The phases of trauma treatment
Coming to treatment for trauma can feel daunting. Many people have lived with the nervous system implications of trauma since birth, so it can be difficult to imagine the possibility of healing. There are many ways to treat trauma, and everyone’s individual path is different, but I thought I would lay out the broad strokes of my framework to give you a sense of how we might approach it together.
Phase 1 - Resourcing
We do not dive in to the content of the trauma right away because a) it can re-traumatize you, and b) you need some time to get to know me and trust me.
Instead we start with finding the resources that will support you through this process. The concept of resourcing comes from Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming (EMDR) and other trauma treatment methods.
Resources can be images, relationships, places, beliefs, symbols, books, quotes, ancestors, rituals, creative work, meditative practices, breathing, grounding techniques, medications, anything that promotes an embodied experience of safety. I typically demonstrate some “nervous system reset” practices during this phase. (My goal is to make a brief video about this soon!) One of my favorite resources is humor — if we can laugh together, it’s a good sign.
With resourcing, we are building up your nervous system’s capacity to stay within your window of tolerance. Facing trauma, we don’t want to feel overwhelmed, but we don’t want to feel numbed out either. We want to be in the middle, where we can access our emotions without getting derailed. That’s where processing can happen.
Phase 2 - Trauma processing
Now that we have a strong bank of resources, including a trusting relationship between us, we can look at the trauma itself. We take it slowly, metabolizing a small amount at a time, building your confidence that trauma can be faced and transmuted. We employ your resources liberally to keep the process tolerable.
At its most basic, trauma processing entails telling the story thoroughly, from multiple angles. We do this over time, not all at once. There is an element of exposure in the telling, which means the more we face something, the less power it has. The story also has a chance to evolve, incorporating wisdom you have gained since the time of the trauma.
There’s something powerfully healing about telling a story that might feel shameful to someone who will receive it with full compassion and non-judgment. I can think of no bigger honor than bearing witness to your story in this way.
Trauma processing is a very physical experience; we attend closely to your body’s sensations throughout this phase. I recommend planning for more downtime because processing is very energy intensive. You’ll need more rest and care.
Phase 3 - Integration
When you begin to sense that your body, mind, and spirit carry the trauma differently after processing, we start to think about integration. Your nervous system has more space and flexibility now. How would you like to use these new possibilities in your day-to-day life?
Positive change is still change, and integration can sometimes feel foreign, uncomfortable, even scary. (The trauma-burdened state was difficult, but at least it was familiar!) There can be grief about opportunities missed during the time spent in trauma patterns.
But ultimately, this is the exhilarating payoff for all of the courageous work you have done. People often feel energized, playful, and ready to work towards their goals in a new way. Relationships may feel more spacious. A weight has been lifted.
Trauma healing is an ongoing, non-linear process, so we commonly move between these phases cyclically. During an intense period of processing, we may want to shore up resources. During integration, unprocessed areas may crop up.
Engaging in trauma healing is one of the bravest things a person can do. It’s my job to meet your bravery with my very best work, to support a process that is effective, meaningful, empowering, rewarding, and hopefully fun at moments along the way.
