This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 01:00:12
The video features a comprehensive discussion led by Tracy Jarvis, director of Pessie, and Ariel Schwartz, an expert therapist and author, on the intricate nature of trauma, particularly focusing on complex trauma. Schwartz elucidates the distinctions between single-event trauma and complex trauma, underscoring the persistent and multifaceted symptoms individuals may experience, such as PTSD, which encompass re-experiencing events, avoidance behaviors, and emotional dysregulation due to the autonomic nervous system's response.
Key themes include the body's somatic responses to trauma involving symptoms like heightened startle reactions, chronic pain, and fatigue. The role of learned helplessness and how developmental trauma manifests through physiological experiences are also highlighted, emphasizing the concept of the body holding onto incomplete actions and stress responses.
The discussion pivots to therapeutic aspects, accentuating the importance of a supportive and attuned therapeutic relationship wherein techniques like co-regulation and addressing shame are pivotal. The impact of shame, not just on clients but also on clinicians, is discussed, along with strategies to manage it and promote self-compassion. Medication, specifically SSRIs and the concerns around benzodiazepines, is mentioned alongside the therapeutic importance of grounding and foundational movements derived from developmental stages.
Ultimately, the video underscores the complexity and long-term nature of healing from trauma, advocating for experiential therapy and relational approaches to support neuroplasticity and recovery, while announcing upcoming workshops and conferences dedicated to trauma and mental health awareness.
00:00:00
In this segment, Tracy Jarvis, director of Pessie, introduces Ariel Schwartz, an expert therapist and author, to discuss the psychological and physiological repercussions of trauma and complex trauma. Schwartz explains the difference between trauma, which is often the result of a single overwhelming event, and complex trauma, which involves repeated, ongoing events such as abuse, discrimination, and neglect. She emphasizes that complex trauma can lead to long-lasting symptoms similar to those caused by severe traumatic events, stressing the importance of validating these experiences.
The discussion moves on to the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), highlighting that these symptoms are normal responses to trauma and should be approached with compassion. Common symptoms include re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares or flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, and both high arousal (anxiety, restlessness) and low arousal (depression, hopelessness). Schwartz advocates for understanding these symptoms as physiological responses driven by the autonomic nervous system, which functions automatically to protect the body. She mentions the value of the polyvagal theory in understanding trauma’s impact on the nervous system and hints at an upcoming workshop by Deb Dana on this topic. Finally, she discusses the concept of emotional dysregulation as the body’s attempt to find resolution, comparing it to how animals release stress after escaping danger.
00:10:00
In this part of the video, the discussion focuses on how trauma, particularly complex PTSD, affects the somatic experience and leads to behavioral patterns such as avoidance. This avoidance can cause people to become phobic of their internal sensations, emotions, and trauma reminders, progressively shrinking their window of tolerance. The conversation then shifts to how developmental trauma, like neglect, manifests in the body. Neglected children may initially seek connection but resort to shutdown when unmet, leading to learned helplessness and diminished self-efficacy. The segment also addresses the adaptive nature of trauma responses, designed to protect against future threats based on past experiences. Healing involves counterbalancing these vigilant responses with new, safe experiences to facilitate neuroplasticity and change. The importance of experiential therapy is highlighted to help individuals notice and integrate new, non-threatening experiences.
00:20:00
In this part of the video, the discussion revolves around the manifestations of trauma and the body’s responses. Various symptoms are highlighted, such as a high startle reaction, restlessness, agitation, dizziness, and fatigue. One example involves a man who, due to early experiences of feeling disconnected from his mother suffering postpartum depression, developed a coping mechanism of shutting down emotionally. The conversation also explores why humans experience somatic symptoms of trauma, like the buildup of cortisol and chronic pain, especially when there is no immediate way to respond to a threat. The key idea is that the body holds the memory of traumatic events and the actions that were never completed, impacting one’s ability to regulate stress responses and leading to conditions like chronic illness. The importance of gradually reclaiming the body’s ability to sense and act is emphasized. The concept of learned helplessness is introduced, explaining how shutting down can be a protective mechanism for infants who cannot flee or fight in abusive situations.
00:30:00
In this part of the video, the discussion highlights the profound mental defeat and identity loss that refugees often experience due to ongoing abuse, rejection, and fear of deportation. This traumatic experience leads to a submissive response, which although initially a survival technique, can result in deep confusion and shame. The conversation then shifts to the role of clinicians and therapists in trauma recovery, emphasizing that effective techniques rely on a strong therapeutic relationship grounded in attunement, acceptance, and unconditional positive regard. Co-regulation, where therapists help clients by remaining present and calm, and sometimes meeting clients’ emotional states without fear, is crucial for healing. The segment also touches on the importance of addressing shame in therapy, understanding its role as a binding emotion that diminishes access to other emotions like anger or grief, and recognizing that sometimes clients take on shame to avoid admitting the scariness of their situation. Effective therapy involves navigating these dynamics thoughtfully to promote growth and healing within the autonomic nervous system.
00:40:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the impact of shame on both clients and clinicians, emphasizing how shame can inhibit progress in therapy by triggering mutual feelings of inadequacy. To counteract this, they advocate for recognizing and differentiating shame, viewing it as a part of the self rather than the entirety. The speaker then shares a detailed example involving a woman whose childhood shame impacts her adult life, highlighting the importance of self-compassion in such cases.
The Q&A portion covers various topics, starting with the differences between developmental injury, developmental trauma, and complex PTSD, explaining that treatment approaches often intersect due to the continuum these conditions exist on. The conversation shifts to the relationship between trauma and chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and chronic pain, illustrating how trauma impacts cortisol levels and the immune system, often leading to chronic health issues. The segment emphasizes the importance of addressing and managing these health vulnerabilities through improved self-care and therapeutic support.
00:50:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion revolves around the role of medication in treating PTSD and complex PTSD. It’s highlighted that SSRIs are currently recommended, while benzodiazepines are contraindicated due to their long-term adverse effects, such as pushing the cortisols into a dorsal vagal state and increasing the likelihood of developing PTSD if given during acute trauma. The focus is on building affect and sensation tolerance instead of reinforcing avoidance behaviors through medication.
The conversation also touches on developmental movements in infants and their psychological correlates, emphasizing the importance of grounding and foundational movements for healthy development. It notes how uneven development can lead to issues in adult relationships, such as losing oneself when reaching out to others.
Finally, the discussion shifts to the complexity of healing from complex trauma, noting that it’s often a long-term process requiring deep relational work. It contrasts quick, session-limited models with the necessity and value of long-term therapy, especially given the prolonged developmental timeline of the human brain. The segment concludes with mention of upcoming workshops and conferences focused on trauma and mental health.
01:00:00
In this part of the video, the speaker thanks Errol for joining and bids farewell, expressing gratitude and stating it was a pleasure having him.