The Self-Concept Reformation Model
In this section you will find information on the etiology of Traumatic Betrayal (how it develops) and the rationale (explanation for) regarding the Self-Concept Reformation Model of treatment.
- By reading this section, you will become acquainted with terms and theories. Some people are simply uninterested in jargon and theories. If that is the case, take the time to read the 1st two chapters in this section and then skip down to the workbook.
- If you'd rather jump right into the Journey Journal... click HERE.
Trauma Counseling
The Self-Concept Reformation Model is an integrated, clinical counseling approach for treating Traumatic Betrayal. Traumatic Betrayal has a direct and negative impact on one’s unconscious narrative. It is this unconscious narrative that is the foundation of one’s self-concept. The post-trauma self-concept unconsciously influences thoughts feelings and behaviors that manifest as the symptoms of PTSD. Using the ‘monomyth’ (Campbell, 1949) as a mythopoetic framework for treatment, the client and counselor endeavor to discover distorted, polarized archetypal functions such as symbolism, defense mechanisms, complexes, and heuristic thinking patterns within their unconscious narrative. These distorted, archetypal functions unconsciously perpetuate, one’s post-trauma self-concept and the symptoms of PTSD.
The goals of the Self-Concept Reformation Model
The goal of the Self-Concept Reformation Model is to reform one’s post-trauma self-concept and foster a preferred self-concept. Objectives to this end include discovering and transforming the unconscious influences of archetypal functions within one’s internal narrative, conditioned by traumatic betrayal. To that end, clients are provided a workbook with a variety of therapeutic activities to identify and understand the metaphorical qualities of symbolism, reveal
the influences of defense mechanisms, balance the emotional qualities of complexes, and reduce automatic responses and impulsive decisions or actions as responses to daily stressors. Together we shall endeavor to discover the innate wisdom of the life-script that lies within but has been obscured by trauma-conditioned, archetypal functions. You may begin by reading 10 brief chapters that provide an overview of the therapeutic model or go directly to the
‘Workbook’ where you can engage in therapeutic activities intended to foster insights and actions.
The Self-Concept Reformation Model is designed to be used as a supplement to clinical counseling.
Ideally, the process of self-concept reformation is co-facilitated by a professional,
trained in assisting you in grasping the results of the assessments, reading, journaling and engaging in therapeutic activities. However, the process can be self-paced and self-driven.
- While some may desire assistance from a counselor to transform the experience into insight and action, others may only need to be oriented to the model before they engage it as self-help.
Mythopoetry
Through metaphor, kennings, imaginary scenes, the fodder of dreams, harsh reality, simile and facts, fantasy, taboo like conceit, tolerance of defeat and hope for peace, this process is intended to be like a decision tree; a moral compass and creative outlet that may be used to set sail across the sea of your unconscious. - Eric Rutberg
Open Up
Can't walk through a closed door
Can't sweat through a closed poor
Can't get what you bargained for
Can't hear what you ignore
See what more is in store
What's left for you to explore?
Forget where you've been before
Open Up ... poem by William Forte
Etiology & Treatment Rationale
Broadly speaking there are two types of traumatic experiences.
There is trauma that is perceived as random in nature and that which is seemingly more personally targeted.
- Examples of random trauma may include being wounded while enlisted in the military, witnessing a tragic death as a first responder, getting into a car accident, as well as tragic, natural occurrences such as an earthquake or a fire.
- Examples of targeted trauma include severe maltreatment by a parent or family member, sexual abuse by one’s coach or other profoundly painful, life-altering acts perpetrated by a trusted other.
Traumatic betrayal results from targeted trauma; events perpetrated or catalyzed by trusted others.
- Traumatic Betrayal causes a disruption in self-concept and results in symptoms consistent with the deployment of specific psychological defense mechanisms (Jun et al., 2015).
- Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological coping strategies that protect the conscious mind from life-stressors.
- Evolution has ensured that human beings have developed very effective defense mechanisms s that work to ensure survival in the face of traumatic events.
