October - 2015

MN Trauma Project Blog

Increased Safety Through Embodiment

Increased Safety Through Embodiment

The definition of trauma is that some force or person renders another person defenseless and powerless, overwhelming the ability to cope. This can be through either an attack or through neglecting basic emotional and physical needs. Such traumatic overwhelm leaves behind a feeling of vulnerability. Consequently, the first objective in trauma work is to increase a sense of safety and reduce both actual and felt vulnerability. Working experientially with the body itself is qui

Myths, Misconceptions, and Moving Forward: Successful Implementation of Prolonged Exposure

Myths, Misconceptions, and Moving Forward: Successful Implementation of Prolonged Exposure

I was eager to write this blog when Ryan Van Wyk asked if I would be willing to contribute a post on Prolonged Exposure (PE) to the Minnesota Trauma Project website. As I’ve attended trauma conferences and talked with colleagues, it has amazed me the misconceptions in the field of mental health when it comes to exposure-based therapies. As a PE therapist and trainer myself, I have seen first hand the amazing changes that patients can undergo in 8-12 sessions; I’ve literal

Trauma Treatment and the Synthesis of Intervention

Trauma Treatment and the Synthesis of Intervention

Through my current practice, I work primarily with clients experiencing disrupted attachment stemming from complicated trauma. I typically start by trying to help clients clarify their goals and use mindfulness practices to increase competencies around body awareness and how to regulate arousal effectively. As we move on to process or reprocess traumatic material, I focus on helping clients to learn how to incorporate new behaviors and new responses to old material, with the

Yoga and the Trauma Survivor - Offering Choices

Yoga and the Trauma Survivor - Offering Choices

Relatively speaking, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is still a diagnostic adolescent. Not officially recognized until 1980s in DSM III and driven by reactions to combat, we are still learning so much and yet so many questions remain. One thing that is clear, the prevalence of those who have experienced trauma is much higher than previously thought and affects more than just veterans. To complicate matters, like all mental health treatment, one size does not fit all. In rec

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New Years Reflections, Gratitude, and Looking Ahead

New Years Reflections, Gratitude, and Looking Ahead

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