Tarra Bates-Duford Compares Trauma vs. Complex Trauma

In this session, Tarra Bates-Duford discusses the differences between trauma and complex trauma, emphasising childhood experiences' layered and long-term impact. She introduces the "brick-building" metaphor to explain how complex trauma accumulates over multiple incidents or relationships with known perpetrators. This trauma often involves conflicted emotions, such as simultaneous compassion and distress toward the abuser, as seen in cultural norms like "rites of passage." Therapy requires peeling back layers of shame, empathy, and confusion to fully address the client's needs. Bates-Duford highlights the importance of patient-centred approaches, avoiding premature judgments, and staying informed about evolving childhood communication patterns.