Consciousness
« Previous EntriesAdult State of Consciousness to Help Patients Release Trauma
Thursday, December 29th, 2011Psychotherapists use many different methods to facilitate recovery and integration of repressed trauma from intrinsic memory. I prefer the body centered desensitization technique to bring painful and frightening memories into conscious awareness and release the emotional charge on them, along with Voice Dialogue, journaling exercises and Inner Child work to […]
Uncovering Traumatic Memories
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011For the recovery of traumatic memories from childhood to be truly healing, the basic requirement is a warm and safe therapeutic relationship structured with clear boundaries to minimize stress and prevent retraumatization. The intent is to allow the patient to revisit childhood in the very atmosphere of care and appropriate […]
Sigmund Freud Contributions
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011While neurobiology uses new language and brain imaging data instead of psychotherapeutic observations to support its conclusions, Sigmund Freud anticipated the broad outline of the neurobiological rationale for the uncovering process in psychotherapy a century ago. Freud drew the distinction between unconscious (implicit) and conscious (explicit) memory and developed a […]
A Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder -continued
Thursday, October 13th, 2011Connie speaks of the spiritual insights she is receiving now as she ponders the religions of the world. She feels God is conversing with her directly, but she is thoughtful and reticent rather than grandiose or fanatical about her insights. Connie’s manner of speaking indicates a genuine and grounded spiritual […]
A Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder -continued
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011Connie is more open to spirit now. She has a close encounter with a raven that indicates positive change and evokes healing gifts as well. She is now called upon to do spiritual healing in her church group. Connie expresses faith that by divine guidance things will be put in her […]
A Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder -continued
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011As her abuse memories surfaced with increasing intensity, Connie had greater difficulty working with her male therapist face to face. There was too much shame and fear in relation to men for her to be comfortable in my presence. She began to see her female physician more frequently without me but […]
A Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder -continued
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011I have occasion to ask Connie a question that has not yet arisen: who taught the remaining personalities – Christina, Jennifer and Connie herself – their roles? Connie associates Christina with her mean and violent mother and the well adjusted Jennifer with the high functioning and kindly aunt that used to […]
A Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder -continued
Thursday, September 15th, 2011A vivid dream indicates what is happening during the period that two of the little girls, Tina and Emily, are disappearing one by one, leaving only their anguished memories to appear for integration in Connie’s dreams: the dreamer stands on the bank of a river; two girls enter her body from […]
A Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder -continued
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011Jennifer is Connie’s most valuable asset in her recovery. Jennifer by herself would be a well adjusted and high achieving if somewhat flat and emotionless adult were it not for Connie’s inner family of disturbed personalities.
The abused little girls – Tina, Emily, and Mary – eventually surrender their memories to Connie […]
A Case of Dissociative Identity Disorder -continued
Thursday, September 8th, 2011At one point in Connie’s healing I perform a brief shamanic protection ceremony in which
I employ a rattle to seal up her aura in order to shield Connie from a black spirit that she describes as coming day and night to strangle her. After that protection ceremony the black spirit stops […]