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Therapy for Trauma & C-PTSD

Treating trauma and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is a layered, deeply sensitive process that centers around safety, regulation, integration, and connection. Because trauma affects the whole system—body, mind, emotions, and relationships—healing often involves a combination of approaches that work together.

​1.  Regulation of Nervous System (Somatic Therapy)

Trauma lives in the body as much as the mind. That’s why somatic (body-based) approaches are crucial.

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  • Somatic Experiencing (SE): Helps discharge stuck fight/flight/freeze responses.

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Uses body awareness to gently process trauma.

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These help bring the body out of a chronic survival state (like hypervigilance or shutdown), which is foundational before any deeper work can happen.

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2.  Working with Parts (IFS – Internal Family Systems)

C-PTSD often results in inner fragmentation—different parts of you hold pain, fear, shame, anger, etc.

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  • IFS treats this by helping you relate to those parts with compassion and curiosity.

  • You connect with your “Self”—a calm, wise inner presence—and learn to care for wounded parts (like inner children or protectors).

  • Over time, these parts unburden and stop reacting in extreme ways.​

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This builds inner trust and integration—the opposite of what trauma does.

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3.  Cognitive & Emotional Processing (Talk, CBT, EMDR)

Depending on the person and stage of healing, these can also play an important role:

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  • CBT or trauma-focused CBT can help identify and reframe distorted beliefs (like “I’m unsafe” or “It was my fault”).

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is highly effective for helping the brain process traumatic memories in a contained way.

  • Narrative therapy or psychodynamic therapy may help you understand your story and find meaning in it.

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These work best when you're already somewhat regulated, and not overwhelmed by triggers.

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4.  Attachment Repair & Relationship Healing

C-PTSD often stems from relational trauma—chronic neglect, abuse, or emotional misattunement. That means healing often needs to happen in relationship, too.

 

  • A safe, attuned therapist-client relationship can be reparative.

  • Over time, you may also learn how to build safe, reciprocal relationships in your life—without people-pleasing, dissociating, or self-abandoning.

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