Trauma and Dissociation: A Psychotherapeutic Approach
Trauma is a complex psychological phenomenon that involves not only the body, but also the mind, often leaving invisible scars that affect people’s daily lives. One of the most frequent and least understood effects of trauma is dissociation, a defense mechanism that the mind adopts to protect itself from unbearable experiences.
What is dissociation?
In psychotherapy, dissociation is described as a disconnection between thoughts, emotions, perceptions and memories that are normally integrated into consciousness. This phenomenon occurs when the mind is overwhelmed by traumatic events, separating certain aspects of the experience to reduce psychological pain.
Dissociation is not simply a “blackout” of the mind, but a complex mode of adaptation. It is a way in which the individual tries to preserve a part of himself, isolating the most intense and disturbing emotions in order to continue functioning. However, this split creates “islands” of experience which, if not recognized and integrated, can lead to long-term symptoms such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and identity disorders.
Trauma as a disruptive event
Trauma is not defined solely by the event itself, but rather by the individual’s response to that event. Studies on trauma have often highlighted how this acts as a “fragmentator” of identity, dividing parts of the experience of the self and others. The traumatized mind tries to protect itself through dissociation, but this mechanism can become dysfunctional when it prevents the re-elaboration of the event and its integration into the individual’s life narrative.
Dissociation in clinical practice
A crucial aspect of psychotherapeutic work with people who have experienced trauma and experience dissociation is helping the patient rebuild a sense of internal continuity. The healing process requires time, empathy, and a deep sensitivity to nonverbal cues, as many dissociated experiences are not accessible through language, but manifest through the body and emotions.
Psychotherapy, therefore, is configured as a safe space where the individual can slowly integrate dissociated traumatic experiences. The therapist acts as a witness and guide in this delicate process, facilitating the integration of emotions, memories and bodily experiences.
Integrative therapeutic approaches
While we are based on classic models of trauma psychotherapy, such as attachment theory and person-centered therapy, it is important to integrate with particular attention to bodily processes. Trauma and dissociation, in fact, also manifest themselves on a physical level, through tensions, postures and unconscious movements. The therapy therefore, in addition to working on a cognitive level, must take the body into account, facilitating access to implicit memories through practices that encourage greater somatic awareness.
Conclusion
It is important to view trauma and dissociation not as signs of pathology, but as adaptations of the mind and body to unbearable experiences. The challenge of psychotherapy is to help the patient reconnect the dissociated fragments of their being, creating a space of integration that allows the person to rediscover a sense of continuity and security. This reconstruction process is essential to overcoming trauma and living a fuller and more authentic life.
Bibliography
- Albasi, P. (2015). Trauma and dissociation: Understanding the fragmentation of human experience. Rome: Psychotherapeutic Editions.
- Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body feels the blow: Mind, body and brain in the processing of traumatic memories. Milan: Raffaello Cortina Editore.
- Schore, A. N. (2012). The Science of the Art of Psychotherapy. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
- Bromberg, P. M. (2011). The Shadow of the Tsunami: And the Growth of the Relational Mind. New York: Routledge.
- Liotti, G. (2006). Discontinuities of consciousness: Dissociation and the clinic of post-traumatic disorders. Milan: Raffaello Cortina Editore.
Liotti examines the phenomenon of dissociation, particularly in complex post-traumatic disorders, linking dissociation to insecure and disorganized attachment mechanisms.
- Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
- Siegel, D. J. (1999). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are. New York: Guilford Press.