465: The Impact Of Developmental Trauma In Adulthood with Dr. Janina Fisher

Jan 13, 2025

Dr. Janina Fisher is a licensed clinical psychologist and trauma expert, formerly an instructor at Harvard Medical School. In this insightful conversation, she explores the connection between complex trauma and Borderline Personality Disorder. Janina discusses her innovative Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment, aiming to heal attachment wounds. She emphasizes the significance of client education in trauma therapy, the role of self-compassion in healing, and the impact of community support on trauma recovery.

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INSIGHT

BPD and Trauma

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is often misdiagnosed.
It's actually a trauma-related disorder, not a personality disorder.

ANECDOTE

Trauma Patient

Dr. Fisher worked with patients misdiagnosed with BPD in state hospitals.
One patient proudly proclaimed she was now a "trauma patient" after understanding her symptoms.

ADVICE

Understanding Self-Destructive Behaviors

View self-destructive behaviors in trauma survivors as trauma responses, not character flaws.
Use the structural dissociation model to help clients understand their fragmented selves.

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Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week as wildfires continue to cause destruction of property and loss of life in California, I send care to the West Coast and remember our interdependence.

Today we have a replay episode featuring my highly admired colleague, Dr. Janina Fisher. We originally spoke in 2022 - you'll hear Janina discuss the relationship between complex trauma and the Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis, as well as how her training method, Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) can heal attachment and trauma wounds. Whether or not you're a therapist, you won't want to miss this important and interesting discussion!

Janina Fisher, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and a former instructor, Harvard Medical School. An international expert on the treatment of trauma, she is an Advisory Board member of the Trauma Research Foundation. Dr. Fisher is the author of 'Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Self-Alienation' (2017), 'Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma: a Workbook for Survivors and Therapists' (2021), and 'The Living Legacy Instructional Flip Chart' (2022). She is best known for her work on integrating mindfulness-based and somatic interventions into trauma treatment.

Resources

Dr. Janina Fisher's website - www.janinafisher.com

Buy Janina Fisher's Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors book on Amazon here.

Buy Janina Fisher's Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma: a Workbook for Survivors and Therapists on Amazon here.

Watch this episode in video format on YouTube!

Considering training in the Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP)? Visit unyte.com to learn more about the SSP and use my code LREAGAN1 at checkout for $100 off an annual SSP subscription bundle or training course.

Thank you PESI and Psychotherapy Networker for sponsoring this week's episode!

Therapists, heck out Janina Fisher's trainings and other offerings related to trauma, attachment and shame via the PESI/Psychotherapy Networker partner page and get special discounts!

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Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Find a trauma therapist in the US or Europe via www.findtraumatherapy.com!

Therapists, registration opens in summer 2025 for Trauma Therapist Network membership. Join a compassionate and skilled group of trauma therapists for weekly calls focused on Self Care, Case Consultation, Q&A and Training. Get on the waiting list now to be the first to know when registration opens! Sign up here https://go.traumatherapistnetwork.com/join

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