A Word About Trauma Healing

Trauma healing can look different depending on the modality. But essentially the work of trauma healing is to release the stored survival energy that came on in a time of threat—or perceived threat—and has remained in the body (which may leave someone’s nervous system chronically “on” in a state fight or flight or freeze).

When the body can be directed to sensing safety—through resource, relationship, or connection—it can begin to release the traumatic charge and return to a state of rest, calm, resilience, and well-being.

Unfortunately, however, many trauma-healing modalities have a one-size-fits-all approach. Which means, they are typically treating shock-trauma with the assumption that the person doing the healing

has a nervous system that developed under more ideal conditions — i.e., regulated caregivers who provided them with what they need and a relatively wide “Window of Tolerance” (see the blue area in the image above).

However, for the majority of my clients, and those with complex chronic health issues and/or c-PTSD, their traumas are comprised of a combination of relational loss or betrayal or even abuse, generational trauma, even sexual, medical, or shock trauma—but also something called developmental trauma.

Developmental trauma is where disruptions like maternal stress, birth trauma, medical interventions, generational trauma impact parent and caregiver attachment and attunement, and so on can impact the early development (in utero to about ages 3, 4, 5) of our nervous system — in particular the “myelination” (which allows nerve impulses to travel faster) of the part of our nervous system (ventral vagus) responsible for social engagement, connection, safety, regulation (of threat). This disruption can mean that we don’t have a “real” window of tolerance. Which is essentially the ability to tolerate stress. And return to a state of calm.

But the good news is that the human body and the nervous system are able to be rebuilt!