Couple or Family Issues Application Paper:
Overview: Submit a paper applying a specific couple, family or systems/relational approach, practice or program to a particular issue, condition or context. Topic should inform the current literature, and therefore be original and not already substantively represented in the scholarly literature. Paper format should follow the complete author guidelines from the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
Draft Paper 5: This week’s assignment will be the last draft section of your final paper. You are to submit paper on the Discussion/Implications, Limitations/Conclusions, References and Tables and Figures sections of your paper. Length of assignment should not exceed 7 pages. This section covers a discussion of your previous section and the potential implications for theory, research and or practice. In this section you will also discuss any potential limitations of your paper and provide a brief summary and conclusion. After your conclusion you have your references and any tables or figures you wanted added to the paper.
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Literature Review
Student’s Name
Course Department: Institution Affiliation
Course Code: Course Name
Professor’s Name
Date
2
Literature Review
Preverbal trauma, which happens before age three, can have a lasting impact on a
person’s development and increase the risk of developing various mental health disorders in
adults, including PTSD, sadness, and anxiety. However, talk therapy may be complex for those
who have experienced preverbal trauma since they may not have the language to describe their
feelings and experiences. Yoga therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing) have been popular alternative therapies for trauma, particularly preverbal trauma,
in recent years. The review of the research examines, using the perspectives of attachment
theory, polyvagal theory, and neuroscience, the efficacy of EMDR and yoga therapy in treating
preverbal trauma in emerging adults. While polyvagal theory stresses the role of the autonomic
nervous system in controlling emotional reactions to stress, attachment theory emphasizes the
significance of early connections with caregivers in determining an individual’s attachment style.
Understanding these theories can give us a context for comprehending how yoga therapy and
EMDR work to address preverbal trauma.
EMDR and Preverbal Trauma
As part of the EMDR psychotherapeutic treatment, patients recollect painful experiences
while receiving bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or eye movements. Therapy aims to
reprocess the traumatic memory and include it in the patient’s story without invoking solid
feelings. Preverbal trauma, as well as other PTSD and trauma-related diseases, have been
demonstrated to respond well to EMDR therapy. By examining the case of a lady who suffered
abuse and neglect as a kid, another study investigated the application of EMDR in treating
preverbal trauma (Nicotera & Connolly, 2022). Since the client did not have clear memories of
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the events, the therapy focused on bodily symptoms related to the trauma. Dreams and
flashbacks were among the signs that lessened due to the treatment.
Yoga Therapy and Preverbal Trauma
Yoga therapy uses breathing exercises and meditation to enhance physical, emotional,
and mental health. Trauma-informed yoga has grown in popularity as a supplemental therapy for
trauma-related diseases; this type of yoga is tailored to the needs of trauma survivors. Yoga can
increase emotional control, regulate the autonomic nervous system, and lessen PTSD symptoms.
In a study published in 2022 by Nicotera and Connolly, the impact of trauma-informed yoga on a
group of women who had experienced sexual trauma was investigated (Nicotera & Connolly,
2022). Body awareness and moderate yoga postures were all part of the therapy. As a result of
the intervention, PTSD symptoms, including intrusive thoughts and hyperarousal, were
decreased. Another study by Naseh et al. (2019) examined how yoga affected people who had
experienced complicated trauma. The intervention included breathing exercises, mindfulness
training, and trauma-sensitive yoga poses. Emotional control and self-compassion both improved
as a result of the session.
Comparison of EMDR and Yoga Therapy
Yoga therapy and EMDR offer different approaches to treating trauma, but both work to
control emotional responses and incorporate traumatic events into the person’s story. While
practicing bilateral stimulation, EMDR concentrates on recalling the traumatic experience,
whereas yoga treatment contains the autonomic nervous system using physical postures and
mindfulness. Both treatments have successfully treated illnesses linked to trauma, particularly
preverbal trauma. When trying to treat preverbal trauma in depressed patients, both treatments
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were successful in lowering PTSD symptoms, according to a study by Naseh et al. (2019).
However, EMDR was more successful in reducing depressive symptoms. Such demonstrates
how EMDR may be used to address comorbid mental health issues and trauma symptoms.
