Relational Developmental Trauma

Pia Mellody, the author of Facing Codependence, explains Codependence and her Post Induction Treatment Model through the awareness of how childhood trauma, generational trauma, attachment wounds and relational arrested development can create 5 core symptoms that render an individual being stuck in a self-sabotaging relational cycle. This cycle of overwhelming emotions, relational immaturity and people pleasing indicate an intense focus on controlling relationships and a lack of awareness of the self, both of which have likely been perpetuated by abusive situations in the past.

These 5 core symptoms include difficulties with:

• Experiencing appropriate levels of self-esteem;
• Setting functional boundaries;
• Owning and expressing your own reality;
• Taking care of your own adult needs and wants, and
• Experiencing and expressing your reality moderately.”

At GCCS we utilize this Post Induction Treatment Model developed by Pia Mellody, RN, LCDC, Senior Fellow with The Meadows Behavioral Health as one of our core models in working with generational, developmental, attachment trauma and debilitating shame. GCCS staff have been trained in this model since 2008 and have the expertise and dedication to help you through these difficult areas. Although there are so many models out there that attend to developmental trauma, we have not found a model as comprehensive and intentional as the PIT model. We continue to bring it to our clients because we find lasting results in the resolution of relational trauma dysregulation.

The origins of codependence symptoms originate in family-of-origin trauma, generational lineage trauma and painful experiences in childhood. Therefore, in dysfunctional adult relationships where betrayal has occurred, the symptoms associated with codependence can exacerbate the experiences of that childhood and generational pain and trauma. Increasing the continuation of being stuck in the 5 cores symptoms.

Through collaboration with our clients, at GCCS, we begin the exploration of the past trauma, how it manifests now in adult life, and what are the 5 core areas that need most attention. Understanding these core areas in depth can be incredibly normalizing, and as we explore how they developed you begin to realize you’re not alone in facing them.
Through individual, group and Intensive trauma healing workshops, we assist our clients to find their Functional Adult self and begin the journey to reconnect or rebuild the relationship with the full self. We do this through focusing on healing childhood trauma wounds and releasing the shame core that the inner child has had to hold. The inner child includes the Wounded child (WC) (trauma from ages 0-4), the Adapted WC, (trauma from ages 5-12) and the Adapted Adult Child (trauma from ages 13-18). We also explore where are the generational and lineage continuation of trauma and how are they connected to what is happening currently in our client’s life.

As we work with these wounded but yet strong parts, we begin to heal from the trauma, build the inner connection with the true self, reduce the shame core that can be very crippling, increase healthy boundaries and create balance in all areas of life. Allowing your inner child to be the child it couldn’t be before and you as adult to live your life to the fullest.

“…looking at our histories, identifying the specific incidents about which we had our original overwhelming feelings, and finding a way to own and release those feelings can bring freedom from the sabotaging cycle that makes our lives so unmanageable and painful.”
— Pia Mellody, Facing Codependence. Post Induction Treatment model

…We have many different parts including a core Self, all trying to re-establish the relationships to each other. “The parts are little inner beings who are trying their best to keep you safe.” Time to reconnect.
― Richard C. Schwartz, Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy