Exploring the Power of Identity-oriented Psychotrauma Therapy (IoPT)
Identity-oriented Psychotrauma Therapy (IoPT), which was developed by Prof Dr Franz Ruppert focuses on understanding and resolving the effects of both own and generational trauma on an individual’s identity (What happened to me and what are the consequences?).
Understanding the Intention Method
IoPT therapy uses the intention method, where a client formulates a specific intention they wish to work through, for example: “I want to love myself”. This helps the client to identify and prioritize an area of concern which is most relevant for them in the specific moment. What the intention focuses on and how it is formulated is entirely up to the client, however it should always include the “I” as this is the central reference point of our psyche, where all psychological processes come together. By using the intention method, we are able to access our psyche’s enormous capacity to intuitively resonate and make our inner world visible. This implies that each element of our intention carries neural data and in this way it can make our unconscious psychological structures visible in relation to the chosen intention.
IoPT therapy uses the intention method, where clients can explore a specific issue that they formulate as an intention. From this intention, the client can choose up to three elements to be resonated (explored).
Benefits of the Intention Method
Generally speaking, with the help of the intention method, we are able to explore our psychological state in regard to a specific issue, challenge or symptom that we experience. Hence, it becomes also possible to explore early trauma that we have experienced in the womb or generational trauma that has been passed down in the family system.
By using resonance and the unique capacity of our psyche to self-regulate and heal, IoPT Therapy can help us with:
Strengthening our healthy I and our internal resources
Developing a healthy own will
Understanding and recognizing our survival strategies, i.e. how our behaviors, feelings, thoughts and sensations get generated from our unresolved trauma experiences
Coming in contact with our body
Regulating our nervous system
Finding inner clarity by understanding our life in relation to traumatic experiences especially from early childhood
Connecting with the different parts of our Self and getting more clarity about our identity
Processing and integrating trauma feelings, bodily sensations and unexpressed emotional and somatic responses
Finding self-compassion and self-love
Developing a stronger sense of self-awareness
Understanding relationship patterns and building healthier relationships
IoPT therapy can support us to compassionately explore our stories and to find self-acceptance. By gently exploring and reconnecting with fragmented parts of our psyche, we can address the deeper impacts of trauma stored in our body and mind.
Including the Body in the Healing Process
In my work as IoPT trauma therapist, I have a holistic approach and focus specifically on including the body in the healing process and to facilitate somatic releases. My overall intentions for my work are:
to welcome you as you are
to help you in building a resourced self with a greater capacity to hold the part(s) inside of you that is wounded and activated
to support you in being able to move between states of nervous sytem activation and regulation (with more ease)
to help you in developing a felt safety within you
to support you in coming in relationship with yourself
Integrating New Experiences and Releasing Trauma Energy
During and after a therapeutic process (called self-encounter), our psyche is starting to integrate new information, sensations and feelings that have emerged during the resonance process. This can be an intense experience, as stagnant trauma energy is freed up and starts to move. As part of this process, we may initially even experience more symptoms & overwhelming feelings than before, and that may feel discouraging. In these moments it is important to remember that our body holds the memory of the traumatic experience and that the somatic release happens in waves and sequences. When the energy which was activated during the self-encounter eventually matures, we may start to come in contact with a new layer of trauma (energy) as we move deeper into self-connection. Therefore, as we are growing and becoming more conscious of ourselves, also our intentions and questions are changing as we explore them from a more integrated place of self.
Questions? Comments? Thoughts? - I would love to hear from you :)
Much love,
Julia
Journaling Promts for Self-Reflection
If journaling /self-reflection feels like a resource to you, I invite you to explore the following prompts in your own pace:
What judgments do I hold about myself related to my trauma and the survival strategies I have developed?
Is there an emotion I tend to avoid? What might it need from me if I allowed myself to explore it?
What positive changes do I notice in myself as I work through my trauma?
How can I create a sense of safety and empowerment within myself, even when I feel triggered or overwhelmed?
