Alienation from self in the context of abusive or dysfunctional parenting is a survival strategy that maintains children’s attachment to caregivers by disowning themselves as “bad” or “unlovable.”

Alienation from self in the context of abusive or dysfunctio-nal parenting is a survival strategy that maintains children’s attachment to caregivers by disowning themselves as “bad” or “unlovable.” This deeply painful failure of self acceptance results in lifelong shame and self loathing, difficulty self soothing, and complications in relationships with others. Without internal compassion and a sense of worth, it is difficult to take in the compassion and acceptance of others. To overcome this alienation from self, therapy must focus on cultivating clients’ mindful observation of signs of their disowned selves and disowned experience. As clients discover their trauma related, structurally dissociated younger selves and bring them “home,” they spontaneously begin to feel an internal sense of warmth and safety that changes their internal experience.
In this workshop, using strategies inspired by Structural Dissociation theory, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems, we will explore the therapeutic power of fostering internal secure attachment to clients’ most deeply disowned selves.