Against all Odds:
A Desperate Plea for Human Connection
Arose from the disconnect between the service community and the survivor community: it bridges the knowledge gap between survivors on their journey toward a post-trauma life and the people they encounter along the way. It is designed for all readers to better understand complex trauma and asks us to connect with complex trauma survivors with open-mindedness, compassion, and kindness.
.png)
COMPLEX TRAUMA
Defined as trauma that occurs during childhood and teenage years and seriously interferes with the developmental stages of an individual. Complex trauma is usually the result of polyvictimization (multiple forms of abuse like physical, sexual, and emotional), inflicted by so-called “care takers.” Survivors of complex trauma often experience a deep sense of betrayal, a loss of trust in humanity, and a sense of hopelessness and despair. Additionally, they struggle with managing their emotions and interpersonal relationships, and they tend to have an extremely poor self–concept. The defense mechanisms that were once useful to survivors of complex trauma during their childhood are both difficult to undo and often become serious hindrances in post-trauma life.
Breaking Free from Childhood Trauma:
The Critical Need for Compassionate Support
Freeing oneself from the chains of childhood abuse is the first and most courageous step to recovery; the second step is investing significant emotional labor into creating a post-trauma life. For these reasons and so many more, survivors deserve compassion, understanding, and support from the people around them—especially members of the medical, social services, and legal communities. However well-intended, members of these communities may have little professionalization in complex trauma, inadvertently risking re-traumatization of the people they endeavor to serve. Even worse, unintentional re-traumatization can create long-lasting and negative outcomes, thwarting a complex trauma survivor’s effort toward recovery.
About The Author
Carola Hauer
I grew up in Berlin, Germany, where my developing years had been completely overshadowed by adverse childhood experiences (9 out of 10 ACEs). My young adulthood and adulthood was overshadowed by the long-term consequences of my complex trauma and completely controlled my life, which was my main reason for deciding to leave Germany behind. I arrived in the U.S. in 1985, where I had my very first therapy session within a year. My own recovery process from complex trauma inspired me to return to school and study the field of Clinical Psychology. In 1999, I became an LMFT, received my doctoral degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2003 (in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology), and became a Licensed Psychologist, in 2012.
SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER
"Find hope and strength through expert insights and survivor stories."
"Bridges the Knowledge Gap Between Survivors on Their Journey Toward a Post-Trauma Life and the People They Encounter Along The Way."
Contact Us:
Address :
548 Market St PMB 70756 San Francisco, CA 94104
Telephone :
(888) 208-9296
Email :