Trauma Recovery Phases and Moranian Philosophy

Jun 7, 2024

Lecture on Trauma Recovery Phases and Moranian Philosophy

Introduction

  • Discussion of trauma recovery phases analogous to group development phases.
  • Different authors use varying terminology but often describe a similar three-phase model.
  • Origin of the model goes back to Pierre Janet (1889) with phases: stabilization, identification, and relapse prevention.

Trauma Recovery Models by Various Experts

  1. Judith Herman (1992)
    • Establishing safety
    • Remembrance and mourning
    • Reconnection
  2. Seeking Safety Model
    • Safety
    • Mourning
    • Reconnection
  3. Christine Courtois and Ford (2016)
    • Safety, stabilization, and engagement
    • Processing of traumatic memories
    • Integration or reintegration
  4. Therapeutic Spiral Model of Trauma-Focused Psychodrama
    • Prescriptive roles (observation, containment, strengths)
    • Trauma-based roles
    • Transformative roles (autonomy, integration, correction)
  5. EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT
    • Stabilization
    • Reprocessing of traumatic memories/trauma narrative
    • Integration, consolidation, or future templates

Three-Phase Model Overview

  • Phase 1: Present-Focused
    • Stabilization, psychoeducation, safety, relationship building.
  • Phase 2: Past-Oriented
    • Processing and reprocessing of traumatic memories.
  • Phase 3: Future-Focused
    • Growth, integration, and future goals.

Application to Clinical Practice

  • Identify which clinical map phase you can facilitate well.
  • Assess how your program incorporates these phases.
  • Importance of addressing all phases for comprehensive trauma recovery.
  • Examples: Groups focusing exclusively on one phase (e.g., safety in Phase 1 or trauma processing in Phase 2).
  • Emphasis on overlooked Phase 3: Post-traumatic growth and integration.

Moranian Philosophy and Trauma-Informed Care

  • Originated nearly 100 years before organized trauma-informed care.
  • Humanistic, person-centered, and strengths-based.
  • Challenges medical model by considering larger social systems and holistic aspects (body, psyche, spirit, relationships, culture).
  • Psychodrama: First body-oriented Psychotherapy, action over talking, body remembers what the mind forgets.
  • Emphasis: Catharsis must be followed by integration or transformation.

Three Phases in Psychodrama

  1. Phase 1: Warming Up
    • Establishes safety, connection, coping skills.
  2. Phase 2: Action
    • Conduct psychodrama, catharsis, process intense emotions.
  3. Phase 3: Sharing and Integration
    • Group shares experiences, gains new insights, cognitive restructuring.

Emphasis on Theory in Therapeutic Practice

  • Importance of integrating underlying theories with interventions.
  • Warning against using techniques without understanding the underlying philosophical framework.
  • Quote: “Theory teaches us where to head therapeutically and technique teaches us what to do once we arrive there.”
  • Encouragement to balance theory and clinical intuition to avoid biases and countertransference.
  • Reflection: Consider how theories guide your therapeutic approach and interventions.