2016 APDT Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show · 2016 APDT Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show Las Vegas, Nevada Joseph Lancia Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry

2016 APDT Annual Educational Conference and Trade ShowLas Vegas, Nevada

Joseph LanciaClinical Associate Professor of PsychiatryUniversity of Rochester Medical Center

Explorations of Trauma and Recovery in Dogs with Fear Aggression

2016 Annual Educational Conference and Trade ShowLas Vegas, Nevada

Seminar Overview

Model for understanding relationship between human and canines

Exploration of trauma and fear reactivity from a neuroanatomical, psychological and behavioral perspective

Treatment components including considerations of both the dog and trainer


“For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with

the extension of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never

hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings, they are other nations caught with

ourselves in the net of life and time.”

Jans 2014


Ken Wilber’s Four Quadrant Model of Consciousness

I

Individual

Individual and subjective

A subjective truth: “my story”

Interior and intentional

Genuine direct experience

Immediate interior experience

It

Behavioral

Individual

An objective truth

Exterior

How individual events look from the

outside

We

Cultural

Collective and interior

A intersubjective truth: “our story”

A space of shared cultural contexts

Collective story

Its

Social

Collective and exterior

The objective truth about the group

How the group looks from the outside

Social system- how the group lives

together

How group behaves and communicates



IIndividual

Individual and subjective

A subjective truth: “my story”

Interior and intentional

Genuine direct experience

Immediate interior experience



It

Behavioral

Individual and objective

An objective truth

Exterior

How individual events look from the outside



We

Cultural

Collective and interior

An intersubjective truth: “our story”

A space of shared cultural contexts

Collective story


Ken Wilber's Four Quadrant Model of Consciousness

Its

Social

Collective and exterior

The objective truth about the group

How the group looks from the outside

Social system- how the group lives together

How group behaves and communicates


The Present Moment

Present moment: small momentary events that make up our world of experience

Basic building blocks for relationships

These moments enter awareness and are shared between dog and trainer

These lived experiences make up the key moments of change in relationships

Stern, 2004


Relevant Features of the Present Moment

It is partially unpredictable as it unfolds

During the lived present moment the individual creates their own lived story

Different present moments have different importance

Stern, 2004


Elements in Composing a Lived Story

Narrative format: structure without language for mentally organizing experiences (designed to build emotional and cognitive meanings around intentions)

Lived stories: experiences that are narratively formatted in the mind but not verbalized or told

Narrative: the telling to someone about the lived story


The Present Moment as a Lived Story

The moment of participation in another’s lived story, or the formation of a mutually lived story by the human and canine,

leads to the creation of a different kind of contact between the two species


Intersubjective Contact

The present moments that arise when dog and trainer make a special kind of mental contact

Involves a mutual interpenetration of minds

Provide the happenings that change relationships


Intersubjective Matrix

The continuous cocreative dialogue with other minds

The boundaries of self and other remain clear but are more permeable

Intentions are modified or born in a shifting dialogue with the felt intentions of others

Feelings are shaped by the thoughts, intentions, and feelings of others


Intersubjective Consciousness and the Relationship Between Dog and Trainer

In cocreating experiences between the dog and trainer, the consciousness of one overlaps and partially includes the consciousness of the other

The experience of the human and the dog need not be exactly the same, as they originate from different places and orientations

They are similar enough that when the two experiences are mutually validated, a consciousness of sharing the same mental landscape arises


Trauma – a state of arousal

A physiological and psychological state of readiness

Activates the fight or flight response

An alertness and readiness to respond

Can manifest as fear aggression


Ways to Address Fear Reactivity

Biological aspects – understanding neuroanatomy

Physical aspects – collar, leash, fence, etc.

Psychological aspects – establishing trust, security and respect


Neuroanatomy

Central Nervous System – brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System – brings sensory information to the CNS


Emotions

Source of motivation to initiate action

Give shape and direction to what we do

Expressed through muscles in the face and body

Facial and physical movements communicate mental state and intention to others


Emotions

“The fundamental purpose of emotions is to initiate movement that will restore the

organism to safety and physical equilibrium”.

Van Der Kolk, 2014


Trauma and Emotions

Stuck in survival mode

No room for nurture, care, love

Mind defending itself against threats

Ability to imagine, learn and pay attention diminished


Relevant Neuroanatomy

Autonomic Nervous System:

Muscle shifts and tension

Eye movement and pupil dilation

Fluctuations in salivation, breathing and heart rate


Autonomic Nervous System

2 Branches:

1. Sympathetic – the body’s accelerator (arousal)

2. Parasympathetic – serves as the body’s brake (slowing down, relaxing); allows learning


Polyvagal Theory

Vagus Nerve:

10 th cranial nerve

Carries signals to and from the brain

Vagus is Latin for “wandering”

Travels from base of skull through the abdomen

Branches to heart, lungs, voice box, stomach, ears and many other body parts


Polyvagal Theory

Vagal nerve has many connections

Provides understanding of the biology of safety and danger

Subtle interplay between body experiences and the impact of others around us

Kind face, soothing tone can alter how the dog feels

Focused attunement with trainer can shift dog out of disorganized and fearful state

Porges, 1994


Polyvagal Theory

Looks beyond flight or fight

Highlights social relationships and their importance in healing trauma

Focuses on strengthening the body’s system for regulating arousal


Attunement to Subtle Emotional Shifts

Facial muscle tension/relaxation – tell how comfortable, relaxed or frightened the dog or trainer is

“you’re safe with me” – invites the dog to relax


Trauma and Fear Reactivity

Challenges in safe and satisfying relationships

Difficulties in regulating arousal (shut down, overexcited, disorganized)


