Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation

292 Pages·2017·11.32 MB·English

by  Janina Fisher

Healing the
Fragmented
Selves of Trauma
Survivors
Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors integrates a neurobiologi-
cally informed understanding of trauma, dissociation, and attachment with a
practical approach to treatment, all communicated in straightforward language
accessible to both client and therapist. Readers will be exposed to a model that
emphasizes “resolution”—a transformation in the relationship to one’s self,
replacing shame, self-loathing, and assumptions of guilt with compassionate
acceptance. Its unique interventions have been adapted from a number of
cutting-edge therapeutic approaches, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy,
Internal Family Systems, mindfulness-based therapies, and clinical hypno-
sis. Readers will close the pages of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma
Survivors with a solid grasp of therapeutic approaches to traumatic attachment,
working with undiagnosed dissociative symptoms and disorders, integrating
“right brain-to-right brain” treatment methods, and much more. Most of all,
they will come away with tools for helping clients create an internal sense of
safety and compassionate connection to even their most disowned selves.
Janina Fisher, PhD, is assistant education director of the Sensorimotor
Psychotherapy Institute, an EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) con-
sultant, and a former instructor at the Trauma Center, a clinic and research
center founded by Bessel van der Kolk. Known for her expertise as a clinician,
author, and presenter, she is also past president of the New England Society
for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, a former instructor at Harvard
Medical School, and coauthor (with Pat Ogden) of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy:
Interventions for Trauma and Attachment.
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Healing the
Fragmented
Selves of Trauma
Survivors
Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation
Janina Fisher
First published 2017
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 Janina Fisher
The right Janina Fisher to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her
in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in
any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this title has been requested.
ISBN: 978-0-415-70822-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-70823-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-88616-9 (ebk)
Typeset in MinionPro
by codeMantra
To my most gifted teachers:
All the trauma survivors who gave me a window into their inner worlds, who
were my experts, who taught me what always to say and what never to say,
and who, to this day, inspire me to find new ways to help them heal at the
broken places.
A special debt of gratitude to Barbara Watson, who taught me the importance
of inspiring instead of treating, laughing instead of crying, and holding on to
belief when all others have lost hope.
And my eternal thankfulness to Camille for being “the wind beneath
my wings.”
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Contents
List of Figures ix
Acknowledgments x
Introduction 1
1 The Neurobiological Legacy of Trauma:
How We Become Fragmented 19
2 Understanding Parts, Understanding Traumatic Responses 34
3 Changing Roles for Client and Therapist 42
4 Learning to See Our “Selves”: An Introduction
to Working with Parts 65
5 Befriending Our Parts: Sowing the Seeds of Compassion 77
6 Complications of Treatment: Traumatic Attachment 103
7 Working with Suicidal, Self-Destructive, Eating Disordered,
and Addicted Parts 126
8 Treatment Challenges: Dissociative Systems and Disorders 145
9 Repairing the Past: Embracing Our Selves 187
10 Restoring What Was Lost: Deepening the Connection
to Our Young Selves 218
vii
viii Contents
11 Safety and Welcome: The Experience of Earned
Secure Attachment 242
Appendix A: Five Steps to “Unblending” 263
Appendix B: Meditation Circle for Parts 264
Appendix C: Internal Dialogue Technique 266
Appendix D: Treatment Paradigm for Internal Attachment Repair 269
Appendix E: Dissociative Experiences Log 271
Appendix F: The Four Befriending Questions 272
Index 273
List of Figures
4.1 Structural Dissociation Model. 68
4.2 Recognizing Parts by the Role they Play. 69
5.1 Drawing the “Problem.” 87
5.2 Diagramming a Solution for the System. 88
ix