Deborah Pettitt, Author at Family Christian Counseling

Regulation rather than consequences

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

Parenting traumatized children requires regulation rather than consequences. Regulation is what these children missed as babies and toddlers. Healthy children had moments where loving parents picked them up and calmed them. The parent held them when they were angry or distressed. They calmly helped them handle a frustration. Neglected and abused children missed these experiences

Posted in Parenting, Trauma regulation

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

This week I thought I would introduce you to a method of therapy that a few of our therapists are trained in, it is called Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. What is Sensorimotor Psychotherapy This method is a body-centered approach that aims to treat the symptoms of unresolved trauma in the body. While traditional talk therapies utilize the words of a

Posted in Research attachment, psychotherapy, research, sensorimotor, trauma

Marriage Therapy – 5 to 1 ratio

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

Psychology Today reviewed the Gottman Method of Marriage Therapy and I thought this week I would summarize the important thoughts presented in this article. The Basics of the Method The Gottman Method is based on observations showing there is a real science to that most indescrible of experiences, love. The method is built on research showing

Posted in Marriage Therapy, Research Gottman method, negativity

Marriage Therapy and Time

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

I just read a good article on marriage therapy from the Gottman Institute. For my blog this week I will summarize a few of the key points from the author. 6 Years for help The first point I have heard before but he helped me see it in a new light: couples usually wait an

Posted in Marriage Therapy couples therapy, marriage therapy

Helping Traumatized Children Learn – Part 2

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Deborah Pettitt

In the second chapter of “Helping Traumatized Children Learn”, the author discusses resiliency and protective factors. Three Protective factors Child-development psychologists Masten and Coatsworth found 3 common factors for why some children develop competence even under adverse conditions, such as exposure to domestic violence, abuse, homelessness and community violence. These three factors common to competent

Posted in Research, Trauma learning, protective factors, trauma