Healing Trauma: A Healing Trauma: A Transpersonal ApproachTranspersonal Approach

Marisa VolpeMarisa Volpe

Mary Hampton Mary Hampton

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Trauma – Western PerspectiveTrauma – Western Perspective

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): Criteria developed PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): Criteria developed in DSM TR (in DSM TR (APA, 2000APA, 2000).).

Criterion A: Criterion A: ““stressorstressor”” or or ““eventevent”” experienced by an experienced by an individual that was horrible and they reacted with horror, individual that was horrible and they reacted with horror, helplessness, fear, or fear that they were going to die helplessness, fear, or fear that they were going to die

Criterion B: the traumatic event is persistently re-Criterion B: the traumatic event is persistently re-experienced experienced

Criterion C: experience persistent avoidance of stimuli Criterion C: experience persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness responsiveness

Criterion D: Persistent symptoms of increased arousalCriterion D: Persistent symptoms of increased arousal Symptomatology: appears six months following the Symptomatology: appears six months following the

traumatic event, occurs for at least one monthtraumatic event, occurs for at least one month’’s duration, s duration, and causes significant interference in a personand causes significant interference in a person’’s daily s daily functioning functioning

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Healing Trauma – Western PerspectiveHealing Trauma – Western Perspective

Mediating Factors: proximity to traumatic event, intensity Mediating Factors: proximity to traumatic event, intensity of event, severity of event, support, meaning, and ability of event, severity of event, support, meaning, and ability to anticipate the trauma (to anticipate the trauma (van der Kolk, 2007van der Kolk, 2007))

Two empirically validated treatments: CBT (Cognitive Two empirically validated treatments: CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Behaviour Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization) (Desensitization) (Foa, Keane & Friedman, 2000Foa, Keane & Friedman, 2000))

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Symptomatology Symptomatology ((Levine, Waking the Tiger, 1997Levine, Waking the Tiger, 1997))

Early stages: hyperarousal, constriction, dissociation, Early stages: hyperarousal, constriction, dissociation, helplessness, hypervigiliance, flashbacks, hyperactivity, helplessness, hypervigiliance, flashbacks, hyperactivity, abrupt mood swings, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, abrupt mood swings, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, reduced ability to deal with stressreduced ability to deal with stress

Late stages: panic attacks, spaciness, exaggerated Late stages: panic attacks, spaciness, exaggerated startle response, extreme sensitivity to light & sound, startle response, extreme sensitivity to light & sound, exaggerated emotional responses, etc. (exaggerated emotional responses, etc. (see Levine for see Levine for complete listcomplete list))

Healing – somatic experiencing (Healing – somatic experiencing (LevineLevine))

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What Does Trauma Feel Like?What Does Trauma Feel Like?

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Biology of Trauma Biology of Trauma ((Scaer, 2001Scaer, 2001))

““The Body Bears the BurdenThe Body Bears the Burden””

The importance of The importance of ““kindlingkindling””

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WhatWhat’’s the Experience?s the Experience?

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What’s the Experience?What’s the Experience?

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Healing/TransformationHealing/Transformation((Levine and ScaerLevine and Scaer))

Initial trauma; arousal leads to unsuccessful escape, Initial trauma; arousal leads to unsuccessful escape, leads to experience of fear and helplessness, leads to leads to experience of fear and helplessness, leads to immobilityimmobility

Transformation: Immobility leads to arousal, leads to Transformation: Immobility leads to arousal, leads to running, leads to successful escape, leads to running, leads to successful escape, leads to empowermentempowerment

Move from Freezing to Completion of response (Move from Freezing to Completion of response (Berceli, Berceli, 20082008))

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Toward HealingToward Healing

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Toward HealingToward Healing

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Positions of Personal DevelopmentPositions of Personal Development

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““Transpersonal Psychology:Transpersonal Psychology:Defying the Past, Defining the FutureDefying the Past, Defining the Future””

((Hartelius, et al. 2007Hartelius, et al. 2007))

Definitions:Definitions: (1) non-ego – beyond the individual(1) non-ego – beyond the individual (2) integrative – psychology of the whole person(2) integrative – psychology of the whole person (3) catalyst for human transformation(3) catalyst for human transformation (4) action-oriented theory(4) action-oriented theory

““An approach to psychology that 1), studies An approach to psychology that 1), studies phenomenon in a non-ego context or to an integrative phenomenon in a non-ego context or to an integrative holistic psychology. This provides a framework for really holistic psychology. This provides a framework for really understanding and cultivating healing transformation.understanding and cultivating healing transformation.””

