Why the "blank slate" doesn't work in trauma therapy

There's this old idea that therapists should be passive.

A blank slate.

Just sit there, nod, and let the client "lead."

And look... I get it. We don't want to be intrusive. We don't want to impose our agenda.

But here's what I've learned over years of working with trauma survivors...

They don't need a follower. They need a guide.

When someone is stuck in their trauma story... when they're spiraling in the same loop week after week... sitting back and just "validating" isn't empathy.

It's... well, it's not enough.

A trauma survivor needs someone who is steady enough to say: "I hear the crisis with your boss. I do. AND I think there's something happening in your body right now that we need to pay attention to."

That's not being controlling.

That's being clear.

That's being what I call "healthy-way bossy."

It's about having the clinical confidence to gently redirect when the session is getting hijacked by the crisis of the week. It's about being directive without being intrusive.

And honestly?

Your steadiness is what creates their safety.

If you're too scared to lead the session, they likely won’t feel safe enough to follow you out of the trauma.

In our upcoming class I'm showing the clients in my Trauma Mastery Program and our guests how to step into this. 

How to guide the treatment plan in a way that actually targets the procedural response... the pattern underneath the pattern... instead of just clipping the weeds.

The Details: Advanced Treatment Planning for Complex & Developmental Trauma Framework

Get the map here: https://integrativepsych.teachable.com/l/pdp/advanced-treatment-planning-for-complex-developmental-trauma

I'd love to see you there.

Esther