Alicia Joy’s Reviews > Neurobiology and Treatment of Traumatic Dissociation: Towards an Embodied Self > Status Update

Ch. 21 How to use somatic therapy before EMDR. How they are similar and different. Techniques and advice for implementation.

Ch. 18 Descriptions of various interventions and techniques for working with dissociated patients.

Ch. 17 Overview of fractionation and titration techniques for trauma processing and introduction of TOTEMSPOTS.

Ch. 16 Early trauma may necessitate therapy that helps the patient safely learn to accept feelings of emotion by objectively observing them.

Ch. 15 Working with ego states first requires identifying the part in charge, usually an internalized form of an abuser. Must acknowledge the initial role for each part, and appreciate. Reorient these to a new role. Helping the parts recognize they are part of a while through the use of a mirror, identifying with an adult body, etc.

Ch. 14 tolerance of affective and somatic states is crucial before trauma work. This tolerance is developed by the safe relationship with the therapist that arises from an agreed upon set of rules about each others roles and what is expected of client. Structure is important, and its crucial to not break from this structure or you risk moving backwards with the patient.

Ch. 12. Many therapies are not trained to work or identify dissociative symptoms. Characteristics of dissociative response suggest the need for more or less work or body integration needed before processing trauma. State switching can occur in several different ways and can inform treatment.

How the thalamus and ossilatory activity affect information processing and how this affects memory formation. Thalamus is suppressed as a result of opioids released during stress interferes with memory consolidation. Re- integrated by simultaneous focus on extero and interoceptuve elements of experience.