Citation

Benau K. Eur. J. Trauma Dissoc. 2021; 5(4): e100198.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Masson)

DOI

10.1016/j.ejtd.2020.100198

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Sexual molestation of a child invariably leads to traumatic shame states that, without appropriate adult intervention, can last for years during childhood and well into adulthood. Physical immobilization during sexual molestation, feeling trapped and helpless, can also contribute directly to the development of a chronic, traumatic shame state and immobilization impacting body, emotion, and thought/belief/meaning. This two-part article describes five psychotherapy sessions with an adult, male survivor of childhood sexual molestation. Part 1 offers a close study of two psychotherapy sessions, Sessions 1 and 2, that took place 16 months apart, exploring several traumatic effects of the survivor being held down by his abuser. Part 1 demonstrates how, with the benefit of an integrative approach to psychotherapy that pays close attention to the embodied, lived experience of sexual molestation and specifically immobilization, a survivor can move more freely in mind and body from a traumatic shame state to one of triumphant, pro-being pride. Part 2 carries forward this examination of three sessions immediately following Session 2. With a stronger, more integrated self that is pro-being pride, the patient is now able to observe his dissociative, retaliatory rage and access adaptive anger (Session 3), deepen his pro-being pride, and facilitate his movement toward an integrated, core self (Sessions 4 and 5). Both Parts 1 and 2 close highlighting those therapeutic factors contributing to the patient's transformation.

Language: en

Keywords

Immobilization; Janet’s act of triumph; Janet’s fixed ideas; Pride; Pro-being pride; Psychotherapy; Relational trauma; Sexual molestation; Shame