Babette Rothschild's Somatic Trauma Therapy

Acknowledge the hidden learning that occurs through traumatic experiences (Horsman 2000b; Williamson 2000). What is learned from trauma and how might educators respond? Studies of people enduring extreme situations suggest that learning is a key to survival in adversity (Williamson 2000). Successful learning is supposed to occur when conditions are right: accessible opportunities, time, appropriate support, safety, motivation, risks with manageable consequences (ibid.). Yet in extreme situations, learning must take place quickly and without the right conditions. What is learned in response to trauma is influenced by prior knowledge, background, familial and social relationships, and personal qualities and abilities (Pearce 1999; Williamson 2000). This is not to blame the victim for "inappropriate" learning or responses, but to underscore the importance of resources and support and the recognition that learning has to be geared to meet a range of individual needs. Some of the "hidden" learning from trauma includes the following:

Trauma means to tolerate and experience a horrific event, where it is a place for human beings come face to face with their vulnerability. When life bombards us with its surprises, such as war, separation, illness and loss of loved ones. Trauma is an emotional response to a dreadful event like war, rape, molestation, sexually and physically abuse, serious accident. Trauma could result in serious long-term effects on individual’s well-being. After the event, the individuals will be in a state of shock and denial because our brain, mind and body are all connected and unpredictable emotions arise. It overwhelms an individual and put in a state of rage, helplessness and despair. The results such as flashbacks, strained relationships set up physical

*Trauma narrative and processing— Precious will be participating in gradual exposure exercises, which will include verbal, written, or symbolic recollections of the traumatic events that she endured. With these traumatic events will most likely come thoughts that are negative, such as her being overweight is the reason she was abused or simply because she is african american is why she is abused. All of these thoughts have come to Precious’ mind and with this portion of the treatment those negative thoughts would be targeted.

The term “Psychological trauma” refers to damage wrought from a traumatic event, which that damages one’s ability to cope with stressors. “Trauma” is commonly defined as an exposure to a situation in which a person is confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to self or others’ physical well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Specific types of client trauma frequently encountered by which therapists and other mental health workers frequently encounter in a clinical setting include sexual abuse, physical , or sexual assault, natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, domestic violence, and school or/and work related violence (James & Gilliland, 2001). Traumatic

Assessment There are several different assessments that can be used for victims of trauma to determine the level of stress and if a victim is suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The best results will occur if the clinical work is directed at the symptoms expressed by the resulting trauma. When assessing the treatment plan, “the psychic injury caused by the event and its impact on the survivor’s normal life patterns and his or her worldview must be accounted for” (Everstine & Everstine, 2006, p.161). A person

Case Analysis Trauma is an individual’s visceral reaction to a horrible event, events such as early childhood traumas, accidents, sexual abuse, or community violence (apa.org, 2016). An individual may react with shock and denial in the aftermath. As time continues some reactions may comprise of mood swings, intrusive memories, difficulties maintaining relationships and can manifest into physical symptoms to include headache or upset stomach. There are individuals who experience difficulties functioning in their daily lives; these observable responses are a normal response to the trauma (apa.org, 2016).

When I decided to take the trauma course, I was hesitant at first to take it. I did not know what to expect nor felt I would be prepare listen to stories about traumatic occurrences, despite of the number of years I have worked in the field of community mental

The general problem in the assessment of PTSD is that "Traditional psychotherapy addresses the cognitive and emotional elements of trauma, but lacks techniques that work directly with the physiological elements, despite the fact that trauma profoundly affects the body and many symptoms of traumatized individuals are somatically based" (2). Popular belief is that traumatic events affect an individual at the level of the I-function - that is, in the part of the brain responsible for cognition, emotion, and feeling. It is indeed true that the symptoms of PTSD can affect mood and the nature of interpersonal interaction. However, there is strong evidence that responses to trauma are rooted in neurobiological processes independent of the I-function, and have a somatic basis. As the above excerpt states, most treatment modalities focus on the non-somatic elements of PTSD, neglecting to recognize the important physiological effects that the disorder entails.

• In vivo mastery of trauma, reminders used to help individual overcome their evasion of circumstances that are not of any danger but reminds them of the original trauma

Lucy Berliner spoke about at a sexual abuse at Penn State University. She stated that Berliner stated that “you can be affected, without being ruined”, I feel that it is a statement that can be used as a power tool for victims of abuse. It does not matter what happens to you in the past as long as you have the will and determination to live through it. Ms. Berliner explained that there are many different psychological outcomes of victimization stating that 70% with PTSD has some form of depression. Treatment for Trauma includes Trauma Focused CBTs which work all over the world for adults and children, with 80-85% of individuals benefiting from multi-traumas and diverse ethnic/racial backgrounds.

This therapy teaches individuals new ways to handle upsetting thoughts by gaining skills that can help decide an easier way to deal with the trauma. This type of therapy can be very uncomfortable for many individuals since they will be tasked to speak or write about their traumatic experiences. Prolonged Exposure Therapy is also a useful program to help manage with PTSD, this specific exposure program that has been subject if considerable research in the treatment of PTSD in which an individual is tasked with three exercises. First is “in vivo” exposure to the trauma reminder, typically as an at home exercise, second is imaginal exposure in which exposure to the memory of the traumatic event which is normally assigned with at home exercises and in therapy sessions, and lastly processing of imaginal exposure which involves psychoeducation about the nature of trauma and trauma

(DESNOS; Pelcovitz et al., 1997). The second trauma construct is complex trauma (CPTSD), as defined by Herman (1992, 1997) and Courtois (2008), with its emphasis on

and is encouraged to process the trauma from different perspectives using cues from the therapist. The patient also repeatedly engages with their fear triggers.177

The first is the avoidance of memories of a trauma as well as emotions, stimuli or circumstances that serve as reminders (Courtois & Ford, 2013). Secondly, is the experiencing of extreme physical, mental and emotional arousal (Courtois & Ford, 2013). There are a number of techniques for accomplishing this which are listed below. The success of this phase is based on the ability of a client to tolerate the pain of remembering the trauma. Clients with a single incidence of trauma may be able to withstand exposure with minimal training whereas clients with complex trauma may need months of skills training in order to be prepared to process the

Go back to a time in life where someone has taken advantage of you. It may be as simple as someone borrowing lunch money and never returning it. It may be more serious such as someone who is constantly using their friendship for personal gain. You may have