Image: "Soul" via Pixar Childhood trauma has been a hot topic for discussion in the psychological world since Dr. Stephen Porges and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk dropped their body-based theories in the 1990s. While traditional talk (cognitive) modalities were able to effectively address many mental and emotional health challenges, somatic psychologists believed they could … Continue reading Trauma and that ‘soul feeling’
Hacking trauma with the Wim Hof Method
© Innerfire In these modern times, with every convenience at our fingertips, we are seeing record numbers of adults and children with stress and anxiety issues than ever before. Some experts believe we are generally more aware of mental health problems than we used to be, and this may account for the rise in numbers … Continue reading Hacking trauma with the Wim Hof Method
Fragmentation: A pantomime of parts
Do you ever feel that life with your adopted or foster child feels like a pantomime where you never know who is going to turn up on stage next? Your child may be playing contentedly and a moment later, he is a raging Hulk, or a spacey otherworldly creature, or a collapsed vagrant who "deserves" … Continue reading Fragmentation: A pantomime of parts
Attachment: Miss Chaotic AKA the disorganized
© Steve Rotman There is much talk in adoption and foster groups about the importance of attachment. But what exactly is it and why should it be on a caregiver's radar? According to the father of attachment theory, John Bowlby (1969), infants are born with a biological drive to seek proximity to a protective adult … Continue reading Attachment: Miss Chaotic AKA the disorganized
Stress: Look to the adrenals / kidneys for healing
© The Trauma Initiative Dr. Peter Levine was the first person to truly understand the stress response and its impact on humans. His exploration of predator-prey relationships in the animal kingdom gave rise to his recognition that humans share similar responses to threats. In the 1970’s, Levine asked the question, “Why do animals in the … Continue reading Stress: Look to the adrenals / kidneys for healing
Safety: The antidote to “bad” behaviour
Many adoptive and foster caregivers find themselves confronted with behaviours that impact daily life—not being able to get out of bed in the morning, throwing things, hoarding food, violence and abuse, sexually acting out, emotionally short-fused, or flat-lined. It is no surprise caregivers seek out mental health professionals to "fix" the behaviours. Psychotherapist and co-author … Continue reading Safety: The antidote to “bad” behaviour
Bessel van der Kolk: What is neurofeedback?
© The Trauma Initiative Trauma is not about a story that happened a long time ago. Trauma is the impact of that event on you. It changes your brain and your sense of self. The treatment for trauma is finding a way in which you can own yourself and be restored to your maximum internal … Continue reading Bessel van der Kolk: What is neurofeedback?
Lying: The truth rests in the body
One of the most common points of frustration for caregivers of children who have attachment wounds is how to respond to lying. All children – in fact, all of us – lie sometimes. But for kids with developmental trauma or disorganized attachment, this is part of survival. What does it look like? Crazy lying (“No, … Continue reading Lying: The truth rests in the body
The hidden trauma of adoption
No matter where you live in the world, when you adopt a child, strangers will spontaneously tell you how “lucky” your child is, how “incredible” you are, or how “blessed” your family will be. Let’s face it. Society places a halo on the heads of adoptive parents. But what society doesn’t know is that more … Continue reading The hidden trauma of adoption
3 ways to tame your mind
© The Trauma Initiative Each of us are born with an extraordinary mind. As babies we brim with self-confidence and potential, but our experience and learnings influence us as we grow and mature. If you are wondering how your life got to a point where you are deeply unhappy, this is all down to what … Continue reading 3 ways to tame your mind
