PSTEC for Complex PTSD

[sarah miederPSTEC User]

I am wondering if anyone has experience using PSTEC for Complex PTSD, which is different from just PTSD.  Any tips or advice would be appreciated.  Thank you.

[Andy EckleyPSTEC User]

Hi Core,
I specialize in clearing all types of PTSD, The use of the click tracks is the same for complex PTSD (C-PTSD) or straight PTSD – I've found that a lot of C-PTSD clients have childhood issues and a good proportion of the one's I treat have bi-polar.

The distinction that I make between complex (C-PTSD) or straight PTSD is that C-PTSD is usually caused by repeated exposure to trauma which results in the lack or loss of control, helplessness, and fear of death, but the protocol is essentially the same. I go into this in more detail in the PTSD toolkits but I do separate the events after doing the persons time-line so instead of trying to work on every traumatic event in each play I take my time and do what the client can handle which may only be one specific incident at a time.

I always use the PTSD loop then the free clearing tracks or EEF's, accelerators, then later we work on beliefs with the positive extra tracks.

Every PTSD suffer I've helped has needed to deal with the feeling that a part of them is missing and this is something I usually use other techniques to change.

PTSD work needs to be done with long sessions, NO one hour sessions if someone has PTSD – a minimum of three hours or preferably all day sessions is needed to keep the client safe.

Just as a side note to beginners who may read this post, please don't jump into working with PTSD clients until you have worked on all your stuff first and have built up your skills with less traumatized clients first!

Helping PTSD sufferers isn't something that's safe for the client if the therapist doesn't have very strong control during the sessions, it often is very scary stuff and if the therapist is affected by the stories then they are no help at all for the client and can even set them back!

Good luck, Andy Eckley PSTEC Examiner

[sarah miederPSTEC User]

Thank you Andy for your response. 
I see on your website that there is a self-help PSTEC toolkit for PTSD.  Is this something that can actually used safely at home by the C-PTSD sufferer?

[Andy EckleyPSTEC User]

Hi Core, Self help for any type of PTSD is a bit problematical, I would rather it be used after a few sessions with a PSTEC therapist so that the depth of trauma can be judged first.

For some people self-help will be ok, but I'd want to have done at least a skype/phone session first to judge whether its safe for that person to work on their own, for instance the last C-PTSD client I helped couldn't possibly have safely worked on her own as she had violent reactions when connecting to the memories, which before she met me would have been dangerous for her and maybe put her back into hospital (psychiatric ward). However I've helped clients from other countries around the world who could safely work with the PTSDtoolkit after our introductory calls/work.

One thing that helps is that anyone who does buy a PTSDToolkit one knows that I am at the end of a phone line at any time to help, plus they get an extensive PDF of instructions showing how to structure the sessions… Andy

[Dr Steve PricePSTEC User]

It's important to recognise that the symptom clusters associated with Complex PTSD vary from person to person at a very unique level both in terms of scope and severity with some held in deeper parts of the subconscious and some within conscious memory. The safety issue lies in the ability of an individual to assimilate and reduce emotional pain in a manner that is safe and comfortable. The re-regulation of the APH axis and associated neural protection mechanisms is something that may require a little time to accommodate because it involves the growth of new neural tissues and pathways and any claim otherwise would have to be viewed with caution.  I would further suggest that the individuals context in relation to family and partners has to be understood especially if they have been or are in a narcissistically abusive relationship. Substance misuse likewise. Self-protection is the byword here and the therapeutic process needs to involve the development of insights, strategies and tools for self managed recovery. In other words, gently does it.

[Peter BunyanPSTEC User]

Hi Dr Price

Any therapists with other views are welcome to share them here, but I believe they are all nodding their heads in broad agreement with you.

Regards
Peter

[Dr Steve PricePSTEC User]

Hi All

Since my last post, I have had some correspondence with other PSTEC users and one of the themes that has cropped up is how we get to understand where to take ourselves. For many it would seem to be hard to reach certain issues and in some cases they have described an 'approach avoid' block where things hit an internal barrier. Another phenomenon described is where people can become fearful of the consequences of change even when they 'know' it will be worthwhile.

