liz Covey MA, LMHC, LPC, LMT
Psychotherapist & Coach
Specializing in Compassionate Complex Trauma & IFS Parts Work
Links & Resources
Trauma Therapy
Life After Trauma
Psychedelic Integration
Unlike in generations past, we now understand trauma to be that which was profoundly harmful and impactful in the life of a person, and around which patterns of unsafety were formed. The deepest roots we have for such patterns can be found in our developing years, as those experiences occurred during times of high vulnerability and dependence.
In other words, trauma includes but is no longer focused exclusively on life-threatening events (also called "Big T" traumas). Instead, we now see how trauma details our life's adversities and the strategies we formed to adjust to them. The symptoms that stem from these situations and events can persist long after the conditions that caused them are gone. These can range from hyper-vigilance or global mistrust to more common things like persistent shame, repetitive relationship problems or difficulty in ascertaining a path in life.
Liz's practice specializes in "Complex Trauma" which is a type that originates in the family or caregiver system, and greatly effects the attachment system of the person, which can be problematic long after they have grown into adulthood. This is chiefly true in the areas of self-concept, confidence, shame, and relationships.
RESOURCES:
Janina Fisher's website
AEDP Institute
https://aedpinstitute.org/about-aedp/
Internal Family Systems Model
Intl. Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation
Global Association of Interpersonal Neurobiology
Intergenerational Trauma Resources:
What is Epigenetics? - Educationally entertaining science news and more
Beacon House Trauma Resources
https://beaconhouse.org.uk/resources/
Trauma research has expanded mightily in the past two decades, leading to groundbreaking treatments and techniques that work in the service of symptom reduction and greater self-orientation. Alas, one can find the focus to be centered squarely on the amelioration of troublesome things, without a clear picture of what might come next in a life that was previously shaped by limiting, demoralizing or downright degrading feelings, behaviors and/or relational patterns.
In this practice there is ample focus on the recovery of the full potential in each person's life, one that is rich in "Self" energy. (Self is the central structure of the human being -so named in Analytic psychology and Internal Family Systems).
This notion of Self is the very heart of the person- the truest sense of ourselves at the core of our beings. This concept of "Self"-and its nurturance- is a main ingredient in maturing throughout healthy adult life- a life where one learns to heal from their broken places, and to grow ever stronger and wiser for having done so.
The recovery and building up of the Self comes in many forms- two of which are the focus of this practice. The first is trauma treatment, primarily through compassionate and relational IFS/parts work with an attachment focus. The second is a concentration on the development of the aspects of one's self that are under-utilized or haven't yet been safe to fully develop or emerge.
In this practice, it is believed that each person's Self is born to thrive, and that our map for how to do that begins with our traumas. As Leonard Cohen taught us, "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in..."
Recommended Reading
-Bessel Van der Kolk's
The Body Keeps the Score
-Gabor Mate's
The Myth of Normal (or any of his books)
-Resmaa Menakem's
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma & the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies
-Colleen West's
We All Have Parts!
-Deirdre Faye's
Becoming Safely Embodied
-Mark Wolynn's
It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are
-Nadine Burke Harris's
The Deepest Well
-MIchael Pollan's
How to Change Your Mind
-Ron Frederick's
Loving Like You Mean It
-Peter Levine's
Waking the Tiger
•Thomas Armstrong's
The Power of Neurodiversity
-Jonice Webb's
Running on Empty
The field of psychological trauma is undergoing a massive change as it begins to assimilate the wisdom and traditions of psychedelic medicines into the practices already established by the somatic and relational neurosciences. Though these practices have mostly been discovered and cultivated by indigenous people the world over, they are being studied, explored and celebrated in the realm of the therapeutic with a newfound awakening for the power to treat and heal wounds related to trauma and other conditions that are difficult to reach with western medications and talk therapy alone, such as addictions and long-standing mood disorders or shame.
In this practice there is no administration of illegal substances but there is knowledge and training around therapeutic use, as well as the therapeutic integration of psychedelic experiences.
Please contact Liz to further discuss micro-dosing and psychedelic journey integration work.
RESOURCES:
James Fadiman's Website:
microdosingpsychedelics.com (google.com)
MAPS:
Paul Stamets Websites:
John Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research:
Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research (hopkinspsychedelic.org)