Shame, Dissociation and Psychotherapy with Relational Trauma: Estranged Bedfellows, Close Cousins, and Transformation

Abstract
When working psychotherapeutically with survivors of relational trauma (RT), shame and dissociation both as process and structure are ubiquitous. At the same time, chronic, traumatic “shame states” and dissociation are what make our work so challenging. I have colloquially called shame states and dissociation “estranged bedfellows” and “close cousins”, as they alienate the person from themselves and others, while at the same time serve a similar function, i.e., to keep out of the patient’s awareness thoughts/beliefs/meanings, feelings, somatic experience, and behavior that threaten internally and externally past and present trauma bonds. How do we understand the functions of shame and dissociation, and their relationships? How do we know when shame and dissociation “show up” in our work with trauma survivors, given that these phenomena’s primary purpose is to keep the patient from “showing up”, i.e., becoming aware of their fuller selves and that of others, and the meanings of what they have endured?
 
Potential to Distress: No
 
This presentation was originally presented as a live conference session in October 2023.

 

Target Audience

Intermediate 

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:
  • Identify one characteristic differentiating shame as an emotional process from shame as a traumatic, dissociative, mind/body state (i.e., "shame states" for short)
  • Describe one way shame states and dissociation function to maintain trauma bonds with significant others, from the perspective of neurophysiology
  • Describe one way shame states and dissociation function to maintain trauma bonds with significant others, from the perspective of intra-relations
  • Identify one characteristic of the phenomenology of shame states, and one way this understanding can be applied in psychotherapy with survivors of relational trauma
  • Describe one way the experiential phenomena of pro-being pride serves as an antidote to shame states and dissociation
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
07/19/2023
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Part of: 
(Re)building Hope, (Re)orienting Safety, and (Re)stabilizing Treatment with Complex Trauma and Dissociation - Day Two
Rating: 
0

Presenter: Ken Benau, PhD
Presenter Bio: Ken Benau, PhD earned his doctorate in clinical psychology with a subspecialty in adult psychotherapy at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, in 1988. His dissertation focused on integrative, mind/body approaches to creative problem solving and symbolization in psychotherapy. Dr Benau has been a California licensed clinical psychologist since 1990, and maintains a private practice in Kensington, CA, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. He provides individual, couple, and family therapy, professional consultation, and training. Dr Benau has expertise in working with children and adults with various learning and developmental differences, including those living with LD, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has a special interest and expertise in shame and pride-informed psychotherapy with survivors of relational trauma. Dr Benau has presented his ideas about shame, pride, and dissociation and their therapeutic applications in psychotherapy with relational trauma survivors at various international conferences, webinars and podcasts. He has also written several non-peer and peer reviewed articles with that same theme, where he introduced the concept and phenomena of pro-being pride, a powerful antidote to traumatic shame states. Pro-being pride is the experience of taking delight in one’s unique way of being and relating to oneself, others, and the world. Dr Benau’s book, Shame, Pride, and Relational Trauma: Concepts and Psychotherapy, was published by Routledge in March, 2022.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Please login or register to take this course.

"Your Price" above reflects your price based on your membership status. In the checkout process you will be asked to specify your career level and may be eligible for further discounts based on your selection.

  • ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
  • ISSTD defines an emerging professional as mental health professionals who have completed an advanced degree and are in the first three years of their career (or first three years after graduation for researchers).
  • If you do not fall into one of the above categories please register as Professional/Retired. 

These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code. 

All purchases of recorded content are final.

For additional webinar policies including completion requirements, filing grievances, requesting a disability accommodation, and awarding of certificates of credits, please visit our Webinar Policies page.