Wellness & Resilience: What can we learn from people

with a history of trauma?Pamela C. Alexander, Ph.D.

Secure parent-child relationships

Supportive partner relationships

Friendships

Supportive communities

If necessary, psychotherapy

Relationships, relationships, relationships

Reflective functioning – the child learns self-empathy and how to self-soothe

Much easier to do w/in the context of supportive relationships

Also approaches such as mindfulness, body awareness, relaxation techniques, yoga

Regulating our emotions

Developing a coherent narrative

Engaging in “turning points”

Considering new interpretations

Conscious awareness of our experiences

Genetics?

Some have a thicker skin

Others are more sensitive

But those who are more sensitive respond even better to supportive interactions

Individual Differences

Can’t escape the effects of social context◦ Family environment, especially for a child

◦ Work stress if it’s the source of one’s income

◦ Social instability and poverty

So resilience is everyone’s responsibility within society – not just the individual

Social Context