03/23/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18jEoV4eGo/
Stop asking what is wrong with you, instead, ask what happened to you.
Thank you, Bruce Perry.
Thank you for all you do and have done to help us understand the impact of childhood trauma.
You have changed the way we think and talk about developmental adversity—its impact on brain, body, and heart.
And, what is trauma therapy? How do we change?
Neuroplasticity is how we change on the neurobiological level. Neuroplasticity requires regular and repetitive practice to lay down new neural networks that help us to anchor a stronger sense of self.
BUT Neuroplasticity can move us in a wanted direction toward positive changes OR toward unwanted changes in a negative direction.
Neuroplasticity is supported by a proper dose of stress. If the stress is unpredictable, extreme, chronic and prolonged then neuroplastic change begins to lay down the neural networks of fear and defensiveness. Post traumatic stress disorder is a kind of stress induced neuroplasticity.
However, stress that is predictable, moderate, and controllable creates resilience. Therapy is this kind of dose, small amounts of stress combined with kindness. We go through small exposures to discomfort in a safe enough context. And we begin to create and strengthen the trust that we can handle small amounts of distress and know that are still okay. And, this requires repetition.
When we have a history of childhood trauma, we might feel broken or unworthy. Healing is possible and helps us to ultimately know that we are so much more than okay, we can learn to thrive in life again.
