Healing from Complex Trauma – The First Step: Stabilization and Symptom Management

Healing from complex trauma often begins with one essential phase: stabilization and symptom management. Many people seeking therapy for complex trauma or dissociation wonder how long healing will take and whether their pace is “normal.” The reality is that recovery from complex trauma is a gradual, layered process, and the first step focuses on creating safety, reducing dissociation, and building the capacity to regulate the nervous system.

When it comes to complex trauma, the very first step is learning skills to manage symptoms, especially dissociation. This foundational phase of stabilization is essential before moving into deeper trauma processing work. Research has found that this stabilization process on its own can take two to three years, as demonstrated by the “Finding Solid Ground” program developed and researched by Dr. Bethany Brand and colleagues.

The Finding Solid Ground program is the first ever evidence-based program specifically designed for stabilization for people experiencing complex trauma symptoms and dissociation (including PTSD dissociative subtype). This program recognizes that before trauma memories can be safely processed, individuals need to develop the capacity to manage dissociative symptoms, regulate their nervous system, and establish a sense of safety in their bodies.

Trauma survivors often experience their bodies reacting before their minds have a chance to catch up. This is a reminder of how past experiences continue to echo in the present. Many find that their body remembers what their mind tries to forget, leading to feelings of tension, dissociation, and unease. During the stabilization phase, the focus is on building skills to recognize, understand, and manage these bodily responses.

Somatic therapies are a pathway to building a different relationship with the body. This approach helps individuals learn to track sensations, notice patterns of dissociation, and develop tools to ground themselves when symptoms arise. Rather than trying to process traumatic memories immediately, somatic therapy during stabilization focuses on creating safety, developing awareness, and building capacity to tolerate present-moment experience.

It’s not uncommon for someone to feel impatient or frustrated with the pace of their healing, especially when stabilization alone can take two to three years. Yet, it is essential to recognize that this foundational work is not a delay in healing—it is healing. The skills developed during stabilization create the necessary foundation for any deeper trauma processing work that may come later.

When emotional safety is prioritized and symptom management skills are developed, individuals can find that it’s not ‘me vs you’, but ‘us vs the problem’. The therapeutic relationship becomes a space where dissociation can be understood, managed, and gradually integrated rather than feared or avoided.

Ultimately, therapy can be a space where one learns to slow down and tune in, fostering secure functioning and connection. During the stabilization phase, the focus is on building capacity—the ability to notice dissociation, the skills to manage symptoms, and the relationship with one’s body that allows for greater presence and choice.

When people feel safe and have tools to manage their symptoms, they connect more deeply with themselves and others, paving the way for meaningful healing. This stabilization work, while it may take time, is essential. It is the foundation upon which all other healing work rests.

Safety is not the goal—it is the pathway. Healing from complex trauma is a journey marked by resilience, patience, and hope. The first step is learning to manage symptoms, especially dissociation, and this process itself is a profound act of healing. Remember, each step taken in stabilization is a testament to one’s strength and capacity for growth.