Healing Invisible Trauma
It should be noted that the 5 levels interact in a seamless and congruent way, so that to the
individual their consciousness provides internal self-validation and integrity.
Experiential Influence: What happens in the physical realm or body, genetics, affects our reality,
which influences our emotions and how we feel, which influence our thoughts,w hich affect how
we interpret the world, which ultimately feeds back into our spiritual or religious orienting system.
Reverse Influence: Spiritual religious orientation influences our world view and assumptions
about the world, which influences the meaning we attribute to experiences, which influences our
thoughts and personal beliefs, which influence how we feel, relate to others which direct how we
act in the world.
It should be noted that the 5 levels interact in a seamless and congruent way, each level affect all
other levels, so that to the individual, their consciousness seems whole and operating with
integrity, even if their new paradigm built around the trauma is distorting their view of current events
and situations
Once a new understanding and meaning is established through analysis, validation and new
experience at each level, the individual gradually shifts perspective adopting new beliefs, and
either adjusting their spiritual orientation system or reconstructing it to fit their new
understandings, with enhanced relevance. In this way they are no longer trapped in a repeating
trauma-induced thinking, emoting and behaviour.
individual their consciousness provides internal self-validation and integrity.
Experiential Influence: What happens in the physical realm or body, genetics, affects our reality,
which influences our emotions and how we feel, which influence our thoughts,w hich affect how
we interpret the world, which ultimately feeds back into our spiritual or religious orienting system.
Reverse Influence: Spiritual religious orientation influences our world view and assumptions
about the world, which influences the meaning we attribute to experiences, which influences our
thoughts and personal beliefs, which influence how we feel, relate to others which direct how we
act in the world.
It should be noted that the 5 levels interact in a seamless and congruent way, each level affect all
other levels, so that to the individual, their consciousness seems whole and operating with
integrity, even if their new paradigm built around the trauma is distorting their view of current events
and situations
Once a new understanding and meaning is established through analysis, validation and new
experience at each level, the individual gradually shifts perspective adopting new beliefs, and
either adjusting their spiritual orientation system or reconstructing it to fit their new
understandings, with enhanced relevance. In this way they are no longer trapped in a repeating
trauma-induced thinking, emoting and behaviour.
"Where science, psychology and spirituality meet in a way
that makes a difference to your reality."
that makes a difference to your reality."
| What is Trauma? • DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000) qualifies a traumatic event as a diagnostic criterion for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if both of the following conditions are met: • 1. “A person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury or a threat to the physical integrity to self or others”. • 2. “The person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness or horror”. |
The Life Relevance Model (LRM)
is a graphical representation of
how experiences affect the
behavioural, emotional and
cognitive self, and impact on the
individual's cognitive interpretation
of life and spiritual meaning. This
model is useful in looking at
traumatic experiences and is
suggestive of how to approach
healing through a "reverse
influence perspective".
Shattered assumptions can lead
to many irrational thoughts about
the world and need meaning
reconstruction.
.
is a graphical representation of
how experiences affect the
behavioural, emotional and
cognitive self, and impact on the
individual's cognitive interpretation
of life and spiritual meaning. This
model is useful in looking at
traumatic experiences and is
suggestive of how to approach
healing through a "reverse
influence perspective".
Shattered assumptions can lead
to many irrational thoughts about
the world and need meaning
reconstruction.
.
Meaning reconstruction often results in changed self-perceptionThe reverse influence would begin
at a higher level than the level at which the trauma occurred, helping to contextualize, provide
meaning and relevance for the client on the traumatic event. This is where a
transpersonal/spiritual perspective is particularly useful and unparalleled by any other approach.
Combined with completed grieving, personal validation, clearing, acceptance, release &
forgiveness, there is hope for healing of the "ïnvisible traumas".
at a higher level than the level at which the trauma occurred, helping to contextualize, provide
meaning and relevance for the client on the traumatic event. This is where a
transpersonal/spiritual perspective is particularly useful and unparalleled by any other approach.
Combined with completed grieving, personal validation, clearing, acceptance, release &
forgiveness, there is hope for healing of the "ïnvisible traumas".
While approximately 75% of the population has suffered
some trauma fitting within the DSM-IV categories, some
traumas may not fit well into these categories because
there is no immediate visible threat to life or physical
integrity. Most doctors have a difficult time helping trauma
victims without prescribing medication or classifying them
as having full-blown mental or personality disorders.
These traumas are often the most difficult to heal since
the cause is not immediately apparent and medications
address only symptoms which mask the origins,
sometimes also adding emotional and mental
side-effects.
some trauma fitting within the DSM-IV categories, some
traumas may not fit well into these categories because
there is no immediate visible threat to life or physical
integrity. Most doctors have a difficult time helping trauma
victims without prescribing medication or classifying them
as having full-blown mental or personality disorders.
These traumas are often the most difficult to heal since
the cause is not immediately apparent and medications
address only symptoms which mask the origins,
sometimes also adding emotional and mental
side-effects.
For example:
• repeated betrayal and lies can lead to mistrust, relationship
problems, anti-social behaviours, or to self-centered behaviour;
• repeated verbal and emotional abuse can lead to repressed
anger, anxiety, to depression, self-abuse or self-inflicted harm;
• repeated sexual molestations can lead to a dissociated self,
promiscuity, sexual issues, depression, or self-induced harm;
• repeated privacy violations or shaming can lead to promiscuity,
anxiety, depression and disregard for other's personal boundaries;
• rejection by parents or caregivers can affect self-esteem, self-
worth, and can lead to excessive people pleasing behaviour and
tendencies to lie ;
• critical, life values denial or rejection can lead to confusion,
depression, spiritual crisis, and affect the ability to interpret and
navigate in the world.
• repeated betrayal and lies can lead to mistrust, relationship
problems, anti-social behaviours, or to self-centered behaviour;
• repeated verbal and emotional abuse can lead to repressed
anger, anxiety, to depression, self-abuse or self-inflicted harm;
• repeated sexual molestations can lead to a dissociated self,
promiscuity, sexual issues, depression, or self-induced harm;
• repeated privacy violations or shaming can lead to promiscuity,
anxiety, depression and disregard for other's personal boundaries;
• rejection by parents or caregivers can affect self-esteem, self-
worth, and can lead to excessive people pleasing behaviour and
tendencies to lie ;
• critical, life values denial or rejection can lead to confusion,
depression, spiritual crisis, and affect the ability to interpret and
navigate in the world.
Invisible traumas are
emotional and mental in
nature and don't have to
result from physical
trauma. They alter the
individual's
understanding of the
world and their
relationship to it.
emotional and mental in
nature and don't have to
result from physical
trauma. They alter the
individual's
understanding of the
world and their
relationship to it.
| © Copyright All rights reserved M. R. Monteiro, Life Passages Counselling® ONT 181019670 |
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