The conclusion of therapy marks not just a return to wellness after difficult experiences but also the ability to handle future challenges effectively, thus avoiding further trauma. At the heart of achieving this lies building resilience and self-regulation—a key goal in effective therapy. Psychological resilience means being able to cope and adapt to life’s difficulties, setbacks, and traumas, rather than being immune to them.
Physiological resilience refers to the body’s ability to withstand and recover from physical stresses. Strengthening physical resilience through proper rest, exercise, and healthcare also has a positive impact on our mental strength. On the other hand, our mental resilience helps us respond better to physical stress, such as illness. A balanced amount of stress seems necessary to nurture resilience.
Interestingly, resilience and strength often grow in the face of challenges. It’s like the “Goldilocks dilemma”: not too much stress, not too little, but just enough to recover and become stronger.
This brings us to self-regulation, which is like the body’s natural balance system. Self-regulation means the ability to bounce back to balance after something disrupts us. But for people dealing with trauma, this natural balance is often disturbed, leading to instability. Yet, once the ability to self-regulate is restored, it takes less effort to maintain balance, leaving more energy for other things. This is crucial for building resilience. When we can self-regulate, we’re less stressed mentally and physically, making us more resilient.
Biophysiological trauma treatment models, like Somatic Experiencing®, focus on boosting both physical and mental resilience. They see stress not only as a problem but also as an opportunity to build resilience. In these approaches, people are supported in overcoming the challenges brought on by traumatic events and moving toward better mental and physical balance. Through this support, people gain confidence in their ability to overcome life’s challenges, and the process of healing itself strengthens their resilience.
