Identity-Oriented Psychotrauma Therapy (IoPT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on human identity development within the context of early attachment relationships.

The trauma theory developed by Prof. Franz Ruppert and Vivian Broughton posits that a significant cause of psychological and physical disorders can be traced back to the effects of early traumatization. IoPT is grounded in John Bowlby’s attachment research, which concludes that the nature of a child’s interaction with attachment figures significantly influences their future emotional and mental health. Securely attached individuals tend to be more resilient in crisis situations, while those with insecure attachments are more susceptible to trauma.

Psychotraumatology examines the impact of traumatic events on the experience and behavior of those affected. IoPT utilizes these insights to explain how psychological trauma can fragment the psyche, leading to the development of survival strategies that might be useful in the short term but dysfunctional in the long run.

Two central aspects of the IoPT approach are:

Client Autonomy: This is expressed through the client formulating their own issue or therapeutic intention – a question or topic they wish to explore or resolve – and actively participating in shaping their healing process.

Work with Resonance Givers: In IoPT group settings, resonance givers embody different aspects of the client’s issue. Through their feelings and perceptions, they mirror the client’s unconscious psychic structures, leading to profound insights. In individual sessions, clients can also resonate with these structures themselves, supported by the therapist.

The therapeutic goal in IoPT is to resolve the personality split caused by trauma through:

• Understanding Survival Strategies to create more space for healthy psychic parts.
• Strengthening Healthy Aspects, particularly through developing a stable self and one’s own will.
• Facilitating Encounters between healthy and traumatized parts for integration.

This study describes well how the IoPT method contributes to self-awareness: Getting to Know the Inner Self. Exploratory Study of Identity Oriented Psychotrauma Therapy—Experiences and Value From Multiple Perspectives (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021)

In summary, IoPT offers an effective means for the self-determined exploration and healing of traumatized parts of one’s psyche. By working with resonance givers, a deeper understanding of internal dynamics is enabled, contributing to psychic integration and the wholeness of one’s self. This form of therapy appeals to individuals who are willing to actively work on their inner healing and understand the depth of attachment experiences and their impact on identity.