Interpersonal Neurobiology Therapy: What It Is & How it Helps Trauma Recovery
When you go through something traumatic, it can have long-term effects on your life. Your mental and physical states can change in negative ways. When your whole life has been flipped upside down, you may feel like you can't move on.
Healing from trauma is rarely a linear process. It is a rollercoaster ride that can leave you feeling dizzy, scared, and hopeless. There are so many ups and downs in the aftermath of a traumatic event that require support and a path forward.
Typically, in the therapy world, healing from trauma is discussed via a few methods. EMDR, for instance, is one of the most common and utilized methodologies to help clients move past trauma. It works by recalling specific memories with certain eye movements, guided by a trained therapist.
Still, it is important to note that there are more ways to treat trauma than just EMDR or traditional talk therapy. While it is less common, a great way to aid in the healing of trauma is through Interpersonal Neurobiology Therapy (IPNB.)
What Is Interpersonal Neurobiology Therapy?
IPNB is a therapeutic approach built on the foundation that our brains are continuously influenced and growing as a result. Because of this, the opportunities for healing are never over. However, learning how to harness the power of our brains' continuous transformation can be challenging.
Previously, we assumed that our brains did not grow after early adulthood. However, technological advances in science and neurological research have disproven that theory. In fact, throughout our lifetimes, new neurons and connections are constantly forming.
IPNB works to explore the connection and impact that therapy has on the brain. It also explores how our brains are influenced by the life experiences we embrace or endure.
How Does It Help With Trauma?
After something traumatic happens, it can be so hard to move past it. We become stuck in the place and memory of something that deeply troubled our minds, body, and spirit. You can basically say that our brains hold on to these memories and refuse to let them go.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, IPNB is a field that combines various areas of science, including psychology, physics, and biology. This is helpful for healing trauma because it doesn't just look at one area of the human mind. It sees an overall picture that promotes a stronger, healthier connection from painful memories.
Most importantly, IPNB looks at the connection between our brain growth and relationships. The theory behind it is that who we are is because of our relationships. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
We know that relationships, platonic, familial, and romantic, have ways of ultimately changing our lives. IPNB acknowledges this and reinforces the idea that it can also change our brains. The healthier the connections we have, the better our brains become. Alternatively, damaging relationships can change our mental health states for the worse.
We Are Made Up Of Connections
Just like our brain is connected by so many neurological connections, so are we. We are the connection to other people, experiences, nature, animals, and so much more.
IPNB promotes healing from trauma by focusing less on the painful memories but replacing them with positive ones. Such positive memories include those we associate with friends, family, partners, and beloved places.
Healing from trauma is possible, yet it is a challenge for many. This is why utilizing a variety of tools aimed at treating trauma is crucial for people trying to fully move on.
If you are struggling to stay connected with others after a traumatic event, know that you aren't alone. Together, let's work past the barriers your brain has erected and begin to form healthier connections. Contact us today for trauma treatment.