Trauma and Fear Reactivity

Healing involves giving the dog options

Being open to choice assists the dog to self soothe and develop emotional regulation

Dog does not need permission to move away from conflict or stress


Stimulus - Response versus Thinking and Feeling

(Behaviorism versus Constructivism)

Reward behaviors - teach dog to respond in a certain way

Thoughts and feelings associated with certain experiences can be validated and reinforced through behavioral reward

Behavior and energy of trainer is important


Relevance of Intersubjective Matrix and Healing

Social context of interaction important

Respect and reciprocity

Changing the narrative around the context

Each dog an individual (different behavioral thresholds, triggers, emotional resiliency)


Part of the healing process

Allowing the dog to find someone or something not ok

Assist the dog to show this in a more socially accepted way

Build on the strength of the individual dog

Create a space to increase possible choices


Treatment Plan Components

1. Prevention and Management

2. Stress Reduction

3. Relationship Building

4. Enrichment of dog’s environment

5. Foundational Skills

6. Behavior Modification


Prevention and Management

Prevent and avoid when possible

Gain insight into the individual dog (behavioral thresholds, triggers)

Plan ahead and shape through socialization

Self determination – let dog make choices


Stress Reduction

Attune to the primary needs of the dog

Look for ways to reduce stress

Engage in experiences that are positive


Building Relationship

Positive moments of contact

Reciprocal engagement

Being together without necessarily doing


Enrichment of Environment

Canine ethology as a guide

Create stimulating and motivating environment

Keep dog engaged

Offer learning opportunities

Keep in mind basic need to feel safe


Foundational Skills

Once dog feels safe

Build relationship further by operant conditioned learning

Make experience social, engaging and positive


Behavior Modification paired with Strengthening Resiliency

Use operant conditioning to strengthen a behavior

Use validation to reinforce a state of mind and emotional response

Communicate, cooperate and resolve conflicts

Look for a shift in the narrative around certain experiences manifested by healthier/different behavioral choices


Reflections for the Trainer

Create state of relaxed awareness in themselves

Create a space for a safe encounter and healing

Suspend judgment

Be gentle but persistent

Hold healing intention


Create Mindful Conditions for Healing

The Four S’s:

1. Spaciousness

2. Simplicity

3. Single mindedness

4. Slowing down

Pollak and Siegel, 2014


The Four S’s

Spaciousness – letting thoughts, feelings and physical sensations come and go freely

Simplicity – setting aside preoccupations, letting go of what we know and meet the dog in the freshness of the moment

Single mindedness – single tasking, doing one thing at a time, not let our attention be divided

Slowing down – pause and take a breath when needed, manage our own reactivity


Three Objects of Awareness

1. The sensations, thoughts, and feelings arising in the trainer

2. The body language and sensed feeling experience of the dog

3. The flow of relationship – our felt sense of connection or distance

Surrey, 2005


Information Processing

Varies with each dog:

Sensory experiences that calm or excite

Sensory preferences

Volume of sensory information tolerated

Amount of information that can be processed


Seven Senses

Touch

Posture

Balance

Smell

Hearing

Sight

Taste


Touch

Basic form of stimulation

Aids in social connection

Gives information about environment or object


Posture

Perception of one’s body

Movement and regulation of muscle tension

Form of communication


Balance

The language of movement

This sense works closely with sight and posture


Olfaction (smell)

Connected with emotional well being

Sniffing a form of self regulation

Important connection to the surrounding world

Assists in detection of danger


Hearing

Orientation

Induces movement

Balance and hearing activate each other


Visual

Connected to balance and posture

Ability to move safely

Important role in perception of safety

How much is too much to process ?


Taste

Connected to primary needs – eating and drinking

Connected to smell


Activation of Autonomic Nervous System

Things to consider:

1. Can the dog react in an adaptive way?

2. Can the dog learn something from the arousal ?

3. Is the stimulus too much for either of the above?


Space and Distance in Healing

Use space and distance consciously

Use time and intensity of stimulus consciously

Don’t force experiences or go too fast

Create opportunity for success

Dog and trainer learn together in a social cognitive context


Case Examples




Selected Bibliography

Bekoff, Marc. 2007. The Emotional Lives of Animals. Novato, CA: New World Library.

Bekoff, Marc., Colin Allen, and Gordon M. Burghardt. 2002. The Cognitive Animal: Empirical and Theoretical Perspectives on Animal Cognition. Cambridge Mass: MIT.

Irvine, Leslie. 2004. “A Model of Animal Selfhood: Expanding Interactionist Possibilities.” Symbolic Interaction 27: 3 – 22.

Irvine, Leslie. 2004. If you tame me: Understanding our connections with animals. Temple University Press.

Panskeep, Jaak. 1998. Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Oxford University Press.

Pollak, Susan, 2014. Sitting Together: Essential Skills for Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy. Guilford Press.

Porges, S. W. 1994. “Vagal Tone and the Self Regulation of Emotion,” in The Development of Emotion Regulation: Biological and Behavioral Considerations, ed N. A. Fox, monographs of the Society of Child Development, vol. 59 (1994), 167-86.

Stern, Daniel. 1977. The First Relationship: Infant and Mother. Harvard University Press.

Stern, Daniel. 2004. The Present Moment in Psychotherapy and Everyday Life. New York: WW Norton and Company.

Surry, J. Relational psychotherapy relational mindfulness. Ed. C.K. Germer, Mindfulness and Psychotherapy (2 nd ed., pp 91-110). New York: Guilford Press.

Van der Kolk, Bessel. 2014. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York: Penguin Group.

Wilber, Ken. 1995. Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution. Boston: Shambhala Publications.

Documents

2016 APDT Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show · 2016 APDT Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show Las Vegas, Nevada Joseph Lancia Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry