Trauma/ptsd & Complex Trauma
Understanding Trauma from an ISTDP Perspective
Trauma leaves lasting emotional effects — not only through what happened, but through what couldn’t be felt or expressed at the time. Whether you experienced a single life-threatening event (PTSD) or long-term relational wounds (Complex Trauma), you may still carry fear, grief, or anger deep inside. These feelings, when blocked or avoided, can lead to symptoms like anxiety, numbness, shame, chronic tension, or a sense of disconnection from yourself and others.
PTSD vs Complex Trauma
PTSD often develops after a specific, overwhelming event such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster.
Complex Trauma results from repeated emotional injuries over time — often in early relationships — such as neglect, emotional abuse, or feeling unseen or unsupported.
In both cases, the nervous system becomes dysregulated, and emotional responses that were once protective become locked in the body.
How ISTDP Understands Trauma
In ISTDP, trauma symptoms are seen as a sign that powerful emotions — like rage, grief, or longing — have been pushed out of awareness. This is often done through unconscious defenses such as detachment, self-criticism, or over-intellectualization. While these defenses may have helped you survive, they now stand in the way of healing.
By identifying and gently challenging these patterns, we create space for the true emotional experiences to emerge — safely and at your own pace.
How Therapy Can Help
The process begins with safety and trust. Together, we notice what happens in your body when you talk about certain experiences. We work to regulate anxiety, reduce defenses such as self-attack, and help you access the deeper feelings underneath the symptoms. Over time, you may feel less trapped by the past, and more connected to who you are today.
If you’re living with the effects of trauma, know that healing is possible. I invite you to get in touch when you’re ready.