MODULE THREE – TRAUMA-CONFRONTATION WITH BMDR®

After stabilizing and “resourcing” safe trauma confrontation in “dual consciousness” can follow

If all previous resources are available and our clients can stabilize themselves even in difficult situations, we can start with a safe trauma-confrontation. In the “window of tolerance”, in a state of power and self-regulation with integrated “superpowers” and knowing how to calm and protect “the inner child”, our clients can dare to look at traumatic situations as “heroes” without re-traumatization. We process painful memories step by step (“titration”) using instead of EMDR® the method of BMDR® (Body Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). The aim is to overcome trauma memories in mind, heart and body by ending what could not be completed, what could not be done, what could not be felt, what could not be expressed – first by introducing “acts of triumph” along the ladder of activation and later by finding access to emotions which could not be felt and integrated. When it becomes possible to feel what should have been felt, but has been buried in terror, shock and pain, the healing process can start…

• The “ladder of confrontation”: From easy confrontations as “hero” (protecting the “little me”) in an less difficult situation to make sure the client finds his way back to stabilization using the tools of Module One & Two.
• … to confrontations with difficult memories, learning how to process body reactions: Building containment for arousal (“Window of tolerance”) and working with survival energy using “triumphal actions”.
• Learning different techniques of BMDR® (bilateral body movements) for stabilization.
• …to processing difficult trauma memories through all the layers, one by one and finally all together: body-sensations, body actions, bodily felt emotions – up the ladder of activation.