I like to describe these feelings as part of an 'ecology' of recovery.

Here, then, are a few generic links that I find useful inasmuch that they can help with background knowledge and directional understanding, some are longer than others and I would recommend surfing over them and see if any find a resonance.

Dr Gabor Mate

Emotional basis of cognition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWo9cvAJtlo

Attachment, Disease and Addiction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9cvEa5qFQc

Family Systems therapy

https://www.youtube.com/user/gercacn

Exploratory Life Coaching

Tips on toxic shame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83kymrRLLg8

Stefan Molyneux:

Society, Neurobiology and what we need to learn as a species

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbiq2-ukfhM&list=PLB3F2CF45EEB95C80

Footnotes:

Alcohol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbKbq2IytC4

Stress management outline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6402QJp52M

Emotional Freedom with Brad Yates (Easy Meridian 'Therapy')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zp0xcHJCZE

I'd be very interested to hear what people think and am always happy to correspond.

Best wishes to all

Steve

[Peter BunyanPSTEC User]

Hi Steve

Thanks for the interesting vid links. I pretty much agree with all the presenters, just a shame they have not yet come across PSTEC. Re Brad Yates, Tap-a-longs are an easy way to get into EFT and try it, if not as effective as working with an EFT Therapist.

Yes we are all affected by our environment particularly growing children. Yes the effects show up as all the many “illnesses” we see in our clients. A client comes in to you about their weight problem, you find out after some talking that  they were abused as a child. The abuser was a parent who not bad as such was suffering from stress at work and drank too much. So the real problem is our society, our environment, our civilisation. Yes we have the tools like PSTEC to help individuals but this is trying to shut the stable door after the horse has gone. If as many as 1 in 4 people are affected then as therapists we are swamped with too much to do. But then we can only do what we can do and have faith that what little we can do will ripple out to a wider audience.

I hold it as true that “necessity is the mother of invention” and solutions to problems appear when needed. Percussive suggestion did not happen for no reason it was needed. What I find hopeful is that after using PSTEC for sometime and “clearing out” my past baggage I found that once you throw out the bad stuff the good stuff can shine through. This good stuff I think Jeff would call JEEP, he might agree with me that Joy, Excitement, Enthusiasm and Peace could be regarded as symptoms of love. Love in the wider sense not just the sexual. The emotion of love produces hormones in the body which I would guess are about the opposite to those produced by stress. Anger is an outward product of stress. An angry person affects others nearby who respond with anger and stress, others walk away. A person with love is someone you want to be with and can have a positive effect on a whole roomful of people.

Maybe I am just an ancient hippy! 

PSTEC a fantastic therapy for people who have problems, yes, but for me it goes a whole lot further.

One of my favourites is Dr Bruce Lipton a pioneer in epigenetics. Search Youtube and you will find lots to see.

More from my own thinking
http://peter-bunyan.com/why-we-get-stressed/
http://peter-bunyan.com/a-new-way-of-understanding-stress/
http://peter-bunyan.com/stress-the-real-reason-for-it/
http://peter-bunyan.com/self-esteem-why-we-need-it/

Peter

[SilentBobPSTEC User]

Hello Dr Price,
I am curious, is this your arguing “about number of teeth in the mouth of a horse” or you actually tried PSTEC on yourself?

Sorry, I have to make a joke, but PSTEC saved my life. I had huge problems, like I've lost money because people cheated on me and exploited me. Recently, I confronted with two of my cousins. Enough is enough!

So, PSTEC is really huge change for me and for me is strange your “wide” arguing. Maybe is that good, I don't know. Well, who am I to judge about that?  ???

Sorry for my English.

[Peter BunyanPSTEC User]

Hi SilentBob

Really good to hear that you have had success with PSTEC. Please tell us your story on the Tell us about your PSTEC Story board and help give others the confidence to get started with PSTEC. It would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Peter

[Author]

Posts