[Download Now] Working the Edge in Healing Trauma: Can Therapy Sometimes Be Too Safe? – Diane Poole Heller

Most therapists are sensitive to the dangers of retraumatizing clients by pushing them too far, too fast, but what about the dangers of playing it too safe? When is too much risk avoidance a disservice to clients and an indication of the therapist’s over protectiveness getting in the way of growth? In this workshop, we will look at how to understand clients threat threshold and establish an optimal pace in trauma recovery, drawing fully on their resilience and capacity for self-healing. You will learn through video clips and demonstration.

• Use resourcing and other methods to set up corrective experiences with clients learning how to handle increasing arousal and discomfort
• Recognize your own tendency to be overprotective and rescue vulnerable clients
• Invite and empower clients to face manageable challenges and find ways to test their own limits

1. Articulate strategies to leverage corrective experiences in treatment
2. Summarize the effects of establishing therapeutic presence to help improve client engagement
3. Summarize strategies to help clients test their own limits to improve clinical outcomes
4. Summarize strategies to help reinforce resilience and capacity for self-healing in clients

There is an overview of working with trauma clients.

• Identifying secure attachment
• Establishing safety and tracking in the body

A client demonstration video shows step-by-step discussion.

• How to directly untangle the disorganized attachment
• How to help clients “reclaim their light”
• How to use Polyvagal Theory to help our clients

Rounding out remarks from Diane.

• Final remarks on client outcomes