A person activated in young wound needs the presence of a safe, supported “other” to complete the stuck part of the trauma and imprint a new reality of “other” presence, especially when working with developmental trauma attachment wounds.
Containment in the form of a comfortable closed or defined room, a set timeframe for the presence, a space to be seen, heard and understood also help the person re-establish a link to reality rather than open-ended ambiguity and anxiety. The overwhelm can be absorbed by and settle into the defined parameters rather than continue to expand and become bigger. Gently and slowly we are helping the person come back to their body, not out of it. We are helping them feel safe to feel and metabolise what’s present here and now. Consensual, non-sexual touch and a sense of being held can also be beneficial.
An “other” whom is grounded in humanity and has good emotional attunement and can sense and respond to the person in wound serves to provide a very deep healing experience.
