Abreaction therapy
Abreaction Therapy
The main focus of Abreaction Therapy is on reliving a traumatic event and experiencing the emotions associated with them to heal and move forward. Developed by Sigmund Freud.
What to expect?
The method provides the patients with a way to release their unconscious pain and escape from the memories. The goal of Abreaction Therapy is to cleanse the patient’s mind by making them relive their trauma and in the process make them a better regulator of their own emotion. After the completion of the treatment, the client usually find himself or herself at ease with the events which appeared disturbing in the first place. Therapy not only clears up past traumatic experience but also heals the individual so that they can move forward and have a healthy personal lives and relationships. This therapy is often used as an awareness tool that helps clear up the conscious and unconscious tension gifting the clients with psychological well-being.
How Does it Works?
The therapy is a collaboration platform of the therapist and patient who work together to rid of disturbing memories and move forward in life. The counselor acts as a physical anchor. The creation and development of the relationship is the necessity and therapy cannot proceed until the client is ready to relive the event. For patients who have experienced severe trauma, the process can take many sessions before internalizing the security and commitment.
The treatment proceeds by acknowledging the flashbacks and distrust. It is quite likely that the patient will undergo disorientation in the beginning of treatment. The counselor has to be extra cautious and careful while they are reliving the events since it often promotes flashbacks, which is an unavoidable element in working with trauma. The therapist will have to ensure a good rapport has been established with the patient before thoughts are expressed.
In the beginning of the treatment the counselor creates stabilization in the therapy chamber and provides the patient psycho-education so that they can have a deeper understanding of what is happening and why. The moment of reliving the event could occur quickly because of a trigger made accidentally. The feeling of internal pressure and conflict will release the unprocessed emotions and material and bring them closer to the surface of consciousness. The pressure is often felt like a power struggle and results in conscious and unconscious clarity.
When the thoughts and feelings are released the client gains understanding, clarity and attains a new identity. This strategy is a beneficial while working with hostile memories because it creates a new role for the individual.
When is Abreaction Therapy Used?
Abreaction Therapy is applied when a client is in need of an emotional and spiritual breakdown. By making the clients relive the memories and feelings it releases fears and rejections that have resulted due to the event. It is used exclusively for PTSD patients, and also for patients with problems that affects their current lives and relationships with others. Traumatic events sometimes ruin trust, love and security. The clients commonly suffer from a lack of self esteem and assurance in themselves because of past events. The therapy is also suitable for clients who engage in health-damaging in behavior .
Role of therapist:
Therapists working as Abreaction counselors uses catharsis to get rid of negative thoughts associated with the experience. Through the process, the difficult emotions of the client is brought out and the client experiences an emotional removal which takes away the burden of the traumatic event after treatment.
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