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The Seven Chakras

Aboriginal Perspective – TraumaAboriginal Perspective – Trauma

Historical Trauma (Historical Trauma (Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2004Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2004) ) ““Historical traumaHistorical trauma”” refers to the refers to the ““collective emotional and collective emotional and psychological injury over the lifespan and across psychological injury over the lifespan and across generations … resulting from a history of genocide with generations … resulting from a history of genocide with the effects being psychological, behavioral, and medicalthe effects being psychological, behavioral, and medical”” ( (Mitchell & Maracle, 2005Mitchell & Maracle, 2005))

Proposed new diagnostic category: Proposed new diagnostic category: ““Complex TraumaComplex Trauma”” [[Söchting, I., Corrado, R., Cohen, I.M., Ley, R.G. & Söchting, I., Corrado, R., Cohen, I.M., Ley, R.G. & Brasfield, C. (2007)Brasfield, C. (2007)] ]

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Aboriginal Perspective – HealingAboriginal Perspective – Healing

Story of Healing: Dr. Carrie Bourassa (The Drum)Story of Healing: Dr. Carrie Bourassa (The Drum)

EldersElders’’ Message of Healing: Elder Betty McKenna – Message of Healing: Elder Betty McKenna – vibrations of rocks traditionally used for healing traumavibrations of rocks traditionally used for healing trauma

Medicine Wheel TeachingsMedicine Wheel Teachings

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Medicine Wheel in Medicine Wheel in SaskatchewanSaskatchewan

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Medicine WheelMedicine Wheel

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Self BalanceSelf Balance

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Theory of Vibrational PsychologyTheory of Vibrational Psychology((Fitzgerald, F.Fitzgerald, F.))

Wavelength is the foundation of vibrational psychology Wavelength is the foundation of vibrational psychology ((Fitzgerald, F.Fitzgerald, F.))

Wavelength is a frequency that corresponds to Wavelength is a frequency that corresponds to wavelength theories recently discovered by physicists wavelength theories recently discovered by physicists (Fitzgerald, F.)(Fitzgerald, F.)

According to information contained in the New Physics, According to information contained in the New Physics, ours is not a universe where matter moves about in ours is not a universe where matter moves about in neutral space, but our universe is an evolving, instantly neutral space, but our universe is an evolving, instantly and enduringly interconnected fundamentally integral and enduringly interconnected fundamentally integral reality embedded in a dynamic and physically real reality embedded in a dynamic and physically real medium that subtends the familiar world of three-medium that subtends the familiar world of three-dimensional space and correlated time (dimensional space and correlated time (Laszlo, 2008Laszlo, 2008))

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Vibrational PsychologyVibrational Psychology

The theory of vibrational psychology takes us beyond the The theory of vibrational psychology takes us beyond the New Physics, the new paradigm proposed by scientists New Physics, the new paradigm proposed by scientists as we enter the 21as we enter the 21stst century ( century (Herbert, 1985; Kaku, 2008Herbert, 1985; Kaku, 2008))

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Vibrational PsychologyVibrational Psychology

Definitions:Definitions: Physics = defined sciencePhysics = defined science Physical physics = explanation of what happens in our world Physical physics = explanation of what happens in our world

of matter (of matter (Kaku, 2008Kaku, 2008)) Quantum physics = the intersection of energy and matter Quantum physics = the intersection of energy and matter

((Hooper, 2007; Laszlo, 2009Hooper, 2007; Laszlo, 2009)) Metaphysics = the combining of physics and energy (Metaphysics = the combining of physics and energy (Herbert, Herbert,

1985; Laszlo, 20081985; Laszlo, 2008)) Pure physics = a function that happens dimensionally Pure physics = a function that happens dimensionally

((Fitzgerald, F.Fitzgerald, F.))

Wavelength = vibrational psychologyWavelength = vibrational psychology

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Brainwave Patterns Brainwave Patterns ((Pulos, L.Pulos, L.))

