The Neurobiology of
Narrative
And what it means to be trauma informed
May 12, 2015
Christopher Wilson, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
1020 SW Taylor, Suite #245
Portland, OR 97205
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.drchristopherwilson.com
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Twitter: @drchriswilson
Who am I?
Psychologist
Trainer/Clinician/Evaluator
Expert in the field of DV
Translator
Musician & Photographer
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Overview of the session:
•
Understand the role of the Pre Frontal Cortex in the
creation of narrative and meaning
•
Apply the theory of organizing to our work with victims to
provide a trauma informed response
•
Understand the impact of very small choices when it
comes to working with victims of trauma
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The Prefrontal Cortex
• The PFC is represented by the nails on your middle fingers
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A few brain basics
Pre-frontal cortex plays a role in:
Top-down attention: you consciously chose!
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A few brain basics
Pre-frontal cortex plays a role in:
Top-down attention
Integration of data: consolidation of memory/narrative
equals
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A few brain basics
Pre-frontal cortex plays a role in:
Top-down attention
Integration of data
Logical decision making
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A few brain basics
Limbic System = area around your thumb
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A few brain basics
Limbic System plays a role in:
Fear network
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A few brain basics
Limbic System plays a role in:
Fear network
Memory encoding
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A few brain basics
Limbic System plays a role in:
Fear network
Memory encoding
Emotion
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The Left-prefrontal Cortex
• One main functions of the LPFC is integrative:
Using logic and language it helps us
tell the story of our life
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What about the right?
• The right side appears to provide the data:
It’s connected to emotion and creativity and memory
(among many, many others…)
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Left/right integration
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Let’s transition…
© Christopher Wilson 2013
Ask yourself:
Who am I in this moment?
Ask yourself:
Who am I in this moment?
Who am I becoming?
When you’re not threatened…
This is called TOP-DOWN Attention (you call the shots!)
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Fear Circuitry taking over =
• Attention is no longer a conscious choice!
•
You pay attention in order to survive/cope
•
may mean paying attention to the threat
•
may mean NOT paying attention to the threat!
• This is called BOTTOM-UP attention
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When you’re not threatened…
You can CHOOSE to engage bottom-up attention!
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Ask yourself:
Who am I in this moment?
Ask yourself:
Who am I in this moment?
Listen to your body…
Let a song, memory, or scene
emerge from your body…
Just notice…
We are who we tell ourselves we are…
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Impact of trauma on narrative*
*the ability to take various memories and piece them together in a meaningful manner
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Our expectations of a narrative
Beginning
Middle
End
Temporal Integrity
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A few brain basics
Pre-frontal cortex plays a role in:
Top-down attention
Integration of data: consolidation of memory/narrative
equals
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What happened at breakfast?
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Memory is initially a
disconnected set of data points
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Your Prefrontal Cortex is heavily
involved in integrating the data
points into a narrative
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Your Prefrontal Cortex is heavily
involved in integrating the data
points into a narrative
First I got up and put my jeans on.
Then I told Meg about the game and how disappointing it was.
I poured myself a glass of orange juice and we talked
while I made myself bacon and eggs.
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This is traumatic memory!
The taste of orange juice
The feeling of jeans on your skin
A feeling or sense of disappointment
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Imagine for a minute:
You can’t put the memories into a narrative... ...you can't even find the words to describe them!
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What story do victims tell?
What’s the cultural narrative
for being a victim?
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What story do victims tell?
One complication of being a
child victim is that very often,
fight or flight is not an option…
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What story do victims tell?
We create our narrative...we fill in the blanks...
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The Impact on Narrative
At all levels of the
process WE impact the
“pot” of experiences a
victim has…
We create our narrative...we fill in the blanks...
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Organizing
• We all do it!
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Exposure to trauma means:
• A neural network that leads to an automatic
response to any perceived threat.
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What’s that got to do with me?
• How do you organize victims (effectively or
ineffectively)?
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What story do many victims
tell themselves?
It makes no sense…but I know what happened!
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Cast doubt…
ACCESS DENIED
You’ll get shut out…and lose valuable data!
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Suspend your disbelief…
ACCESS GRANTED
You’ll be let in…and given access to more data!
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Essentials of Healing and
Seeking Justice
“The core experiences of psychological
trauma are disempowerment and
disconnection. Recovery, therefore, is based
upon the empowerment of the survivor and
the creation of new connections….”
- Judith Herman
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Choice is POWER!
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What kinds of choices can you give
victims at YOUR level?
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Information/knowledge is POWER!
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Information/knowledge is POWER!
We create our narrative...we fill in the blanks...
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Information/knowledge is POWER!
When we share what we know…
we share power!
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How can you share information at
YOUR level of the process?
When we share what we know…
we share power!
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Essentials of Healing and
Seeking Justice
“The core experiences of psychological
trauma are disempowerment and
disconnection. Recovery, therefore, is based
upon the empowerment of the survivor and
the creation of new connections….”
- Judith Herman
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And don’t forget…
Soft eyes!
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See the person as a person, not as a
source of data!
Soft eyes!
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Questions? Comments?
Please feel free to contact me:
[email protected]
Follow me on Twitter:
@drchriswilson
Visit my website:
www.drchristopherwilson.com
Thank you to Jim Hopper, Ph.D. for his multiple contributions to
this training and use of several of his slides.
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