Complex- PTSD

​Trauma can be a debilitating and overwhelming experience that makes people feel confused and helpless in the face of hardship. Complex trauma is a particularly difficult type of trauma that can happen over a long period of time, such as throughout childhood, and can damage many parts of a person's life. It is also referred to as chronic or developmental trauma. Healing from complicated trauma requires a holistic and compassionate approach and Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a highly successful way for treating the multiple layers of trauma.

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Using the core Self as the agent of change, IFS therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on comprehending and mending the various facets of the psyche, also referred to as sub-personalities. These subpersonalities are divided into exiled and protective parts, each of which has its own distinct memories and viewpoints and is composed of behaviours, thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. Among the most prevalent types of parts are the Perfectionist, the People-Pleaser, the Anxious or Avoidant part, the Inner Critic, and many more. The core, perceptive, and empathetic witness that possesses inner knowledge, love, and direction is known as the Self in Internal Family Systems (IFS).

 

Within Internal Family Systems (IFS), the Self is the central, loving, and perceptive witness that exists within each of us and has access to inner knowledge, love, and direction. The ability to access a wide range of emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them, self-compassion, and present moment awareness are the foundations of the Self.In order to enable a client's parts to collaborate harmoniously to achieve the client's objectives, the IFS therapist will assist the client in evoking their own Self-energy.

 

All components, even those that might be inflicting injury or pain, have good intentions, according to one of the fundamental tenets of IFS therapy. The traumatised parts become burdened with undesirable habits or tendencies; these are good parts trapped in "bad roles" designed to help them cope and survive. Instead of denying or suppressing their parts, people can learn to unburden, integrate, and transform them by comprehending and addressing the underlying needs and worries of these parts. For those who have gone through complicated trauma, this process of self-discovery and self-compassion can be very helpful since it helps them to comprehend and repair the various aspects of themselves that the trauma may have impacted.

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IFS treatment acknowledges the relationship between the body and the mind since it is a somatic therapy. IFS therapy can assist people in accessing and releasing the physical sensations that are frequently held in the body as a result of trauma, which is a crucial stage in the healing process.

 

According to a research by Bromberg (2011), IFS therapy works well for treating people who have experienced complex trauma in the past. Participants also reported feeling more self-aware and compassionate, as well as experiencing significant improvements in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is crucial that people work with a therapist who has experience with trauma and who can offer a secure and encouraging setting for healing.

 

IFS treatment may be the best option for you if you are having trouble recovering from the impacts of complex trauma and are seeking a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach to healing.

Please contact us at Align EMDR to arrange a session and allow us to assist you on your path to recovery and wholeness.