Developmental
trauma therapy is an ongoing and highly effective process that allows
individuals to undo past trauma and create healthier relationships throughout
life. The therapist acts as a co-regulator between the client and the therapist,
using the framework of attunement, misattunement, and reatunement. This
approach allows for a multifaceted approach that involves both the surviving
individual and his or her family members.
A significant part of the therapy process is identifying the
causes of the underlying problems. For example, developmental trauma victims
may have difficulty forming healthy relationships, suffer from episodes of
inappropriate anger, and experience an aversion to closeness and intimacy.
Survivors may also have an urge to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as drug
or alcohol abuse. However, the therapist can change the underlying reasons
behind these behaviors and help the child flourish.
The therapeutic process for developmental trauma involves
interacting with the client in activities that do not trigger or repeat their
trauma responses. In addition, the therapist should engage in a way that
promotes self-regulation. As a result of this, the therapist may be regarded as
a perpetrator, causing the surviving individual to repeat the event. To address
these challenges, the therapist can utilize Perry's Neurosequential Model of
Therapeutics, which provides a clearer picture of the brain development that is
common for developmental trauma.
One of the hallmarks of developmental trauma is the
inability to relate to the world. These clients exhibit unpredictable mood
swings and spontaneous explosions of anger. The client's inability to regulate
emotional responses is a hallmark of this condition. As a therapist, you can
help your child learn to be more attuned to themselves and other people. You
can use this model to target your work to your client's specific developmental
stage and avoid the risks that come with it.
The therapeutic process for developmental trauma clients is
focused on developing self-regulation skills and developing skills to cope with
the trauma. This means a therapist should engage the client in activities that
do not trigger their trauma responses and develop their self-regulation skills.
The therapist should also engage them in activities that promote their ability
to take risks and build healthy relationships. This will help them to overcome
the inability to regulate their emotions and cope with the loss of control.
Symptoms of developmental trauma include: feelings of
worthlessness, aversion to intimacy, and an inability to form healthy
relationships. Oftentimes, the child will also have physical pains that have no
cause. This disorder is often accompanied by bad choices. In some cases, the
child may experience severe emotional distress that is difficult to overcome.
During this stage, the child may experience a wide range of physical pains,
such as chronic illnesses and addictions.
