T.R.I.P. Trauma Therapy
Introduction:
T.R.I.P. is a highly innovative and integrative therapy, that focuses on trauma recovery and attachment healing, viewing individuals as interconnected and holistic. Trauma, wounding attachment dynamics, and chronic distress can significantly alter our lives, changing how we perceive, experience, and relate to the world and our connections. Decades of trauma therapy have shown that exposure to life's hardships can alter our brain, eyes, nervous system, body, emotions, and beliefs. Therefore, an integrative approach is crucial. T.R.I.P. acknowledges the most significant role of attachment development in shaping our identities and well-being. Our dependence on caregivers is vital for growth, emotional maturity, and curiosity. Harmful environments instill fear and survival-type dependences, leading to an internal attachment conflict: "staying connected at all costs" or "ensuring to stay protected at all costs". Our nervous system responds with hypervigilance, bracing, fighting, fleeing, or collapsing (flop response).
T.R.I.P. offers an eye-opening (no pun intended) and mind-blowing impact by working one eye open at a time, offering an immediate revelation into the neurological, physiological, and psychological compartmentalization of our experiences. When engaging in this therapy, we notice typically that processing adverse life experiences with one eye open is directly associated with aspects or behaviors that prioritize the preservation of essential attachments, while the other eye typically is linked to aspects or behaviors that emphasize self-protection. A distinctive characteristic of T.R.I.P. therapy is its consistent utilization of "permission-based language" and the implementation of the "Permission process". By using the specific eye-brain techniques we are instantly confronted with potential ambivalence, resistance, or hesitation towards the therapeutic process. This often surprises individuals undergoing T.R.I.P. therapy, particularly when seeking relief from chronic somatic conditions. With both eyes open, individuals often feel they have exhausted all medical and therapeutic options and are convinced that the solution must somehow lie externally or yet, still has to be discovered. However, T.R.I.P. therapy unveils the underlying depth of trauma and attachment dynamics as the core reason why chronic conditions sustain themselves through internal conflicting attachment dynamics, both not directed at prioritizing connection to oneself.
T.R.I.P.'s unique combination of the integrative skillset used to facilitate the 3 Core Processes offers tremendous insight into the world underneath what is viewed on the outside. It cares for utmost permission and consent seeking in every way possible to offer the client a strong sense of volition, choice and agency by frequently using permission-based language.
The foundational perspective is that understanding attachment in its full depth combined with its impact on the brain, body and nervous system is essential to provide effective and integrative therapy.
The Integrative skill set
As therapists committed to trauma healing, we recognize that both our clients and ourselves are dynamic human beings. Within us reside our brain, eyes, ears, nervous system, emotions, beliefs, and our very sense of being. Our developmental environment is influenced by a blend of significant relationships (attachments, where there is a clear hierarchy of responsibility of care) and the cumulative impact of specific or ongoing life events."
These experiences, whether intentional or incidental, profoundly influence our embodied self. To address the aftermath of trauma, chronic distress, and attachment or relationship wounds, it is essential for us as therapists to utilize a comprehensive approach; one that acknowledges the interconnectedness of the brain, nervous system, body, senses, and soul.
By addressing all the different elements we embody, we pave the way for healing and transformation. T.R.I.P. effectively integrates specific eye-brain techniques, attachment-based Parts work, trauma-informed emotion-focused practices, somatic strategies and attachment theory (Gordon Neufeld). The various therapeutic interventions have been further developed and enhanced for regulation, internal attachment repair, and integration purposes. This integrative skillset is utilized to facilitate the three core processes.
The 3 Core Processes
Projection process :
This process demonstrates how the nervous system visually, physically, cognitively, and emotionally perceives the world through the lens of "past trauma & attachment dynamics" seen through the one eye, and seen through the lens of coping and survival through the other eye. One eye is typically connected to the lens of the past, or the most earliest experience based on the chosen topic to process, and the other eye is connected to the "here and now" or survival lens. This frequently leads to "mild to wild" distorted perceptions. Regulating this experience is created by changing seating position, boundary acknowledgments, sense-making and validation. This process aims to assess the attachment projection taking place onto the therapist or therapy partner (e.g. spouse, family member) and provide insight for the client regarding their nervous system's functioning and brain's compartmentalization. Core focus is attachment projection assessment and regulating the nervous system.
This process delves into the depth of consent, permission, volition, and the hesitations or fears associated with healing. It sheds light on the common ambivalence experienced when faced with the choice to heal. Several reasons contribute to why certain aspects of ourselves resist or hesitate to grow and heal. These reasons often stem from difficult experiences that we may have consciously or unconsciously tried to forget or buried deep within. By approaching this process with one eye open, we gain insight into its impact. Throughout the three core processes, we use permission-based language, creating a spacious environment of respect, dignity, and choice. The Permission process aims to align the different parts of ourselves, ensuring a cohesive approach to healing and considering its potential impact on our relationships—with both ourselves and others.
3) Compassion process:
The Compassion Process is at the core of our therapeutic approach, addressing the presenting concerns with a focused, one-eye-open-at-a-time. This process forms the heart of our integrative skillset, bringing together our dynamic integrative skillset. These include eye-brain coordination techniques, somatic strategies, trauma-informed emotion-focused practices, and attachment theory applications. We also incorporate sensemaking strategies and work with the various aspects or Parts of ourselves. This comprehensive approach facilitates enhanced regulation, integration, and healing of trauma and wounded attachment dynamics. Our method gently fosters an internal attachment among the different aspects of ourselves. As therapists, we serve as a temporary attachment bridge for the Parts connected to each eye, further facilitating the healing process. This powerful combination of techniques, strategies and processes is what sets Trauma Regulation and Integration Process apart.