The brain speaks four electrical languages that reflect four The brain speaks four electrical languages that reflect four different octaves of consciousness:different octaves of consciousness:

Beta wavesBeta waveswaking state, waking state, arousal, alertness, concentration (13 -100+ Hz)arousal, alertness, concentration (13 -100+ Hz)

Alpha waves Alpha waves brain’s neutral or idling state, state for meditators (8 -12 Hz)brain’s neutral or idling state, state for meditators (8 -12 Hz)

Theta waves Theta waves reverie or twilight state, sudden insights and creative ideas (4 -8 Hz)reverie or twilight state, sudden insights and creative ideas (4 -8 Hz)

Delta waves Delta waves

sleep state, time of cellular regeneration and healing (0.5 – 4 Hz)sleep state, time of cellular regeneration and healing (0.5 – 4 Hz)

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States of Consciousness States of Consciousness and States of Mindand States of Mind

SwamiJ.com

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The Ocean of ConsciousnessThe Ocean of Consciousness

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MeditationMeditation

Awakening to Your Inner PowerAwakening to Your Inner Power

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ReferencesReferences

Comprehensive list provided upon request

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References continuedReferences continued Hartelius, G., Hartelius, G., CaplanCaplan, M. & Rardin, M.A. (2007). Transpersonal psychology: , M. & Rardin, M.A. (2007). Transpersonal psychology:

Defining the past, divining the future. Defining the past, divining the future. The Humanistic Psychologist, 35,The Humanistic Psychologist, 35, 135- 135-160.160.

Laszlo, E. (2009). Laszlo, E. (2009). The Akashic experience: Science and the cosmic The Akashic experience: Science and the cosmic memory field. memory field. VT: Inner Traditions.VT: Inner Traditions.

Levine, P. (1997). Levine, P. (1997). Waking the tiger: Healing trauma.Waking the tiger: Healing trauma. Berkeley, CA: North Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.Atlantic Books.

McKenna, B. (2008). McKenna, B. (2008). Guest lecture, Healing Trauma class.Guest lecture, Healing Trauma class. Mitchell, T. & Maracle, D. (2005). Healing generations: Post-traumatic stress Mitchell, T. & Maracle, D. (2005). Healing generations: Post-traumatic stress

and the health status of Aboriginal populations in Canada. Journal of and the health status of Aboriginal populations in Canada. Journal of Aboriginal Health, March, 14-25.Aboriginal Health, March, 14-25.

Missing WomenMissing Women’’s Conference (2008). University of Regina. s Conference (2008). University of Regina. www.missingwomenregina.com..

Pappas, J., Smythe, W. & Baydala, A. (Eds.). (2007). Pappas, J., Smythe, W. & Baydala, A. (Eds.). (2007). Cultural healing and Cultural healing and belief systems.belief systems. Calgary, AB: Detselig Enterprises Ltd. Calgary, AB: Detselig Enterprises Ltd.

INCLUDE LEE PULOSINCLUDE LEE PULOS

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References continuedReferences continued

Rowan, J. (1993). The transpersonal: Psychotherapy and counseling. London: Routledge.

Scaer, R. (2001). The body bears the burden: Trauma, dissociation, and disease. Binghampton, NY: The Haworth Press, Inc.

Scaer, R. (2005). Trauma spectrum Hidden wounds and human resiliency. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.

Sochting, I., Corrado, R., Cohen, I., Lay, R.G. & Brasfield, C. (2007). Traumatic pasts in Canadian Aboriginal people: Further support for a complex trauma conceptualization. B.C. Medical Journal, 49, 320-326.

van der Kolk, B.A., McFarlane, McFarlane, A.C. & Weisaeth, L. (Eds.) van der Kolk, B.A., McFarlane, McFarlane, A.C. & Weisaeth, L. (Eds.) (2007). Traumatic stress: The effects of overwhelming experience on mind, (2007). Traumatic stress: The effects of overwhelming experience on mind, body, and society. New York: The Guilford Press.body, and society. New York: The Guilford Press.

Wilbur, K. (2000). Integral psychology: Consciousness, spirit, psychology, Wilbur, K. (2000). Integral psychology: Consciousness, spirit, psychology, therapy. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc.therapy. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc.

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