Treating Complex Trauma Emotional Regulation and Inner Child Rescue - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Treating Complex Trauma

Emotional Regulation and Inner Child Rescue

Lora Blazina, Clinical Director Life Healing Center Santa Fe, NM

Overview of Treatment for Complex PTSD

Attachment Theory Impact of Insecure Attachment on Development of CPTSD Learning Emotional Regulation Skills not Developed in Original Developmental Stages. Connecting with Internalized Inner Child Creating a Secure Attachment with Inner Child Healthy Adult Relationships Exist When Each Partner Takes Care

• f Their Own Inner

Child’s Needs

Attachment Theory and Its Implications

Mary Ainsworth: The Strange Situation Experiment Secure Attachment: Marked by a felt sense of safety Preoccupied Attachment: marked by need for reassurance of safe and steady connection, without ever feeling that it has been fully secured Avoidant Attachment: Child has given up on attaining a safe and secure attachment and has resigned to being an island… Disorganized attachment: No sense of connection, marked by chaotic relationships and lifestyle

Insecure Attachment and Complex Trauma

Trauma is defined as a perception of a life threatening event. Complex trauma is rooted in little “t” and big “T” traumas during fundamental developmental stages which impact the development of the brain, nervous system and endocrine system. The chronic experience of not feeling safe, especially when one in unable to be self- sustaining, is equivalent to a trauma that may seem more obviously life threatening.

The first phase of treating complex trauma is learning how to self soothe.

• In a secure attachment relationship

with a primary care taker, a child internalizes the felt sense of being soothed and comforted, leading to a felt sense of safety in the world.

• In an insecure attachment relationship,

the child does not have this experience, and it can seem impossible to achieve

• However, we can LEARN how to self

soothe in adulthood

There is no such thing as a baby alone in the world…

Working within the Window of Tolerance

The Significance of Self Care

• Self Care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity

for living a full and healthy life

• Afterall, children need emotional,

physical and inspirational nurturing…

• Emotional self-care
• Physical self-care
• Inspirational self-care

Learning Emotional Regulation in Adolescence and Adulthood

• Mindfulness
• Tracking body sensations
• Developing Emotional Literacy
• Learning and practicing how to soothe

through the different sensory “channels” (ie. Visual, olfactory, auditory, taste and touch)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• DBT is the gold standard for learning

emoitional regulation skills

• Dialectal behavioral therapy was

developed through a combinations of Buddihts mindfulness and cognative behavioral therapy.

• Adherent DBT clinics offer weekly

sessions, weekly groups and coaching calls to help clients get the support needed to incorporate healthy self- soothing later in life.

Befriending our inner child requires changes in our core beliefs.

Through Experiential Therapies, Positive Cognitions Towards the Inner Child, are Integrated into the Adult Sense of Self

Healing Isolation In Safe Connection