Additionally, there is proof to back up the idea that EMDR is effective in treating
preverbal trauma. According to a case study by Vanfraussen, Campforts, and Imeraj (2020),
EMDR and body-oriented therapies were used to treat a 15-year-old adopted girl with preverbal
trauma. The treatments were designed to deal with traumatic events that took place before the
age of three and language development. According to the authors, the interventions improved the
girl’s emotional control while reducing her PTSD symptoms. Yoga therapy may help treat
preverbal trauma in addition to EMDR, which has shown promise in this field. According to a
study by Kelly et al. (2021), a sample of women who had suffered interpersonal trauma
significantly reduced their PTSD symptoms after practicing trauma-informed yoga. The authors
contend that yoga offers a somatic approach to healing and emotion regulation, which may help
address preverbal trauma. Yoga therapy has also enhanced attachment patterns in those with a
history of trauma. In a group of women with a history of trauma, Moore (2019) found that
trauma-informed yoga increased secure attachment style while lowering anxious attachment
type. According to the authors, yoga may strengthen attachment bonds by offering a safe and
encouraging setting for exploring feelings and connections. According to the polyvagal theory,
the nervous system has evolved to respond to danger in three ways: immobility, fight-or-flight,
and social involvement. Traumatic events can cause nervous system dysregulation, resulting in a
persistent state of fight-or-flight or immobility. EMDR and yoga treatment work to balance the
nervous system and encourage social interaction, which can help with preverbal trauma recovery.
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Hadary (2021) investigated the viewpoints and experiences of child and adolescent
psychotherapist trainees concerning intensive psychoanalytic treatment with children who were
fostered or adopted. According to the study, children who have endured early trauma can benefit
from psychoanalytic psychotherapy by using it to process their feelings and improve their coping
skills. The study did highlight some of the drawbacks of this kind of therapy, such as the
requirement for long-term commitment and the risk of re-traumatization. Hawk (2022) suggested
that self-deprivation is a maladaptive behavioral result for people who have experienced
childhood abuse. The study emphasizes how critical it is to understand how early-life trauma
affects attachment and interpersonal interactions. According to Hawk, self-deprivation is a
coping strategy used by victims of childhood abuse to prevent uncomfortable emotions and retraumatization. The study underlines the necessity of good trauma treatment to stop the
emergence of maladaptive behaviors.
With foster families, traumatized children, and life story therapy, Moore (2019)
pioneered the narrative-dramatic approach. The study strongly emphasizes using storytelling to
assist kids in processing and comprehending their traumatic experiences. Children can reclaim
control over their life and forge a more positive sense of self-identity by being free to write their
own stories. The ideas of trauma-informed care, which strongly emphasize creating a safe and
supportive environment for people who have suffered trauma, align with this method. Kelly et al.
(2021) undertook a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of trauma-sensitive
yoga in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in female veterans who had undergone
military sexual trauma (MST). The study also discovered that those in the intervention group
reported better sleep, less anxiety and despair, and an overall higher quality of life. These
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findings imply that yoga therapy can effectively treat PTSD in those who have undergone
trauma.
Various therapeutic modalities have been investigated in treating preverbal trauma in
addition to EMDR and yoga therapy. In another instance, Porter (2022) studied EMDR therapy
with people with intellectual challenges. The process, modifications, and effects of EMDR
treatment with this population were examined in the study. The findings demonstrated that
EMDR therapy with alterations to the standard procedure to account for cognitive constraints
and sensory processing difficulties could effectively treat preverbal trauma in people with
intellectual disabilities. Dyadic EMDR is another method of using EMDR for preverbal trauma.
It treats both the child and caregiver simultaneously to address the impact of trauma on
successive generations. Wizansky and Bar Sadeh (2021) presents a clinical approach for treating
preverbal medical trauma with dyadic EMDR, which may have long-term effects on the child’s
bonding and development. To support the caregiver in giving sensitive care to the kid during the
EMDR session, the therapist in this model works with them to recognize their traumatic
experiences and attachment styles. According to the authors, this strategy can aid in mending
connection disturbances and offer a stable foundation for the child’s emotional and psychological
development. Child-centered play therapy has also been investigated as a viable treatment for
preverbal trauma in children, in addition to EMDR and yoga therapy. Wicks (2019) conducted a
study on intense child-centered play therapy for kids who have faced hardship in various
communities. The study discovered that child-centered play therapy could successfully heal
traumatized youngsters by providing a secure and encouraging setting for them to express
themselves and work through their traumas via play.
