Complex attachment trauma can sever and/or inhibit the formation of deep and lasting bonds between self and other, self and self, self and emotion. The practice of AEDP includes key elements to foster the healing of trauma, the integration of dissociative parts and the rekindling of deep, trusting relationships. We will explore, in depth, these elements, such as the explicit use of relational interventions to build safety and containment, dyadic regulation of intense traumatic affects of fear, shame, and overwhelm, as well as reconnection to healing emotion via processing of core affect – all in the context of patients with severe trauma histories and dissociative disorders. We will also view these cases through the lens of intra-relational interventions, which place dual emphasis on internal attachment relationships formed through affective interchanges between distinct parts of the self, and on the intrinsic healing power of new emotional experiences. Parallel relational processes unfolding simultaneously within the external dyad (i.e. therapist/client) and internal dyads (i.e. client/dissociated ego-states) facilitates and accelerates the internalization of secure attachment dynamics. Strengthening these connections instills safety and containment which, in turn, segueways into transformative affect work and deep processing of traumatic memories.
Furthermore, we will hone more advanced applications of AEDP with complex trauma survivors by examining questions such as: How do we navigate deep emotional processing with patients who have tendency to fall into traumatic flashbacks? How to forge a secure attachment with someone who has never been securely attached to anyone? How to reconcile emotion-focused, experiential therapy goals with some complex trauma survivors’ view of emotions as traumatizing? How can AEDP be applied to working with patients who have more severe spectrum dissociative disorders?
This workshop offers 13.5 CE hours.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.