Core Foundational Training
Theoretical Perspectives
Using multi-modal interventions woven into a comprehensive approach is essential when working with (complex) trauma, attachment dynamics, and distressing life experiences. As a human being, we exist of complex, interwoven facets and dynamics that can't be seen or treated in isolation. Our life experiences are felt, lived, experienced, and remembered or tucked away in a complex manner.
Master the complete set of the five therapeutic elements that make up the integrative skill set, including transformational eye-brain techniques which provide innate access to different Parts, or aspects (sides) of ourselves, identify the internal attachment-based dynamics that play out when working one eye open at a time, utilize trauma-informed emotion-focused practices, engage in somatic strategies & use attachment theory as the main foundation to highly regulate and integrate trauma & attachment dynamics, and stressful or harmful life events.
Facilitate the Projection, Permission & Compassion process to heal core and specific trauma wounds, by highly regulating & integrating the brain, body and mind. Repair the nervous system’s ability to discern threat and safety accurately, improve visual distortions, and establish inner and external boundaries.
Learning Objectives - Core Foundational Training
- Sense-making through the lens of Attachment & Nervous System functioning. Conceptualize the impact of trauma, distress, and attachment wounds through the lens of attachment theory (Gordon Neufeld), nervous system functioning, compartmentalized segments or Parts of ourselves, and impact on the brain and body.
- Eye-brain techniques: This set of transformative eye-brain techniques is truly eye-opening (pun intended) and jaw-dropping at times. This component in T.R.I.P. involves having the client process their experiences with only one eye open at a time. By doing so, we gain organic and immediate differential access to our brain, body, nervous system, emotions, beliefs, sensations, pain, and memories.
- Working with Parts or different aspects of ourselves that are connected differently to each eye: Working with one eye open at a time provides organic and direct access to different, and at times contradicting or conflicting aspects of ourselves. Typically, one eye is associated with Parts or aspects (emotions, beliefs, and behavior) that prioritize "staying protected", often at any cost. The other eye tends to be connected to Parts or aspects of ourselves that focus on "staying connected" with others (or their expectations), at all costs. These dynamics create internal conflict, impacting our ability to trust ourselves or make it hard to make decisions. The "staying protected versus staying connected at costs" are often underlying chronic somatic symptoms, that are deeply rooted and entrenched in trauma. distress and attachment dynamics.
- Trauma-informed emotion-focused practice: The capacity to access, comprehend, trust, and interpret our emotions are frequently reduced when we encounter significant and distressing life events. Receiving emotional reactions from others may now be met with suspicion, fear, or distrust. Considering that each eye is linked to distinct facets of our inner selves, a therapist learns to apply trauma-informed emotional regulation techniques for each eye. Throughout the T.R.I.P. process, the therapist aids the client in improving their ability to perceive and navigate emotion
- Observe & highlight tool: Our innate drive to survive and protect ourselves significantly affects the brain and nervous system. This impact manifests through hyper-focusing on both real and perceived threats or by disregarding fear-based warning signs. Unfortunately, trusting positive experiences often involves risk, leading us to decline, dismiss, or even forget them. In the context of T.R.I.P., we actively assist the brain and nervous system in reestablishing a trusting relationship with pleasant and positive experiences.
- Somatic strategies: Trauma experiences, distress, and attachment dynamics consistently affect the body and nervous system. Somatic symptoms do not manifest with the same intensity, felt sense, or location when working with one eye open at a time. Within the context of T.R.I.P., the Somatic blueprint processes experiences by providing support, facilitating movement, allowing expression, engaging in sensemaking, regulating responses, and promoting integration.
- Attachment theory: T.R.I.P. is mainly inspired by the research and knowledge provided by the Neufeld Institute in Vancouver (Gordon Neufeld, www.neufeldinstitute.org). Understanding the essence of vulnerability, alpha dynamics, accessing tears, disappointment, and futility in a caring or wounding environment underscores the work in T.R.I.P.
- The integrative skillset is used to facilitate the 3 Core Processes:
The Projection process exposes how the nervous system changes our visual, physical, cognitive, and emotional perception upon processing a difficult life experience. This process highlights the attachment projection placed on the therapist or participating partners in therapy. 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.
The Permission process has become a crucial process for understanding effective trauma and attachment processing. At the core of many trauma and attachment wounding experiences are not having had your yes or your no consistently honoured. Deep seated consent and volition is core to health and well-being and shapes our boundaries and our worth. Permission-based language in T.R.I.P. consists in providing freedom to choose, experiencing yes and no being honored and felt, and creating a space for identifying needs necessary to resolve internal ambivalence toward healing.
As each eye is neurologically linked to different aspects and Parts of ourselves, we learn in the permission process the depth of ambivalence toward healing. It becomes paramount to the theoretical foundation of "staying protected versus staying connected at all costs". It is essential to make sense of the depth of fear, hesitation, worries, and concerns towards healing. Healing can be perceived or experienced as having direct or indirect attachment consequences. This may lead to Parts of ourselves reconsidering healing. Assessing what we need on each side (each eye linked to different aspects of ourselves) becomes the key to unlocking trauma processing.
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.
I found this training to be incredibly valuable and thorough. Monique did a wonderful job of making sure we got through all the necessary material while allowing us space to explore our questions and curiosities. I find TRIP incredibly valuable when working with people as they navigate complex and childhood trauma. I was debating between several trainings that incorporate eye-brain strategies and am so happy that I chose TRIP. It incorporates so many approaches that are evidence based and valued by clients including parts work, eye-brain techniques, somatic work, trauma-informed emotion-focused strategies, and a deep integration of trauma-informed attachment work. People I work with have shared that they appreciate the ongoing consent, pacing, the meaning-making that are part of using TRIP in their healing journeys
Suki A.
“ I just have to share how much I'm enjoying this training. I knew when the universe tossed TRIP in my direction that it was no coincidence, this is the first training I've taken in almost a decade that really resonates and just feels right. Watching you be with clients in videos, and then witnessing your passion in training, is so inspiring to me! It is amazing to be in the company of someone who is as rabidly passionate about trauma work as I am. I feel very blessed to be participating and learning from you.”
-Phyllis.
“Monique is a very skilled teacher. The T.R.I.P modelsynergizes concepts from other therapy models in a practicalway to help practitioners guide clients to navigate regulationand co-regulation of trauma symptoms. I have taken anumber of other trainings in this area and I found Monique'straining to provide the most practical resources to supportmy work with clients.”
-Joel P.