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Adams (2022) put forth a developmental trauma treatment plan emphasizing the
“attuned” therapeutic bond between the therapist and the patient. The target audience for this
paradigm is those who may not have been abused but display signs of developmental trauma,
such as issues with emotion control and interpersonal connections. The author makes the case
that these people might have gone through attachment disturbances as children, affecting their
capacity to control their emotions and interact with others. According to the attuned therapy
paradigm, it’s crucial to provide a secure and supportive therapeutic setting in which the therapist
is sensitive to the emotional and relational needs of the patient. The client can process their
trauma at their own pace and in their own time, thanks to the therapist’s non-linear, nonprescriptive approach to treatment. The Adams model emphasizes the value of the therapeutic
relationship in promoting recovery and gives a distinctive viewpoint on the treatment of
developmental trauma.
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References
Adams, K. (2022). Attuned Treatment of Developmental Trauma: Non-abused, High-functioning
People Living Outside of Time. Taylor & Francis.
Hadary, M. (2021). Intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy with looked after and adopted
children: Exploring the experiences and perspectives of trainee Child and Adolescent
Psychotherapists (Doctoral dissertation, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation
Trust/University of Essex).
Hawk, R. A. (2022). Self Deprivation: A Proposal for a Maladaptive Behavioral Outcome for
Survivors of Childhood Maltreatment (Doctoral dissertation, Saint Louis University).
Kelly, U., Haywood, T., Segell, E., & Higgins, M. (2021). Trauma-sensitive yoga for posttraumatic stress disorder in women veterans who experienced military sexual trauma:
interim results from a randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Alternative and
Complementary Medicine, 27(S1), S-45.
Moore, J. E. (2019). ‘The Storying Spiral’: a narrative-dramatic approach to life story therapy
with adoptive/foster families and traumatized children. International Journal of
Play, 8(2), 204–218.
Naseh, M., Macgowan, M. J., Wagner, E. F., Abtahi, Z., Potocky, M., & Stuart, P. H. (2019).
Cultural adaptations in psychosocial interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder
9
among refugees: A systematic review. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social
Work, 28(1), 76-97.
Nicotera, N., & Connolly, M. M. (2020). The influence of trauma-informed yoga (TIY) on
emotion regulation and skilled awareness in sexual assault survivors. International
journal of yoga therapy, 30(1), 19-31.
Porter, J. L. (2022). EMDR therapy with people who have intellectual disabilities: process,
adaptations and outcomes. Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities.
Vanfraussen, K., Campforts, E., & Imeraj, L. (2020). Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing with Body-Oriented Interventions within the Field of Adoption: Translating
Neuroscience into a clinical case study. International Journal of Psychotherapy, 24(1),
15-28.
Wicks, J. M. (2019). Intensive Child Centred Play Therapy for Children Who Have Experienced
Adversity in Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Communities (Doctoral dissertation, Charles
Darwin University (Australia)).
Wizansky, B., & Bar Sadeh, E. (2021). Dyadic EMDR: A Clinical Model for the Treatment of
Preverbal Medical Trauma. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent
Psychotherapy, 20(3), 260-276.
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1
Preverbal Trauma
Student’s Name
Course Department: Institution Affiliation
Course Code: Course Name
Professor’s Name
Date
2
Preverbal Trauma
Abstract
The study intends to examine the lived experience of preverbal trauma in emerging adults
aged 18 to 29 and how it affects their capacity to build relationships. Transcendental
Phenomenology will be used as the research methodology, and the theoretical frameworks for
the study will be Narrative Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, and Attachment Theory. The study will
also look at how well yoga therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
work as treatments for people who have experienced preverbal trauma (Solomon et al., 2021).
Traumatic events that take place in utero and continue up until the child speaks are referred to as
preverbal trauma. Preverbal trauma is a subject that has gotten little study attention, despite the
potential long-term impact it may have on people’s life (Solomon et al., 2021).
Research on preverbal trauma’s effects on relationships and the potential efficacy of
EMDR and yoga therapy as therapies are essential for marriage and family therapists since it
tackles these issues (Hawk, 2022). The study’s conclusions can help advance theoretical
frameworks on preverbal trauma, attachment, and how treatments help people heal. The study
can enhance understanding by shedding light on the experiences of preverbal trauma survivors
and the challenges they face when forming connections (Hadary, 2021). The results highlight the
potential therapeutic benefits of EMDR and yoga therapy and can assist doctors in selecting the
optimal therapies for individuals who suffer preverbal trauma.
Keywords: Preverbal trauma, Young adults, Relationships, Transcendental
Phenomenology, Attachment theory, Polyvagal Theory, Narrative Therapy, EMDR, Yoga
Therapy, Lived experiences, Trauma healing.
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Introduction
Trauma can have a long-lasting impact on a person’s life, particularly interpersonal
relationships. There has been much study on trauma and its repercussions. Still, little has been
written about preverbal trauma, which happens before someone can verbalize their experiences.
Preverbal trauma is the painful events that occur when a person is not yet verbal, usually from
conception until the age of language development. However, this might vary from person to
person (Chapman, 2023). The study examines how young adults aged 18 to 29 lived experiences
of preverbal trauma impact their capacity to form relationships. The age range was chosen
because it encapsulates a crucial period in human growth when people move from youth to
adulthood and establish meaningful relationships with others (Solomon et al., 2021).
Transcendental Phenomenology, a research methodology that thoroughly examines people’s
lived experiences to understand their individualized preverbal trauma experiences, will be used
in this study. The study will examine the lived experiences of preverbal trauma in emerging
adults aged 18 to 29, how it affects their capacity to form relationships, and the potential
effectiveness of EMDR and Yoga Therapy as interventions to fill the knowledge gap on
preverbal trauma and advance knowledge of the effects of trauma on relationships and the
potential healing benefits of EMDR and Yoga Therapy.
Theoretical frameworks from attachment theory, polyvagal theory, and narrative therapy
will be used to comprehend the effects of preverbal trauma on relationships and guide the
interventions. The relevance of early bonding and attachment experiences in influencing a
person’s capacity to develop healthy relationships throughout their life is emphasized by
attachment theory. The Polyvagal Theory focuses on how the nervous system reacts
physiologically to stress and trauma, which can affect a person’s ability to control emotions and
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connect with others (Chapman, 2023). Narrative therapy focuses on how stories and narratives
affect a person’s sense of self and interpersonal connections. The interventions of Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Yoga Therapy will be compared to understand
their effectiveness in helping individuals with preverbal trauma externalize their feelings and
heal (Vanfraussen et al., 2020). EMDR is a psychotherapy approach that is effective in
processing traumatic recollections and lessening the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD).
On the other hand, Yoga Therapy is a mind-body approach that combines physical
postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness practices to promote relaxation and healing. The
study will be helpful to marital and family therapy because it can fill in information gaps about
preverbal trauma, especially in young adults, and can offer light on how preverbal trauma affects
people’s relationships. Yoga Therapy may be a practical intervention for those affected by
preverbal trauma in externalizing their feelings and recovery. By implementing mindfulness
practices, individuals may develop the ability to regulate their emotions and alleviate
physiological symptoms like increased heart rate and anxiety.
Integrating yoga therapy with EMDR can be a potent intervention for individuals who
have endured preverbal trauma. Combining mind-body practices with traditional talk therapy can
offer individuals a more comprehensive and holistic healing experience. By highlighting the
significance of greater comprehension and support for persons who have experienced preverbal
trauma, the findings of this study have the potential to affect theory, research, practice, and
policy (Moore, 2019). The “takeaway” from this study is to gain a thorough understanding of the
experiences of preverbal trauma survivors, how it affects their ability to form relationships, and
the potential effectiveness of EMDR and yoga therapy as therapeutic interventions.
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References
Chapman, L. (2023). The Evidence-Based Practitioner Coach: Understanding the Integrated
Experiential Learning Process. Taylor & Francis.
Hadary, M. (2021). Intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy with looked after and adopted
children: Exploring the experiences and perspectives of trainee Child and Adolescent
Psychotherapists (Doctoral dissertation, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation
Trust/University of Essex).
Hawk, R. A. (2022). Self Deprivation: A Proposal for a Maladaptive Behavioral Outcome for
Survivors of Childhood Maltreatment (Doctoral dissertation, Saint Louis University).
Moore, J. E. (2019). ‘The Storying Spiral’: a narrative-dramatic approach to life story therapy
with adoptive/foster families and traumatized children. International Journal of
Play, 8(2), 204–218.
Solomon, R., Laliotis, D., & Shapiro, F. (2021). Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing Therapy for Stress Management. Principles and practice of stress
management, p. 193.
Vanfraussen, K., Campforts, E., & Imeraj, L. (2020). Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing with Body-Oriented Interventions within the Field of Adoption: Translating
Neuroscience into a clinical case study. International Journal of Psychotherapy, 24(1),
15-28.
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Methods and Results
Student’s Name
Course Department: Institution Affiliation
Course Code: Course Name
Professor’s Name
Date
2
Methods and Results
Research Design
In this study’s research design, transcendental phenomenology is the best method and has
been used. Typically, this research design aims to understand how young adults between 19 and
40 live with preverbal trauma and how it impacts their ability to build relationships.
Transcendental phenomenology systematically analyzes the participants’ actual experiences to
comprehend participants’ preverbal trauma experiences. The study aims to research a complex
and subtle phenomenon (preverbal trauma) that is poorly understood; hence this design is
appropriate. Using a qualitative methodology, the study can thoroughly understand the
participants’ experiences with preverbal trauma and how it impacts their relationships. Purposive
sampling will be used in the study’s participant recruitment to ensure that people are carefully
chosen based on inclusion criteria that match the goals of the investigation. Participants in the
study must be young adults between the ages of 19 and 40, have suffered preverbal trauma, and
be willing to participate. Participants would be interviewed semi-structurally using open-ended
questions to allow them to describe their experiences in their terms. The interviews were
recorded and transcribed verbatim to ensure data analysis accuracy. The participants’
experiences, ideas, and feelings about preverbal trauma will be better-understood thanks to this
method. The study can answer its research questions and add to the body of knowledge already
available on the subject, which could ultimately result in better care and interventions for persons
who have endured preverbal trauma. Further, the data analysis part will use a concise thematic
analysis strategy. The methods involve pinpointing the various patterns and themes in the data to
develop an understanding of preverbal trauma. The scholars used coding systems that aided them
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in identifying particular themes and practices in the data obtained. Also, the themes were
organized into broader categories, allowing for further analysis of the received data.
Participants in the Study
Young adults with preverbal trauma 19 and 40 participated in various research.
Participants were found for the studies through advertisements in neighborhood community
centers and social media websites. The studies were carried out in a significant metropolitan
area. The ability to give informed consent and preverbal trauma experience were inclusion
criteria for participation. Acutely ill with mental symptoms or unable to participate in the trial
due to significant cognitive impairment were among the exclusion criteria. A screening
questionnaire was sent to participants to fill out to determine their suitability for the study. Once
they had satisfied the requirements for eligibility, they were requested to give informed consent
and finish a demographic survey. Age, gender, ethnicity, education, employment position, and
other pertinent information were all questioned in the demographic study. The participants were
required to participate in an interview to evaluate their preverbal trauma experiences and how
they affected their capacity to build connections. Transcendental Phenomenology, a study
methodology intended to deeply and uniquely grasp people’s lived experiences of preverbal
trauma, was used to conduct such interviews. In all the sources used, all personally identifiable
information was removed from the data, and participants’ identities were protected using
pseudonyms to ensure participant confidentiality. Participants were also informed of their
freedom to resign from the study at any time, which had no bearing on the level of medical
attention or other services they got. In general, the study’s effectiveness was greatly aided by the
participants’ invaluable insights regarding the effects of preverbal trauma on the development of
relationships.
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Data Collection
The information was gathered through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were
in-person or online, depending on the participants’ preferences. The interviews were verbatim
transcribed from audio recordings for analysis. In order to better understand how participants had
dealt with preverbal trauma in their lives, how it had affected their relationships, and how
successfully EMDR and yoga therapy had worked as treatments, an interview guide based on the
project’s study subjects was developed (Wicks, 2019). The interview guide completed a pilot test
with a small sample of participants to verify readability and usage.
