Trauma Masterclass

Trauma impacts us all at some point in our lives. From the ‘everyday’ life trauma of loss and bereavement, to the tragic consequences of childhood sexual abuse, sudden adult trauma, and the effects of immediate, emotional and/or physical traumatic experiences. It is rare for the impacts of trauma to not be felt within the consulting room.

In our Trauma Masterclass, three leading experts in trauma work present a range of perspectives on working with traumatised clients.

Tony Buckley: Keeping the Body in Mind

In this presentation Tony Buckley discusses a key somatic approach to trauma treatment. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy integrates cognitive and somatic interventions in the treatment of trauma, emphasising body awareness, practicing new actions and building somatic resources.

With an emphasis on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy’s “embedded relational mindfulness,” key components of this approach are illustrated: uncoupling trauma-based emotions from body sensations; building somatic resources; and developing a somatic sense of self.

With a Sensorimotor Psychotherapy approach attention is paid to safely preventing dysregulation through pacing, boundaries, and a gradual focus on the body.  There is an emphasis on how somatic interventions integrated with cognitive interventions can help change meaning and belief originating in past trauma, supporting the regulation of difficult emotions and physical symptoms in the present.

Tony outlines the key learning points which address interventions for all three-treatment phases in a Sensorimotor Psychotherapy approach to trauma treatment: stabilisation and symptom reduction, work with traumatic memory, and re-integration.

Miriam Taylor: The Well-Resourced Therapist

This presentation looks at trauma from a relational field perspective. The message is about the necessity for therapist self-care – it is not a luxury but an integral part of the work. Under the umbrella term Fields of Mutual Influence, two different dynamics are considered: the Traumatised Field and the Shared Mindful Field. The presentation focuses on the resources available to the therapist and how we can increase our resilience to more comfortably bear witness without either dissociating or being pulled into trauma contagion.

The Window of Tolerance model, a key to trauma therapy and to building resources, is reconceptualised to include the resources available to the therapist. Mirror neuron theory is a second neurobiological lens through which the therapeutic relationship is considered. Reference is made to the therapist’s own relationship to trauma, their mission as therapists, the Messiah Complex and to socially sanctioned altruism and self-sacrifice, each of which can emerge in the therapeutic relational dance.

Because trauma is fundamentally experienced in the body, of particular importance for both therapist and client are body-based resources related to safety, grounding and resilience, and attention will be given to how we can use these. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their range of resources and how they might develop them further, and on the gains of the work which might include mutual healing.

Clinical examples illustrate some of the main dilemmas for the therapist, and these are interspersed with some personal reflection points, developing both the Shared Mindful Field and somatic supports. The images that accompany the presentation include those designed to provide a sensory respite to trauma.

Dr Valerie Sinason: Trauma and Dissociation: What Determines Therapeutic Success or Failure

In her presentation, Valerie focuses on trauma and dissociation and what might help us to understand when treatment or intervention has been successful.

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