Trauma; PTSD; Childhood Abuse and Neglect
The impact of trauma on a person’s life can be severe and far-reaching. These trauma resource links are intended to help understand what trauma is (and is not), as well as interventions which help to support, process and heal trauma.
What Is Trauma?
Here is a helpful overview of trauma; definition, common symptoms, types of trauma and treatments. It is written by Karen Onderko, a colleague of Dr. Stephen Porges (who is listed below). Karen is a warm and knowledgeable woman, whom I have had the good fortune to speak with (while investigating the use of Integrated Listening Systems for trauma treatment… more on that to follow at a later date).
Trauma Treatments:
This article explains six well-known forms of treatment for trauma, or PTSD as it is known in diagnostic terms.
EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing):
EMDR is a promising treatment for PTSD, and quite a number of other deeply distressing and functionally impairing mental health matters.
For a reasonably quick overview of EMDR, click on the link above. For more detailed information, click here.
Dr. Stephen Porges and the PolyVagal Theory:
This is not light reading. Dr. Porges is a scientist, not a therapist. However, his PolyVagal Theory is contributing enormously to therapy for trauma. It is complicated, but fascinating. FYI, Dr. P is also a notoriously nice person.