EMDR

Body of Knowledge of Psychotraumatology

Interpersonal Neurobiology

Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), developed and popularized by psychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel, is an interdisciplinary framework that seeks to understand human experience through the interactions between biology, psychology, and interpersonal relationships (Siegel, 1999, 2012). Central to IPNB is the principle that human well-being emerges from integration—the process by which separate elements of the mind and brain

Body of Knowledge of Psychotraumatology

Memory and Trauma

Memory plays a pivotal role in trauma, influencing how traumatic experiences are encoded, stored, and recalled. Understanding traumatic memory formation and reconsolidation is essential for effective trauma therapy. Current neuroscientific findings suggest that traumatic memories differ fundamentally from ordinary memories, presenting unique challenges for therapeutic intervention (Brewin, 2011; Van der Kolk, 2014). How Traumatic Memory

Body of Knowledge of Psychotraumatology

Polyvagal Theory

Polyvagal Theory, developed by neuroscientist Stephen Porges, has significantly transformed contemporary understandings of trauma, emphasizing the critical role of the autonomic nervous system in trauma responses and healing (Porges, 2011). At its core, Polyvagal Theory provides a biological framework for understanding safety, danger, and life-threatening states, fundamentally reshaping how clinicians conceptualize and address trauma. Foundations

Body of Knowledge of Psychotraumatology

The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model: The pathogenic Memory

Definition of AIP The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model, formulated by Francine Shapiro, serves as the foundational theoretical framework for EMDR therapy (Shapiro, 2018). It posits that the human brain possesses an innate physiological system designed to process experiences and integrate them adaptively, much like how the body heals physical injuries (Shapiro, 2007; Rydberg et

Body of Knowledge of Psychotraumatology

Theory of Structural Dissociation and Trauma-Related Dissociation

The Theory of Structural Dissociation, developed by Onno van der Hart, Ellert Nijenhuis, and Kathy Steele (2006), provides a comprehensive framework for understanding dissociation as a fundamental consequence of trauma. This theory offers a detailed conceptualization of how traumatic experiences, particularly chronic or developmental trauma, fragment an individual's personality into distinct psychological structures or parts,

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models

Criteria for Evaluating Trauma Therapies

Selecting appropriate therapeutic interventions in psychotraumatology requires clearly defined criteria that ensure treatments are effective, clinically sound, ethically responsible, and culturally responsive. This section delineates the essential criteria used to evaluate and select trauma therapies, including empirical support, neurobiological coherence, and ethical and cultural considerations. 2.1 Empirical Support (Efficacy vs. Effectiveness) Evaluating the empirical support

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), developed by psychiatrist Frank Corrigan, is a specialized trauma therapy explicitly designed to address deep-seated trauma impacts at the subcortical, neurophysiological level. DBR is particularly suitable for trauma marked by intense emotional and somatic dysregulation, chronic dissociation, and unresolved survival-based responses. Foundational Principles DBR is grounded in trauma neuroscience, specifically targeting

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, originally developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, is a structured, integrative psychotherapeutic approach specifically designed to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories. EMDR uniquely integrates cognitive, emotional, somatic, and neurological components, employing bilateral stimulation—most commonly eye movements—to facilitate the reprocessing of traumatic memories. Foundational Principles of

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, developed by Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, has emerged as a highly effective and innovative approach for treating complex trauma and related psychological disorders. IFS conceptualizes the psyche as comprising distinct internal "parts," each embodying unique roles, emotions, and beliefs that are formed through developmental experiences, particularly those involving trauma.

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models

Neurofeedback and Biofeedback

Neurofeedback and biofeedback are physiologically targeted interventions that train regulation of the nervous system by providing real-time feedback on brain or body signals. In psychotraumatology, they are used to restore autonomic flexibility, dampen hyperarousal, reduce dissociation, and improve attention/affect regulation—capacities often eroded by trauma. Foundational principles Operant conditioning of physiology: clients learn to increase desirable

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models

Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT)

Overview The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), developed by Dr. Bruce Perry, is a developmentally informed, neurobiologically grounded framework for assessing and treating children, adolescents, and adults with histories of trauma, neglect, and disrupted attachment. NMT is not a standalone therapy, but rather a clinical map that guides the selection, sequencing, and timing of interventions

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models

Psychodrama for Trauma (Moreno), PBSP Psychomotor (Albert Pesso), and Contemporary Uses (van der Kolk)

Overview Psychodrama and PBSP (Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor) are experiential, enactment-based therapies that use role play, embodied movement, and structured scenes to repair attachment ruptures, rework traumatic memories, and restore agency. Bessel van der Kolk has highlighted these modalities—especially PBSP “structures”—as powerful for trauma integration when cognitive talk therapy stalls. Foundational principles Action + Embodiment:

Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models

Somatic and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Somatic and Sensorimotor Psychotherapies represent trauma-informed approaches explicitly designed to engage and resolve trauma at the bodily level. These methodologies integrate principles of neuroscience, trauma theory, and somatic psychology to address physiological symptoms and somatic memory of trauma effectively. Foundational Principles Somatic psychotherapies view trauma as fundamentally embedded within the nervous system and body tissues,

Neurobiology of Trauma

Applying Neurobiology Principles to Trauma Treatment

Rationale for Neurobiologically-Informed Therapy Understanding trauma as a neurobiological condition offers profound implications for therapeutic practice. First, it allows clinicians to reframe trauma-related symptoms not as signs of character pathology or weakness, but as predictable consequences of disrupted brain-body systems (van der Kolk, 2014). This reframing is inherently validating: survivors can begin to understand that

The Triphasic Model for Treating Trauma

Phase Three: Integration and Rehabilitation

After trauma memories have been safely processed and adaptively restructured, clients enter the Integration and Rehabilitation phase. This stage is crucial for translating therapeutic gains into sustainable changes, personal growth, and meaningful reintegration into daily life. 1. Integration of Processed Traumatic Experiences Core Objectives: Facilitate a coherent narrative that integrates traumatic experiences into a person's

The Triphasic Model for Treating Trauma

Phase Two: Trauma Memory Processing

Once stable safety, emotional regulation, and therapeutic trust have been firmly established, the patient moves into the second phase of trauma recovery: trauma memory processing. This phase involves safely accessing, processing, and integrating traumatic memories to reduce their emotional intensity and cognitive fragmentation, ultimately promoting healing, coherence, and resolution (Herman, 1992; Courtois & Ford, 2013).

Trauma

Acute Trauma

Definition and Examples Acute trauma refers to distressing psychological experiences triggered by a single, clearly definable event that overwhelms an individual's coping capacity and disrupts their sense of safety and predictability. Typically, acute traumatic events occur unexpectedly, are limited in duration, and carry a high emotional intensity at the moment of occurrence (Shapiro, 2018; Van

Trauma

Complex Trauma (Complex PTSD)

Definition and Core Criteria: Chronic, Relational, and Developmental Aspects Complex trauma, commonly referred to as Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Complex PTSD or C-PTSD), describes the pervasive and prolonged psychological consequences resulting from chronic, interpersonal, and often early-life traumatic experiences. Unlike single-event trauma, complex trauma typically involves ongoing situations characterized by relational betrayal, emotional and physical

Trauma

Developmental Trauma

Trauma Experienced During Key Developmental Stages (Childhood Neglect, Emotional or Physical Abuse) Developmental trauma encompasses prolonged, repeated, or severe traumatic experiences occurring during critical early developmental periods—particularly in infancy, childhood, or adolescence. Unlike single-event trauma, developmental trauma is inherently interpersonal, typically involving caregivers or other trusted individuals who are responsible for nurturing, safety, and emotional

Trauma

Intrauterine & Pre‑Verbal Trauma

Defining the Concept Intrauterine trauma refers to stressors experienced prenatally—such as maternal stress, emotional distress, substance exposure, or prenatal medical complications—that can affect fetal development. Pre‑verbal trauma occurs before the acquisition of language, including birth trauma, early neglect, or abuse, which profoundly impacts implicit memory systems. Both operate outside conscious awareness and are carried in

Trauma

Overview of Trauma Types

Trauma, by its very nature, profoundly alters individuals’ psychological, emotional, physiological, relational, and even existential landscapes. Though all traumatic experiences share certain defining qualities—such as overwhelming the individual’s coping resources and shattering basic assumptions about safety and control—each trauma category also carries distinct impacts and considerations essential for tailored, effective treatment (Herman, 1992; Courtois &

Trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Definition and Examples (Single-Event) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent emotional distress, intrusive symptoms, avoidance behaviors, and heightened physiological arousal, occurring after experiencing or witnessing a severely distressing or life-threatening event (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Typically associated with single, clearly identifiable traumatic incidents, PTSD commonly arises from situations such

Trauma

Vicarious and Secondary Trauma

Definition and Identification (Impact on Caregivers, Therapists, First Responders) Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary trauma, refers to the emotional and psychological impact experienced by individuals who regularly support or provide care to trauma survivors. Rather than resulting from direct trauma exposure, vicarious trauma emerges indirectly through empathic engagement, continual exposure to traumatic narratives, or