and the healing in a toxic Culture. New York: Avery.