Data Analysis
Thematic analysis, a technique for qualitative data analysis that reveals patterns and
themes within the data, was used to examine the data gathered for the study. A popular and
adaptable method for interpreting qualitative data was thematic analysis, which allowed for a
thorough examination of participants’ experiences and viewpoints. The interviews were
thoroughly read and transcribed as part of the analysis process to get a feel of the data. The
information was then coded and sorted. The data were divided into themes and patterns that
appeared by using codes. As the analysis developed, codes were improved and changed
iteratively.
The researchers would analyze with a second coder who would review the coding and
offer input. After comparing their findings, the two coders would cooperate in ironing out any
inconsistencies in their analyses; this collaborative and reviewing approach ensured that the
research was rigorous and credible (Nicotera & Connolly, 2020). The results part of the article
will describe and discuss the discovered themes and patterns. To give a rich and nuanced picture
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of the participants’ experiences with preverbal trauma and its effects on their relationships,
excerpts from the participants illustrated the themes (Nicotera & Connolly, 2020). In order to
address the impact of preverbal trauma on relationships, the analysis will also examine the
possible efficacy of EMDR and yoga therapy.
Results
Sample Characteristics
The study participants were aged between 19-40 years and had experience with preverbal
trauma. Generally, the mean age of all the participants in the study was about 29 years.
Preverbal Trauma Past Experiences
Typically, any painful experience before a person has mastered the language, typically
before the age of three, is preverbal trauma. Since they occurred before people could verbally
express their ideas and feelings, such experiences might be difficult to recall and explain (Naseh
et al., 2019). The majority of the individuals, however, had preverbal trauma experiences, which
suggests that these occurrences considerably impacted the participants’ development and adult
lives, according to the study. Preverbal trauma came in many ways, with emotional and physical
neglect being the most prevalent. Neglect can take many forms, including not giving someone
enough food, clothing, housing, or medical attention or not giving them enough emotional
support and attention (Naseh et al., 2019). Neglect can have long-lasting impacts, including poor
mental and physical health, low self-esteem, and trouble developing relationships.
Another frequent form of preverbal trauma mentioned by the subjects was physical
abuse: Any intentional harm to a person, such as striking, slapping, kicking, or burning, is
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physical abuse. In addition to the potential for bodily injury, physical abuse can have severe
psychological repercussions like anxiety, despair, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Another
type of preverbal trauma mentioned by the participants was seeing violence. Violence can be as
traumatic to witness as it is to experience. For example, seeing domestic abuse can have a longlasting effect on a child’s mental and emotional health. Children who witness violence may
experience post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression as adults and may find it
difficult to establish meaningful relationships.
Effects on Relationships
According to the participants, their preverbal trauma experiences significantly impacted
their capacity to establish and keep relationships. Participants acknowledged having issues with
emotional control, closeness, and trust. The participants claimed that their traumatic experiences
had hampered their capacity to form relationships, which resulted in feelings of loneliness and
seclusion (Hawk, 2022). Participants revealed that their traumatic experiences had negatively
impacted their ability to interact with others, which resulted in misunderstandings and disputes in
interpersonal relationships.
Effectiveness of EMDR and Yoga Therapy
Preverbal trauma has been successfully treated with EMDR and yoga therapy. EMDR is a
therapeutic method that stimulates the brain and helps people process traumatic memories using
eye movements, taps, or sounds (Porter, 2022). It has been demonstrated that this strategy can
aid healing, assist people in digesting traumatic events, and lessen uncomfortable sensations like
anxiety (Moore, 2019)—most participants in studies examining the efficacy of EMDR as a
treatment for preverbal trauma report good outcomes. The use of dyadic EMDR, a therapy
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approach that focuses on treating preverbal medical trauma in young children and their parents,
was examined in a study by Wizansky and Bar Sadeh (2021). According to the study, the
intervention successfully reduced trauma, anxiety, and depression symptoms in both kids and
parents.
