Healing Childhood Trauma Through Therapy: A Psychodynamic Perspective
From a Psychodynamic perspective, childhood trauma is not understood simply as an event, but as a disruption to essential aspects of the self, and self-concept. As noted by Şakiroğlu et al. (2019), childhood experiences that are internalized as traumatic can significantly affect emotion regulation and the development of a sense of identity over time. Rather than viewing learned trauma responses as pathology, Psychodynamic theory understands these learned mechanisms as adaptations: ways the mind and body learned to protect the self from overwhelming experiences.
These adaptations, often expressed through what Psychodynamic theory refers to as defenses, may once have been necessary for survival. Over time, however, they can come at a significant emotional and relational cost, especially when they exist outside of our working awareness. Psychodynamic therapy aims to bring awareness to these unconscious patterns, allowing individuals to understand how earlier protective strategies may continue to shape present-day relationships, emotions, self-perception, and self-appraisal.
While many trauma treatments focus primarily on symptom reduction, Psychodynamic therapy emphasizes understanding how trauma has impacted interpersonal functioning and daily patterns that may remain outside of conscious awareness. As indicated by Spermon et al. (2010), Psychodynamic theory and practice have contributed substantially to the understanding, and subsequently treatment of trauma disorders.
A core focus of Psychodynamic trauma therapy is the exploration of relational dynamics. Within the therapeutic relationship, clients often encounter familiar emotional reactions towards their therapist or own narratives, noting patterns of relating that mirror those in their personal lives. Questions that may naturally arise in the realm of Psychodynamic therapy include:
What feels familiar in how I relate here, or to my therapist, in reference to my every-day relationships?
What feels difficult to tolerate or express in the therapeutic relationship? What may be the core to these feelings?
Do my reactions with my therapist mimic patterns I experienced at one point in my life?
For many survivors of childhood trauma, early experiences of misalignment with caregivers/trusted individuals, rupture, neglect, or inconsistency shape long lasting beliefs about closeness. Van Nieuwenhove and Meganck (2020) highlight that these early interpersonal patterns often reemerge within the therapeutic relationship itself. Importantly, their research suggests that noteworthy change occurs when repetitive relational patterns are interrupted and new relational experiences become possible for a client.
Psychodynamic therapy offers a unique opportunity for this kind of change. Within a consistent and emotionally attuned therapeutic space, clients can begin to experience relationships differently — developing new ways of relating, regulating emotion, and understanding themselves in connection to others. From this perspective, regulation is not simply a “skill” to be learned, but a relational understanding that develops through experiences of safety and emotional grounding.
Healing from childhood trauma, in a Psychodynamic sense, does not mean erasing the past or forgetting what occurred. Rather, healing involves transforming how trauma is held internally and relationally, so it no longer powers over one’s emotional life, identity, or relationships in rigid, or originally-defined ways. Over time, individuals may find greater flexibility and capacity for connection — both within themselves and with others.
In many ways, we are prone to repeating the patterns that we learned many years ago, whether adaptive, or maladaptive. As noted by Critchfield and Benjamin (2010), patterns learned in an attachment context are likely to continue, even when maladaptive, as they serve to preserve psychological ties to early relational figures, motivated by the desire to be accepted and loved.
Through Psychodynamic therapy, healing from childhood trauma can give a client a chance to “re-write” these patterns, learned so long ago.
Considering Psychodynamic Trauma Therapy?
Here Are A Few Tips/ Starters To Consider:
Give the process time. Psychodynamic therapy is often a longer-term approach aimed at integrative and lasting change.
Pay attention to the therapeutic relationship, and how comfortable you feel with your provider. Feelings of safety, trust, and congruent emotional reflection are central to the healing process.
Stay curious and mindful about patterns you may recognize along the way. Many responses that emerge in therapy once served as vital protectors, and the aim of therapy isn’t to vilify these mechanisms, rather, understand and modify them to benefit your life.
References
Critchfield, K. L., & Benjamin, L. S. (2010). Assessment of repeated relational patterns for individual cases using the SASB-based Intrex questionnaire. Journal of Personality Assessment, 92(5), 480–489.
Şakiroğlu, M., Kara, E., & Ögel, K. (2019). The relationship between childhood traumas, identity development, difficulties in emotion regulation, and psychopathology. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi, 29(4), 269–278.
Spermon, D., Darlington, Y., & Gibney, P. (2010). Psychodynamic psychotherapy for complex trauma: Targets, focus, and applications. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(4), 366–378.
Van Nieuwenhove, K., & Meganck, R. (2020). Working through traumatic experiences in psychotherapy: Repetition and change in the therapeutic relationship. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1414.
