An Introduction to Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP): Enhanced Relational Interventions for Complex Trauma and Attachment Wounding

The field of mental health is starting to recognize that many, if not most, psychiatric conditions are different manifestations of early childhood trauma. When a child’s undeveloped nervous system is repeatedly overwhelmed by fear or shame and no attachment figure is present to protect, comfort, regulate the child, the result is developmental trauma.  Even in adulthood, a history of complex attachment trauma can sever and/or inhibit the formation of deep and lasting bonds between self and other, self and self, self and emotion. The practice of AEDP, an empirically-supported treatment model, includes key elements to foster the healing of trauma, the integration of dissociated parts and the rekindling of deep, trusting relationships through the felt experience of undoing aloneness. Such trusting relationships can rekindle neuroplasticity to restructure insecure attachment patterns, promote safe emotional processing and transform trauma into flourishing.

In this workshop, we will explore elements such as the explicit use of relational interventions to build safety and containment, dyadic regulation of intense traumatic affects of fear, shame, and overwhelm, as well as reconnection to healing emotion via processing of core affect – all in the context of patients with severe trauma histories. We will view these cases through the lens of intra-relational interventions, which place dual emphasis on internal attachment relationships formed through affective interchanges between dissociated parts of the self, and on the intrinsic healing power of new emotional experiences. Parallel relational processes unfolding simultaneously within the external dyad (i.e. therapist/client) and internal dyads (i.e. client/dissociated ego-states) facilitate and accelerate the internalization of secure attachment dynamics. Strengthening these connections instills safety and containment which, in turn, segue ways into transformative affect work and deep processing of traumatic memories.  Key points will be illustrated with videotaped clips of actual therapy sessions.