This documentary shows trauma therapy in practice. It follows Victorie, a woman with PTSD, through sessions using four therapeutic approaches: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), EMDR, Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP) and Imaginal Exposure (IE). You'll see how she works through painful memories, how her emotional distress decreases, and how room opens up for recovery and self-acceptance. Learning objectives After watching, you will be able to: - describe the core principles of NET, EMDR, BEPP and IE - compare how these approaches support the processing of traumatic memories - understand what change in trauma therapy looks like in session, from reduced distress to self-acceptance Subtitles are available: turn them on via the CC button in the video.

In the opening session, Patricia discusses the previous Zoom conversation, in which the patient shares his experiences about his time in the military and his abduction. She particularly focuses on one of his most impactful traumas, delving deeper into it. Additionally, Patricia Resick provides the patient with a detailed explanation of what CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) entails and how it can help him manage his trauma.

During the second session, the patient was assigned the task of drafting an impact statement. Patricia and the patient collaboratively examine how this process unfolded for the patient, delving deeper into the emotions and experiences that surfaced during the writing.

Patricia Resick introduces various scenarios, such as the first scenario where the patient has an appointment at 9 o'clock and expects his wife to call him, but she ultimately does not. She explores with the patient how he would react to this and what emotions would arise in him in such a situation (and in the following situations). The purpose of this conversation is to help the patient change his emotional responses by adding factual information to the discussed scenarios. Patricia Resick employs this approach to assist the patient in broadening his perspective and finding healthier ways to deal with his emotions.

Patricia Resick points out statistics indicating that Amsterdam is one of the safest cities in Europe. However, the patient still feels unsafe. She thoroughly guides the patient through the 'stuck points' in his thought patterns with determination and persistence.

From this session, the setup looks slightly different, as explained by Patricia Resick. They continue with a Zoom conversation. In the previous session, they ended with challenging questions, so now they focus on thought patterns, followed by topics such as safety and trust.

During the sixth session, a Zoom conversation takes place in which they follow the ABC model. "B" represents the sticking point they want to work on. The ABC model is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique that helps to understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. With the help of the ABC model, patients and therapists can together identify negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier, more realistic thoughts.

In the seventh session, they further explore the safety module. What is the concept behind safety? Discover how Patricia Resick addresses this and how she uses facts to help change the patient's emotions.

Probabilities, for the patient it is perhaps unlikely that he walks out of the door when it's unlocked. The upcoming module will therefore focus on trust, both in oneself and in others. They will work with various concepts.

In this second session of the Trauma Tapes, Ruud Jongedijk draws the lifeline from birth to the present with Victoria in which both stones (traumas) and flowers (beautiful memories) have a place. At the end of the session they make a picture of this lifeline together. -Dutch with English subtitles-

In this third session of the Trauma Tapes, Ruud Jongedijk guides Victoria through a narrative exposure. Victoria tells about a traumatic experience of abuse by her father (a stone in her lifeline). Then she tells about her liberation (a flower), releasing a lot of emotion. Her grandmother turned out to be a very important source of support in her life. -Dutch with English subtitles-

This video explores Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), a therapeutic approach that views emotions as central to human experience. EFT helps clients become aware of, accept, and transform their emotions. The therapy combines following the client’s emotional process with guiding them through tasks like resolving unresolved feelings or self-criticism. By focusing on bodily responses and synthesizing emotions (e.g., turning shame into healthy anger), EFT fosters deep emotional change. The process is non-linear, emphasizing experiential over intellectual understanding, and aims to help clients transform core painful emotions.

In this video, Les Greenberg demonstrates Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) with Marcel, a patient who struggles with a pleasing attitude. Marcel discusses how he often stays quiet, especially around dominant individuals, and avoids expressing his true thoughts. In the first session, he also addresses his relationship with his mother, exploring its impact on his behavior. Throughout the session, Greenberg guides Marcel in unpacking these issues and shares key takeaways for therapists on how to approach similar dynamics in their own practice.

In the second session with Marcel, Les Greenberg continues the Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) demonstration. In the previous session, they explored Marcel's relationship with his mother, but today, Marcel considers discussing his father. When he holds back, Marcel also reflects on his physical reactions, noting that he grinds his teeth at night. His father was a quiet man but prone to sudden bursts of anger.

