The Body Remembers Volume 2: Revolutionizing Trauma Treatment by Babette Rothschild

Author:Babette Rothschild
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

KEEPING THE CONTRACT: UNA

I had been seeing Una for just a few weeks when she came for the session transcribed and annotated below. The first visit was history taking and goal setting. She came initially because she had read in a popular magazine about the effects of trauma. She had been assaulted and molested as a teen, and wondered if that was why she had never remarried after the death of her husband several years before. Her answer to the question of “Why now?” was that she was nearing the anniversary time of his death and she feared the predictable malaise that she knew would again come over her soon. Using the concept of psychological triage discussed above, it appeared obvious that the wound from her loss was still “bleeding.” She agreed, though she felt anxious to consider facing her grief. We first worked with Phase 1 stabilization, which was accomplished fairly quickly. The session, below, marked the start of Phase 2, focusing attention on her loss and on her impending anniversary grief reaction. I am including this session here because it underscores the importance of attending to what the client wants to make and what is “bleeding” now, staying on track despite diversions. Throughout this session, additional principles are demonstrated, including the advantage of mindful body awareness in facilitating integration of the work at hand (no pun intended), and the value of taking smaller steps (to be discussed in Chapter 7).

T: How can I help you today?

U: I feel so constricted in here. [points to her chest]

T: In your chest?

U: Yes. As I told you, this time of year it comes over me.

T: This time of year? The anniversary of your husband’s death?

U: [nods, then shakes her head] I haven’t accepted it.

T: What does it feel like in your chest?

U: It’s very heavy. I have to bear it there.

T: What do you bear there?

U: A very heavy thing. I don’t know what it is. It hurts me.

T: Physically hurts or emotionally hurts or both?

U: Both. It feels like I can’t get enough air. It’s very narrow there. I used to go out quite a lot. I feel better when I go out, but as soon as I’m inside it comes over me again.

T: All the time or only this time of year?

U: Mostly this time of year.

T: How long from start to when it goes away?

U: Around the first day of autumn I know it will come soon. He died in November. It gets very difficult when our old couple friends are doing things together and I am alone.

I realize I am still unclear what she wants to make today. So I ask again. . . .

T: How are you hoping I can help you with this?

U: [she still has her closed hand covering her heart area] I’m hoping you can help take this away [rather quickly she casts her hand from her chest, out to the side, opening her hand as if throwing something out of her chest].

Now this is a very clear expression of what Una wants to make: She is saying and showing that she wants me to help her take away the distress she feels in her chest.

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