1057-A Trauma Informed Approach to Creating Safety

Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes

Understanding Psychodynamics and Safety

• The presentation begins with a focus on psychodynamics, particularly how early experiences of trauma impact one’s sense of safety.
• Trauma can manifest in emotional, physical, and cognitive symptoms that disrupt everyday life, relationships, and well-being.

Effects of Trauma on Health

• Trauma increases inflammation, disrupts sleep, and contributes to autoimmune disorders.
• Chronic feelings of unsafety can result in a constant state of hypervigilance, impacting both physical and emotional health.

Identifying Unsafe Feelings

• Individuals can feel unsafe in various domains, including physical, interpersonal, and emotional. Feelings of vulnerability can arise from numerous contexts, like work, home, or social settings.
• Emotional vulnerability includes situations where individuals fear rejection or criticism, impacting their ability to feel secure.

The Role of the Inner Critic

• People often internalize negative messages from others, leading to an overactive inner critic.
• Helping clients examine these internalized messages and their origins can improve emotional resilience and self-compassion.

Effects of ADHD and Other Disorders

• Conditions such as ADHD, when undiagnosed, can lead to feelings of rejection and criticism, further contributing to trauma.
• Mental health issues can both cause and result from trauma, creating a cycle of unsafety and helplessness.

Physical and Cognitive Symptoms of Trauma

• Trauma can lead to physical symptoms like GI distress and increased pain sensitivity due to heightened nervous system activity.
• Cognitive symptoms include difficulties with concentration, decision-making, and distinguishing between past and present threats.

Mindfulness and Safety Strategies

• Mindfulness and grounding techniques help individuals differentiate between past trauma and present safety.
• Creating a safe physical and emotional environment is essential for reducing trauma-related stress responses.

The Importance of Boundaries

• Setting and maintaining healthy physical, emotional, and interpersonal boundaries is crucial for trauma survivors to feel safe.
• Recognizing and moderating triggers in various environments (work, home, relationships) helps reduce feelings of unsafety.

Interpersonal Relationships

• Trauma can lead to difficulties in trusting others or feeling secure in relationships. People may develop coping mechanisms like clinginess or avoidance.
• Rebuilding trust in oneself and others is a key aspect of trauma recovery.

Rewiring the Nervous System

• Healing from trauma involves retraining the nervous system to feel safe in previously triggering situations.
• Techniques like vagus nerve stimulation, slow breathing, and relaxation exercises can help reduce hypervigilance and anxiety.

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