In session 1 with Maartje, Maartje discusses her struggle to set boundaries and take care of herself. Each time she tries to prioritize her own needs, she becomes very emotional, with tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat. It's the small things that trigger her. Les Greenberg aims to explore the deeper meaning behind these emotions.

Session 2 with Maartje – Maartje feels positive after the first session. Today, she wants to work on her anger. Les wants to explore this further: Where does the anger come from? When and why does it arise?

First session with Marieke – Marieke struggles with feelings of envy, an emotion she feels deeply ashamed of. While acknowledging it is already a step forward, she usually tries to suppress these feelings. In this session, Les Greenberg helps her explore where this envy stems from and how it impacts her daily life.

Second session with Marieke – Marieke feels indecisive about what to discuss today. It seems like they touched on an important layer in the previous session, but there's something more beneath it. Les Greenberg guides her as they delve deeper into this emotion and explore its underlying layers.

First session with Lisette – Lisette experiences a strange sense of disgust when people become clingy; she feels like saying, "Leave me alone. Don’t stick to me," even with friends and strangers. This isn’t physical, but rather emotional. Les Greenberg explores this feeling more deeply, trying to understand where it might come from. What does "too close" mean to her, and why doesn't she want to feel this way in friendships?

Second session with Lisette – Lisette feels positive after the first session and shared it with her friends, who responded by expressing pride in her. This made her reflect, as she’s never really proud of herself and tends to see it as something ordinary. In this second session, she wants to explore with Les Greenberg how to feel pride in herself and celebrate her achievements without brushing it off as normal.

First session with Jasper – Jasper wants to talk about his feelings. He feels cold and closed-off, and experiences a sense of exposure when emotions surge. When feelings come up, he feels the need to shut them down, not show or share them. He especially shuts down when there is an expectation from others to express what he's feeling. Les Greenberg aims to explore further: when does this happen, with whom, and where does this response originate?

Second session with Jasper – Jasper reflected on yesterday's session. This morning, he felt uncertain about himself and the topic, though he can’t quite pinpoint why these feelings arose. He has many doubts about himself. Jasper wants to be seen but shuts down, feeling a pressure to be someone he’s not. Les Greenberg delves deeper: is this what happened in the last session? They explore his childhood and the origins of these feelings.

In this introductory session, Dr. Raymond DiGiuseppe explains the foundations of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a model developed by Albert Ellis and the Albert Ellis Institute. He outlines how REBT evolved alongside cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), integrating psychoeducation, emotive techniques, and Socratic dialogue. Core philosophical and psychological concepts—such as demandingness, self-evaluation, and the distinction between healthy and unhealthy negative emotions—are discussed. The influence of modern stoicism in psychotherapy is also explored, providing a contemporary context for REBT’s enduring relevance.

Laura works with Dr. DiGiuseppe on issues related to self-identity, self-worth, and the impact of early life experiences on current anxiety. Through REBT techniques, they examine irrational beliefs and social avoidance patterns. This session highlights the importance of challenging internalized demands, building a rational self-view, and practicing behavioral experiments to support change—all key aspects of applying REBT in clinical practice.

In this follow-up session with Laura, the focus shifts to workplace anxiety and avoidance driven by feelings of inadequacy. Dr. DiGiuseppe helps her identify irrational beliefs, affirm her professional competence, and apply visualization techniques to prepare for challenging situations. The session emphasizes the practice of self-acceptance and the development of self-affirming beliefs to reduce performance anxiety and promote growth.

Thomas explores a need to dominate conversations, stemming from fear of criticism and a belief in winning as a form of self-validation. Together with Dr. DiGiuseppe, he examines how this mindset fuels anxiety and hinders authentic connection. The session models how to foster openness to feedback, increase self-awareness, and embrace imperfection as a path toward improved communication and healthier relationships.

This session delves into Thomas’s struggles with perfectionism at home, where minor mistakes provoke disproportionate shame and anxiety. Dr. DiGiuseppe guides him through identifying underlying irrational beliefs, understanding emotional triggers, and learning to tolerate imperfection. The conversation also addresses the challenge of balancing professional and personal roles, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion, realistic expectations, and emotional insight.