Navigating C-PTSD: The Healing Power of Titration and Catharsis
Safely managing flooding and dissociation
Following an initial therapy session with Lucas, a young man beset by complex trauma and dissociative symptoms, an unexpected deluge of memories and tears ensued. His deadpan reciting of parental narcissistic abuse triggered a delayed emotional response, that up until then was blocked. This discharge of previously repressed or subconscious emotions, referred to in psychoanalytic theory as catharsis, signified that harmful occurrences from the past were being engaged with in an embodied way, so that the potential for insightful positive change could be realized.
For those like Lucas, who are afflicted with complex trauma, an illness catalyzed by prolonged or repetitive exposure to traumatic events, often beginning in childhood and occurring within interpersonal relationships or in situations where the individual was trapped or powerless, titrating cathartic emotional experiences are a crucial part of recovery.
Originating from chemistry, where a substance is added incrementally to achieve a desired reaction or outcome, titration in the context of trauma-informed therapy, is a process which involves…
