Lifespan Integration Therapy

Trauma may be defined as “an experience that produces psychological injury or pain.” (Dictionary.com). While this suffices as a general definition of trauma, the understanding used in lifespan integration therapy is far more complex and nuanced. It includes both the initial trauma as well as its lingering effects. Trauma that occurred in the distant past can profoundly affect the present.

For example, consider victims of the violence of war (whether military personnel or civilians). Even though the war may have ended, the trauma of their experiences often affects their minds and bodies to such a point that they have difficulty adjusting to peacetime.

Not all trauma responses involve panic attacks or waking up screaming in the middle of the night. Some reactions to trauma can be much more subtle, such as abusive behavior, emotional neglect, or flat emotional responses. A counselor at Texas Christian Counseling can help you detect what behaviors might be rooted in a trauma.

Lifespan Integration (or simply “LI”) is a relatively new therapeutic approach that tries to help the client come to terms with traumatic events that they have experienced throughout their life and that, consequently, affect behavior in the present. By addressing their underlying trauma, they are enabled to relate to others in more healthy ways.

The effectiveness of this kind of therapy is still being studied. Still, preliminary findings look promising and indicate that the practice of stepping through multiple repetitions of the memory timeline can help bring healing from the effects of past trauma.

At present, researchers do not completely understand how this method works or why it is effective, but the theories behind it are related to neurobiology and attachment theory. LI is classed as a “body-based protocol,” meaning that it is thought to affect the brain’s wiring at some deep level.

After discussing with the client whether LI is a suitable treatment option for their symptoms and determining that the client is comfortable with the process, the following steps are taken.

Creation of the timeline. Life Integration therapy, as practiced by our Christian counselors in Texas, begins with the therapist directing the client to remember at least one significant event for every year of their life, starting with year zero and extending up to the present. This will serve as the basis for the rest of the treatment.

Guided visualization by the counselor. Using the timeline as a starting point, the counselor will help the client visualize the experiences they listed while maintaining awareness of the present.

Reinforcement through repetition. Over the course of the treatment sessions, the counselor will take the client repeatedly through their timeline, reinforcing continuity in their life story. This is thought to “rewire” the brain’s neural pathways and encourage resilience and integration of the personality.

Processing and integration. Over time, many clients report having a greater sense of stability, less emotional volatility, and better presence of mind. Throughout this process, the counselor helps the client come to grips with their emotions and apply insights learned during the process.

Some of the reasons why Lifespan Integration Therapy in Texas might be a suitable treatment option for dealing with trauma include:

LI is body-based. Trauma has profound effects on the body. LI attempts to help the client overcome these physical symptoms.

LI is grounded in science. Lifespan Integration therapy is based on how science has shown that the brain handles traumatic experiences. It attempts to “rewire” the brain in order to help the client develop better responses to past traumatic experiences.

LI is flexible and comprehensive. LI is a flexible approach that can be adjusted to the unique needs of each client. It is comprehensive because it can be used by people of any background and is suitable for a wide variety of trauma types.

LI is gentle and non-invasive. This therapy does not require the client to relive the trauma but attempts to integrate it into the client’s life story, reducing the risk of traumatizing them all over again.

It is beyond the scope of this page to discuss all of the theoretical and practical nuances of Lifetime Integration Therapy. However, it should be noted that this differs significantly from other kinds of talk therapy.

Rather than causing the client to relive the trauma as they sit and talk through events that they have been attempting to avoid thinking about, the counselors at Texas Christian Counseling use Lifetime Integration Therapy to help clients set the trauma into the larger scope of their lives.

Researchers and therapists are still learning how trauma happens, how it affects the mind, and how to best help their clients. If you are struggling with resolving trauma in your past, Lifespan Integration Therapy in Texas may be an option you should consider.

Call us at Texas Christian Counseling today for more information and we will arrange an appointment with one of the therapists in our association.