My Approach to Therapy: Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
What is AEDP?
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals heal from trauma by safely processing difficult emotions. It is one of the main modalities I use when working with a client. It is particularly effective for those who have experienced childhood trauma, including neglect, abuse, or challenging early relationships. The goal of AEDP is to help clients understand and release painful emotions, allowing them to reconnect with their true selves and find greater emotional balance (Fosha, 2000).
How Trauma Affects the Nervous System
Trauma doesn’t just affect your thoughts; it also affects your body. Your nervous system, which controls how you respond to stress and emotions, can become “stuck” in overdrive after trauma. This means you might feel anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected from everyday life a lot of the time. AEDP helps calm your nervous system, making it easier for you to manage your emotions without feeling overwhelmed. This can be a crucial part of healing from trauma (Fosha, 2000; Horenstein, 2020).
How is AEDP Helpful in Treating Childhood Trauma?
When we experience something traumatic, our emotions don’t always get processed fully. These emotions can become "stuck" inside, lingering long after the event. This can lead to feelings like anxiety, sadness, or anger that may be buried deep down, making it harder to cope or heal. This is especially common in people who’ve experienced childhood trauma. Even if the trauma happened many years ago, it could continue to affect how you feel, how you interact with others, and your overall well-being (Fosha & Greenberg, 2009).
AEDP is particularly helpful in addressing the isolation that trauma survivors often feel. After experiencing trauma, it’s common to feel emotionally alone, as if no one truly understands your pain. It can also become challenging to trust others or form healthy, secure connections. AEDP focuses on building a strong, supportive relationship between you and the therapist—a space where you feel heard, seen, and safe. This connection allows you to explore and express emotions that may have felt too overwhelming to share before. Over time, this approach fosters a sense of emotional connection and helps rebuild trust, offering a foundation for healthier relationships (Fosha, 2000).
Reconnecting to Your True Self Through AEDP
At your core is your true self—the part of you that feels most real and genuine. Trauma can create a disconnect from this self, leading to harmful beliefs like "I'm not good enough" or "I'm unlovable." These beliefs can distort your sense of self and how you interact with the world. Through AEDP, reconnecting with your authentic self helps you let go of these false beliefs and rebuild a sense of self that is rooted in love, worth, and self-compassion. This process is a vital part of healing, as it helps you rediscover who you truly are (Fosha, 2000).
What You Can Expect in AEDP:
In AEDP, the goal is to help you heal from the emotional pain caused by childhood trauma. Here’s what you can expect during the process:
Building Trust and Safety
First, we’ll create a safe and trusting environment where you can feel comfortable opening up. This foundation of trust is essential for you to feel supported and at ease as we explore your emotions (Fosha, 2000).Emotional Exploration
Together, we’ll explore the emotions tied to past negative experiences. The goal isn’t to suppress these emotions, but to feel and express them in a way that promotes healing (Fosha & Greenberg, 2009).Processing Emotions
Instead of pushing emotions aside, we’ll work on processing them fully. This means sitting with and understanding these feelings together until they’re no longer overwhelming. Staying with these emotions allows us to release the pain they carry (Fosha, 2000).Emotional Integration
As you process your emotions, you may notice that you begin to feel relief and gain greater insight into why you feel the way you do. This step helps you understand your emotions and gives you tools to manage them in healthier, more balanced ways (Fosha & Greenberg, 2009).Reconnecting with Your True Self
Trauma can create a sense of disconnection from your true self. AEDP helps you reconnect with your core essence—the part of you that knows you are worthy of love and capable of healing. This process supports you in rebuilding your self-esteem and emotional well-being (Fosha, 2000).
If you’d like to learn more about this modality and my approach, I encourage you to reach out to schedule a free 15 minute phone call with me. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.
References
Fosha, D. (2000). The dynamics of healing in AEDP: Attachment, affect regulation, and the brain. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 1(1), 9-30.
Fosha, D. & Greenberg, L. S. (2009). Emotionally focused therapy for trauma. In J. P. Wilson & C. S. Tang (Eds.), Psychological and physical trauma: The effects of exposure to violence, disasters, and other traumatic events (pp. 171-198). The Guilford Press.
Horenstein, A. (2020). Nervous system regulation and trauma recovery: AEDP’s contributions. Journal of Trauma and Healing, 12(2), 35-52.
