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

Lora Blazina, Clinical Director Life Healing Center Santa Fe, NM Treating Complex Trauma Emotional Regulation and Inner Child Rescue

Impact of Insecure Attachment Theory Attachment on Development of CPTSD Overview of Learning Emotional Connecting with Treatment for Regulation Skills not Developed in Original Internalized Inner Child Developmental Stages. Complex PTSD Healthy Adult Creating a Secure Relationships Exist When Attachment with Inner Each Partner Takes Care Child of Their Own Inner Child’s Needs

Mary Ainsworth: The Strange Situation Experiment Secure Attachment: Marked by a felt sense of safety Attachment Preoccupied Attachment: marked by need for reassurance of Theory and Its safe and steady connection, without ever feeling that it has been fully secured Implications 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

Trauma is defined as a perception of a life threatening event. Insecure Complex trauma is rooted in little “t” and big “T” Attachment traumas during fundamental developmental stages which impact the development of the and Complex brain, nervous system and endocrine system. Trauma 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.

• 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. The first phase of treating complex • In an insecure attachment relationship, the child does not have this trauma is learning experience, and it can seem impossible how to self to achieve soothe. • 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

• 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… The Significance of • Emotional self-care Self Care • Physical self-care • Inspirational self-care

• Mindfulness Learning • Tracking body sensations Emotional • Developing Emotional Literacy • Learning and practicing how to soothe Regulation in through the different sensory Adolescence and “channels” (ie. Visual, olfactory, Adulthood auditory, taste and touch)

• DBT is the gold standard for learning emoitional regulation skills • Dialectal behavioral therapy was Dialectical developed through a combinations of Buddihts mindfulness and cognative Behavioral behavioral therapy. Therapy (DBT) • 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