Attachment Repair and Autonomy: A Relational Approach to Trauma Work

“We suffer very much from the fact that we consist of mind and have lost the body.” C.G. Jung, 1934

Years of experience working with clients who have suffered trauma have shown that a holistic approach addressing the connection between mind and body is highly beneficial. Trauma influences several facets of a person's life, including attachment, interpersonal relationships, and the capacity to function both intimately and autonomously. Several professionals have devised effective interventions, such as those by Mate (2022) and Tinnin and Gantt (2013). Trauma impacts psychological, physical, and emotional well-being (van der Kolk, 2014; Kalsched, 2013). Directly addressing trauma through methods like debriefing or exposure therapy may lead to re-experiencing the event. Alternatively, not addressing the trauma can result in persistent symptoms associated with the traumatic experience, often described as memory shrapnel (Howie, 2017).

This workshop introduces theories of attachment, body autonomy, and the innovative Body Narrative approach. Designed to address trauma-related issues, this method explores how attachment styles form during development and trauma. According to Peter Levine (2015), vital memories are often stored in the body beyond conscious access.  Surrounded by stories that shape our communication, thinking, and memories, psychotherapy helps clients understand and heal their life stories and bodily expressions. Vignettes reinforce and shape these stories, which are stored in our bodies until released (Marr, 2020; Gendlin, 1996).

During this session, we will investigate elements of relational narratives and utilize art interventions to delve deeper into our personal and embodied vignettes.

Learning Objectives:

The program is designed so that participants will be able to:

1. Describe three effects of trauma on the individual’s psyche
2. Describe the importance of early attachment in the persons’ life cycle
3. Describe two aspects of a relational attachment-informed approach to trauma treatment