Trauma causes Dissociation or Splitting between the left hemisphere (responsible for logic, analysis, observation) and the right hemisphere (responsible for imagination, creativity, emotions, trauma memories). Brain research shows trauma survivors have reduced number of pathways in the corpus callosum, accounting for decreased communication between the two hemispheres. Splitting allows the logical brain to take over andContinueContinue reading “Structural Dissociation after Trauma”
Tag Archives: emotions
Are you Fearful in Relationships?
When we fill our void with someone, we temporarily fill our wounds with them and become dependent on them. We begin “needing” them. This person in our life is now needed for survival. That is a heavy burden and a lot of pressure for that person. Sometimes, we know this is a band-aid for ourContinueContinue reading “Are you Fearful in Relationships?”
Healing Indecision
Lately my conversations with some of my clients have centered around indecision. Let’s explore indecision from an Internal Family Systems perspective. IFS believes your internal parts are part of an internal family. Indecision within your internal system may be a protector part, protecting you from something. When we are feeling indecisive, it means we areContinueContinue reading “Healing Indecision”
Would you like to feel safety within?
If you want to feel safe within yourself, you need to have a felt sense of safety somatically.This comes from experiencing safety relationally with a safe human being. Typically, this role will be fulfilled by our caregivers. But in cases where the caregiver was unable to provide this safety, we would struggle with feeling safeContinueContinue reading “Would you like to feel safety within?”
Exploring Interoception and Exteroception for Mindfulness Practice
Let’s explore the concepts of Interoception and Exteroception and how they can be used to help individuals stay present in the moment. These can be particularly helpful for Dissociation. As we navigate through our daily lives, it can be challenging to remain grounded and mindful of our surroundings. However, by exploring these two concepts, weContinueContinue reading “Exploring Interoception and Exteroception for Mindfulness Practice”
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Self image issues in young women
We are currently living in a world where young girls and women are competing with a standard of beauty that is unfortunately not real. Thanks to social media filters, our definition of “beauty” has become something that actually does not exist. At the same time, we are seeing increased rates of plastic surgery, body dysmorphia,ContinueContinue reading “Self image issues in young women”
Good Enough
A belief of not being good enough is often deeply rooted in Trauma. It cannot be changed cognitively alone, through reality testing. Healing occurs through long-standing relationships where the person’s goodness is reflected back to them over and over again. For how long? Long enough for the right hemisphere to truly take it in.
Hypervigilance – a protective part
Trauma survivors often develop protective parts that help them survive their trauma. One of these parts is called the Hypervigilant part. The Hypervigilant part in Trauma survivors prevents them from spontaneously engaging in day-to-day life without triggering the “alarm system” of the brain. If this is you, start by noticing when your Hypervigilant part becomesContinueContinue reading “Hypervigilance – a protective part”
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Childhood sexual abuse is more common than we think. Perpetrators are more commonly family members, siblings, close relatives, someone the child trusts or looks up to, rather than strangers. In a research article published in the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse in 2015, Zeglin, DeRaedt, and Lanthier reported, 1 in 5 girls have experienced childhoodContinueContinue reading “Childhood Sexual Abuse”
Your Healing Journey Counselling 