Conversely, yoga therapy combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and
meditation to enhance physical and mental well-being (Kelly, 2021). Yoga has been proven to be
efficient in lowering levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. It may also help treat symptoms
associated with trauma (Hadary, 2021). The effects of trauma-informed yoga on emotion
regulation and skillful awareness in sexual assault survivors were investigated in a study by
Nicotera and Connolly (2020). According to the study, trauma-informed yoga helped them better
control their emotions and become more aware of their bodies.
Discussion
The current study sought to investigate the effects of preverbal trauma on young adults’
capacity to develop relationships and the possible efficacy of EMDR and Yoga Therapy as
therapies. The study’s use of a transcendental phenomenology research design allowed a
thorough examination of the participants’ experiences with preverbal trauma (Vanfraussen et al.,
2020). Semi-structured interviews were analyzed to gather data and then thematically evaluated
(Hadary, 2021). According to the study’s findings, preverbal trauma significantly impacted
young people’s ability to develop connections. Participants described having trouble establishing
and sustaining romantic, friendship, and familial relationships.
The participants talked about feeling emotionally unbalanced, mistrusting others, and
being cut off. These results align with earlier studies on how trauma affects relationships
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(Hadary, 2021). The study also discovered that EMDR and yoga therapy were potential
treatments for preverbal trauma’s effects on forming relationships (Adams, 2022). Participants
who received these interventions reported better emotional control, decreased anxiety and
depressive symptoms, and an improved capacity for establishing and sustaining relationships.
These results align with earlier studies on the efficiency of yoga therapy and EMDR in treating
trauma-related symptoms.
The clinical practice has crucial ramifications from the current study. The findings show
that physicians should consider using EMDR and yoga therapy as therapies and be aware of the
potential effects of preverbal trauma on relationship formation. These approaches may benefit
those with preverbal trauma and relationship issues. The study also emphasizes the need for
more investigation into how preverbal trauma affects the development of relationships and the
efficiency of therapies (Adams, 2022). The study’s limitations include its small sample size and
dependence solely on self-report data. More significant sample numbers and combining
qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques are two ways that future studies could
overcome these constraints. One of the ways to circumvent the above limitations is to conduct
primary research and not rely on already conducted ones with the mentioned limitations. Future
studies could also look into the long-term impacts of yoga therapy and EMDR on developing
relationships between people who have undergone preverbal trauma. However, one of the best
ways future studies could make a change is by interviewing adolescents experiencing preverbal
trauma at a young age.
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References
Adams, K. (2022). Attuned Treatment of Developmental Trauma: Non-abused, High-functioning
People Living Outside of Time. Taylor & Francis.
Hadary, M. (2021). Intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy with looked after and adopted
children: Exploring the experiences and perspectives of trainee Child and Adolescent
Psychotherapists (Doctoral dissertation, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation
Trust/University of Essex).
Hawk, R. A. (2022). Self Deprivation: A Proposal for a Maladaptive Behavioral Outcome for
Survivors of Childhood Maltreatment (Doctoral dissertation, Saint Louis University).
Kelly, U., Haywood, T., Segell, E., & Higgins, M. (2021). Trauma-sensitive yoga for posttraumatic stress disorder in women veterans who experienced military sexual trauma:
interim results from a randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Alternative and
Complementary Medicine, 27(S1), S-45.
Moore, J. E. (2019). ‘The Storying Spiral’: a narrative-dramatic approach to life story therapy
with adoptive/foster families and traumatized children. International Journal of
Play, 8(2), 204–218.
Naseh, M., Macgowan, M. J., Wagner, E. F., Abtahi, Z., Potocky, M., & Stuart, P. H. (2019).
Cultural adaptations in psychosocial interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder
among refugees: A systematic review. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social
Work, 28(1), 76–97.
10
Nicotera, N., & Connolly, M. M. (2020). Trauma-informed yoga (TIY) influences emotion
regulation and skilled awareness in sexual assault survivors. International Journal of
yoga therapy, 30(1), 19-31.
Porter, J. L. (2022). EMDR therapy with people who have intellectual disabilities: process,
adaptations, and outcomes. Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities.
Vanfraussen, K., Campforts, E., & Imeraj, L. (2020). Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing with Body-Oriented Interventions within the Field of Adoption: Translating
Neuroscience into a clinical case study. International Journal of Psychotherapy, 24(1),
15-28.
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