- Following a trauma, defense mechanisms are may be conditioned to be hypervigilant, erroneously triggered by an experiences that only resembles the circumstances related to a traumatic betrayal. Research by Cramer (2009), also shows that dramatic and traumatic events may condition specific physiologic responses, commonly referred to as the flight, fight, freeze response, to become hyper vigilant to post-trauma triggers resembling danger. Spiller et al., (2014) reports multi-sensory memories may trigger a physiologic reaction as if there were actually a threat, even without there factually being a threat.
The types of unwarranted, post-trauma, defense mechanisms deployed, correlate to certain symptoms.
Research such as ‘The Body Keeps the Score’ (van der Kolk, 2015) and ‘The Polyvagal Theory’ (Porges, 2011) illustrates the psychological and physiological role of activating internal resources needed to cope with threats.
- According to San Martini et al (2021), when facing a traumatic event, neurohormones associated with the flight, fight, freeze response aids one in preventing, fending off or escaping physical harm and emotional danger by actuating “endogenous, stress-responsive neurohormones” (van der Kolk, 1994) required to deal with the stressors one is facing.
The complex interaction between memory and physiologic response is instantaneous, resulting in symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). For instance...
- a flood of cortisol is responsible for racing thoughts,
- endogenous oxytocin causes numbing of extremities, and an adverse impact on mental faculties and
- norepinephrine triggers a rapid heartbeat and provides a powerful rush of energy, often described by clients as anxiety.
For decades, cognitive behavioral therapy has been reported to be most successful in habituating the superfluous, conditioned responses to post trauma triggers. The National Center for PTSD (PTSD: National Center for PTSD, 2018) considers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to be a ‘front line’ modality for treating PTSD.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) “relies on extinction of the learned fear by means of exposure to the traumatic memory. Extinction learning is justified by emotional processing theory, which assumes that three aspects are essential for successful extinction:
- activation of the traumatic memory,
- attention to contextual (safety) information,
- and integration of this new information such that new associations can be established” (van Rooij, Kennis, Vink, & Geuze, 2015).
However, a 2015 study of 883 participants, conducted by the American Psychiatric Association, shows Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has “marginally superior results compared with active control conditions” (Psychotherapy for Military-Related PTSD A Review of Randomized Clinical Trials, 2015).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapies “only work for some people, some of the time” (Psychotherapy for Military-Related PTSD A Review of Randomized Clinical Trials, 2015).
This is curious because it stands to reason that an intervention that habituates a superfluous response in the nervous system would work universally, for all humans. Yet, the sequala of symptoms correlated with post-traumatic stress often persist following such treatments.
Perhaps Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is unsuccessful at times is because different types of traumata require different approaches to treatment.
From my experience as a clinician random trauma is that which responds best to cognitive-behavioral therapies.
- The primary focus of treatment for random trauma includes habituating the flight, fight, freeze response formed by the traumatic event, manifesting in a physiologic conditioning of these defense mechanisms to erroneously deploy resulting in the aforementioned, perturbing somatic symptoms.
Targeted trauma, when one feels singled out for being abused or betrayed, likely requires a supplemental or novel approach to treatment altogether.
In the case of targeted trauma or that which I call Traumatic Betrayal, the impact on self-concept must be addressed.
- Targeted trauma can be experienced in a moment, as an acute event that has never occurred before and never repeated, or it can be an ongoing, chronic experience that one may fear shall never end.
- Targeted traumatic experiences often cause “terrible dread, shame, humiliation, isolation or loss of status and resources, if not personal freedom” (Stosny, Ph.D., 2020).
- When such an effrontery occurs.. (such as abuse by a loved one, adultery or perhaps thievery ), one that is planned and or perpetrated by a trusted other, one may experience that which is referred to in literary circles as Nodus Tollens (Hunter, 2013); a realization that the plot of one’s life no longer makes sense.
- Following “unassimilable emotionally significant experiences” (Epstein, 1994), such as Traumatic Betrayal, one’s implicit belief system is “susceptible to total collapse” (Epstein, 1994). As such, "those who have experienced traumatic betrayal may require a treatment protocol that addresses hypervigilant, biological defense mechanisms but the protocol must address the psychological impact of trauma on ones self-concept."
- Eric Rutberg, DHEd, LCPC © December 26, 2021