Complex trauma is highly relational in nature. Relational trauma refers to mistreatment by another person, and for those living with complex trauma, this often means chronic misattunement, abuse, or neglect by emotionally immature, misattuned, or narcissistic caregivers. Many children living through this near-constant traumatization develop complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).  So, what does healing from C-PTSD, or complex trauma, look like? Let’s dive in.

In trauma work, I hear this question all the time. Understandably, people want to know why it matters if they grieve the past (or present) or not. Moreover, people worry about being overcome or undone by their grief, should they let it out. This process can be difficult, but grieving is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal to heal childhood wounds and other trauma across the lifespan.