Road to Healing

A path for self work

Stabilize and contain intense emotions (de-escalation)

1. Increase awareness around emotionality; ex. mindfulness, journaling, tracking log, daily self care check-in

2. Containment skills; ex. container, time/put a pin in it, close it in a book, journal/draw

3. Identify triggers; ex. emotional state, people, places, things, thoughts, activities/situations

4. Plan for addressing triggers; ex. contain and ground, write it down and keep it handy

5. Identify window of tolerance

6. Build support system

Connect with internal sense of safety/calm (grounding)

1. Meditation

2. Sound/music

3. Bilateral stimulation

4. Explore body awareness 

5. Fight/flight education 

6. Identify values/strengths

Continuous self care

1. Biopsychosocial education

2. Self care wheel

3. Plan for relapse

4. Toolbox of coping skills 

5. Explore neuroplasticity

Begin processing target trauma

1. MSSS/ movement, sound, silence, storytelling 

2. EMDR/Art therapy/IFS

3. Connect with inner child

4. Identify hurts, process emotions, tend wounds

5. Explore layers of meaning through journaling, art therapy 

6. What was missing, needed

7. Identify defenses and efforts to cope that no longer serve

Integration 

1. Bring forward new insights

2. Write the new narrative

3. Identify strengths 

4. Identify new beliefs