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On-Demand
The Trauma of Neglect: Identifying and Treating it in Therapy

History of the Field and Neurobiology

Ruth Cohn
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Information

Recorded

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Summarize the historical underrepresentation of neglect in trauma research and theory.

  • Describe societal and clinical factors that contribute to neglect being overlooked.

  • Assess how evolving trauma paradigms have shaped current understandings of neglect.

Description

This session provides a historical and scientific foundation for understanding neglect. Cohn explores how PTSD became formally recognized and how neurobiology—especially studies by Bessel van der Kolk and Ruth Lanius—revolutionized trauma theory. She introduces the concept of "speechless terror" and describes the neurobiological shutdown that occurs during traumatic flashbacks. These insights help explain why traditional talk therapy is often ineffective for trauma rooted in neglect.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Ruth Cohn
Ruth Cohn, MFT, is a psychotherapist living and practicing in the San Francisco Bay area. She has been specializing in work with survivors of trauma and neglect, their intimate partners, and families since 1988. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, certified in Neurofeedback, EMDR, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Imago Relationship Therapy. Ruth is also the author of numerous articles on sexuality, trauma, and neglect and three books: Working With the Developmental Trauma of Childhood Neglect: Using Psychotherapy and Attachment Theory Techniques in Clinical Practice, Coming Home to Passion: Restoring Loving Sexuality in Couples With Histories of Childhood Trauma and Neglect, and Out of My Mind: Late Night Contemplations About Trauma and Neglect.