HEALING DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA

HOW EARLY TRAUMA AFFECTS SELF-REGULATION, SELF-

IMAGE, AND THE CAPACITY FOR RELATIONSHIP

BY LAURENCE HELLER, PHD

AND ALINE LAPIERRE, PSYD
 Figure 1: Distortions of the Life Force

To understand how the life force becomes distorted, read the chart from the bottom up. To
understand the therapeutic or growth process, read the chart from the top down.

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Figure 2: The Distress Cycle