Object Relations Theory, a psychoanalytic principle developed in the mid 1900s by various psychoanalysts including Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott, outlines the way that individuals absorb their early childhood experiences and have a mysterious way of repeating, or being affected by these early experiences much later in their life as adults.
Read MoreWhile classic or “simple” PTSD is what we often think of when we think of trauma, developmental or complex ptsd is much more common, and in some ways much more insidious. Someone who has suffered from severe complex ptsd might constantly feel like they are unworthy, they might feel a distinct and severe sense of anxiety in close relationships, they might chronically fawn or people-please in order to appease the perceived needs of others, or there might be other complex expressions of insecurity or anxiety in relationships.
Read MoreFight, flight, freeze, and fawn are four common reactions we see when someone has endured a traumatic experience. In trauma healing, understanding and reconciling the reactions of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn is essential to heal post-traumatic stress.
Read MoreWe all have parts of ourselves that are sometimes difficult to love. Learning to cope with and be with the difficult parts of ourselves is an essential step towards healing and self acceptance. Learning to accept these “difficult” parts is an important part of trauma healing, healing from depression, anxiety, or low self esteem.
Read MoreI want to talk about an acronym that I found really useful in working with some of my clients lately. This acronym is from some mindfulness meditation teachers, and they use it to describe a process of managing through thoughts when you're in meditation. It’s a way to deal with thought patterns that might be getting in the way of your focus. The acronym is R-A-I-N, and it stands for Recognize, Accept, Investigate and Nurture.
Read MoreBoundaries are extremely important because they create the space in your life you need to thrive. Understanding what boundaries you need for yourself and setting them in an effective and clear way with the people around you will help you to feel supported in your life and will allow you to get your needs met.
Read MoreTrauma affects not only psychological health, but also has deep impacts on your nervous system and brain functioning. There are physical impacts in the brain, nervous system and body of a trauma survivor. Some psychology researchers like Bessel van der Kolk assert that traumatic events are stored in the physical body and have a fundamentally somatic component to them.
Read MoreHave you ever wondered how your family history might be affecting your mental and emotional wellbeing? Intergenerational trauma has a model that might help explain how your family history might be affecting you today.
Read MoreYour beliefs about yourself, how you talk to yourself, and the actions and thought patterns throughout your life will build up or break down your self compassion muscle. Here are some ways I have found that help you start to build a sense of love and compassion for yourself.
Read MoreIf you have suffered from trauma, the idea of addressing it can feel completely overwhelming. However, healing is possible, and there are several common steps in trauma healing which often follow a similar pattern.
Read MoreWhen trauma occurs it has a profound impact on your psychological health, and it also has a deep impact on your nervous system and how you react to future experiences. If you have experienced trauma, it is important to understand how it might be affecting your life today.
Read MoreIf you suffer from trauma and experience triggers in your day to day life it’s important that you have a game plan for what to do when these feelings arise. In these states it can be difficult to think clearly or resource yourself, so it is very helpful to think in advance of what you will do if your trauma is triggered. Here are some suggestions for how to manage your trauma triggers when they emerge.
Often in this fast paced culture we live in it can be difficult to find time for self-care. So often I hear of clients who are struggling to keep up with all the expectations people have of them in their lives. With all this focus outside of yourself, when do you take the time to focus internally on your emotions, thoughts, desires, and needs?
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