As children, many of our adult clients experienced abuses they were helpless to escape or prevent. Perhaps it wasn’t safe for them to cry, look frightened, or voice emotional needs for fear of punishment. Because they had no choice other than to appear “fine,” their brains and bodies instinctively developed habits that prevented them from showing emotion. Although these strategies are adaptive in an unsafe environment, when clients come to therapy years later, their phobia of emotion and vulnerability poses obstacles in their lives—and can also pose significant challenges for us as therapists. Fortunately, modern trauma treatment affords us many ways to help survivors, including those who can’t “go there.” In this workshop, you’ll explore how to: 

• Help clients resolve trauma without reliving it 

• Better manage your own need as a therapist for clients to be vulnerable 

• Use body- and parts-centered approaches to validate avoidance as trauma-related fear 

• Develop a strong therapeutic alliance with intellectualized and avoidant clients