The body has a story to tell that is as important as the mind's. But the body needs someone to be listening to that story. | Aline LaPierre
Trauma therapy – For you, if you already understand a lot and feel that your body has not quite caught up yet. If you are ready to delve even deeper: into yourself, into relationships and into life. Together, we will explore what your essence feels like – beyond patterns, tension and old stories.
What is attachment and developmental trauma?
Early trauma, so-called attachment and developmental trauma, leaves deep scars in our bodies and brains and makes life difficult from the very beginning. This doesn't mean one-off events that are externally identifiable as serious (=shock trauma), but primarily the breakdown of our bond with our primary caregiver, usually our mother . This leads, among other things, to a reduced ability for self-regulation. As a result, any emotion, whether joy or anger, can quickly derail us or not even surface. Allowing genuine contact is both our greatest longing and, in our perception, our greatest danger.
Bond breaks can be...
... in infancy:
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physical or emotional separation from the mother
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depressive, anxious, narcissistic or (passive) aggressive first caregiver
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lack of sensitivity of the first caregiver
...in childhood:
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Ignorance or disapproval of the child's need for autonomy
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Ignorance or disapproval of childhood sexuality
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Manipulation of the child
Any instance of being left alone, whether physically or emotionally, is life-threatening for the infant. If we repeatedly experience such bonding breakdowns, it leads to us developing chronically high levels of stress, withdrawing from our bodies , and experiencing contact as dangerous.
However, our body often manages to achieve balance over a long period of time, so that we can get through life relatively healthy despite the high level of activation in our body.
Symptoms appear when our body enters healing mode and finally wants to release years of tension. Instead of judging our difficulties and problems, we can see them as a gateway to healing our inner, wounded child.
Symptoms of development and attachment trauma
Symptoms of developmental- and attachment trauma can include:
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severe nervousness, anxiety, social phobia, insecurity, dissatisfaction, constant sadness, etc.
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constant fatigue, sleep disorders
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Burnout, depression
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Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, chronic tension and other medically unexplained symptoms
On an emotional level we are often accompanied by:
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the difficulty of entering into and maintaining deep relationships
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a low self-esteem & self-hatred
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Shame and guilt
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Anger and rage
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the difficulty of setting boundaries
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an emotional numbness
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the feeling of being somehow different and wrong
At the core of developmental trauma is the experience of a deep wounding to a child's capacity to love.
ALINE LAPIERRE
How trauma therapy
can help you
The healing process in trauma therapy is primarily about ...
... strengthening your self-regulation and body awareness.
... learning the ability to be in real contact with yourself and other people , to maintain this contact and, over time, even to enjoy it.
... the gentle uncovering and integration of your subconscious patterns, early emotional injuries and limiting beliefs.
In the process of trauma therapy ...
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you may feel truly seen for the first time.
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you will learn the real causes of your complaints and problems.
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you will learn and appreciate your survival strategies.
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you learn to regulate yourself better and better in difficult situations.
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you begin to feel more and more at home in your body.
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you learn to set boundaries.
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you will become more and more self-confident and fearless.
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you develop more and more compassion for yourself and self-acceptance.
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your physical symptoms disappear or you develop a curious, benevolent attitude towards them.
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you feel more secure in the presence of other people and can allow more and more depth in contact.
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you build more and more trust in yourself and in life , you experience more meaning in life.
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begins a lifelong journey of conscious, curious exploration.
My approach
On the one hand, I work with NeuroAffective Touch®, an aspect of NARM® that combines bodywork and psychotherapy. On the other hand, I integrate SEI® (Somatic Emotional Integration) developed by Dami Charf, a body-psychotherapy approach that is oriented toward attachment. In addition, I sometimes include aspects of energy work.
Both approaches focus on early attachment and developmental trauma as well as on our autonomic nervous system, based on Polyvagal Theory. They can therefore be supportive in addressing a wide range of issues related to developmental trauma, attachment injuries, nervous system dysregulation, dissociation, and embodiment.
Process of
trauma therapy
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In an optional initial telephone conversation (approx. 15 minutes, free of charge), I will address your concerns and questions.
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We'll then schedule an initial appointment , at the end of which I'll share my impressions of a possible development path.
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If you would like to continue the trauma therapy, we will meet approximately every two weeks until you can gradually make progress on your own and need my support less and less.
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I recommend starting with 6 to 10 sessions. This provides you with a safe and supportive framework to engage in the process and notice the first shifts taking place. After this time, you may already feel that something has released and transformed within you – and that it feels complete and sufficient. Or you may sense that a deeper continuation of the journey would be supportive for you. Both are possible and equally valid.