Integrative Therapy for Attachment Trauma
Pam Dillon, M.Ed., RMFT. | 579-539-0147
Pam Dillon is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist in Canada (Regisration No. 2017869) and a Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (Registration No. 110205).
Pam’s clinical work with adults who carry the wounds of still-unresolved childhood attachment-trauma is an invitation into an embodied, moment-to-moment, mindful tracking of somatic and emotional experience both within the patient (intra-personally) and within the therapeutic alliance (inter-personally). The aim of her work with patients is to establish a felt experience of authenic connection and belonging. This might best be described as a tri-une process of secure attachment; first to the self of the therapist, secondly, to a true, embodied sense of inner coherence, and thirdly, to an ever-abiding and benevolent consciousness beyond self.
Pam’s therapeutic approach is called Tri-Unitas Trauma Therapy (TRUS-TT) referring to a tri-phased, relational therapy process for our human, tri-une brains. U’nitas – (Latin), Oneness, Unity; A state of Being undivided. Her work is informed by attachment theory as well as by current research in affective neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology.
In addition to Pam’s early training experiences in Gestalt, bio-energetics, psychodrama, psycho-dynamic theory, Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), Jungian psychology and psychosynthesis, Pam currently incorporates Attachment-EMDR into her ego-state (sub-personalities or parts) work. Pam’s clinical style of practice has been deeply influenced and inspired by the Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy model which is the brainchld of Dr. Diana Fosha Ph.D.
Pam’s life-long interest in the interplay of mind and body began with her undergraduate dual specialization in psychology and physical education at York University in Toronto, Canada. There, her early academic research interests focused on the therapeutic impact of aerobic exercise on states of anxiety and depression.
Inspired by an under-graduate course in the psycho-biology of relaxation and fueled by a budding passion for exploring paths towards full realization as a human being, Pam became a yoga therapist in 1980. Here, she was first introduced to the practice of meditation. In 1991, Pam became a Shiatsu (acupressure) therapist. Since 1996, she has both practiced and taught Qi Gong. In 2014, Pam was certified to teach trauma-sensitive yoga.
Pam’s doctoral course work in developmental psychology focused on attachment theory, early mother-infant, non-verbal interactions and the emergence of defenses in infants. Her ultimate doctoral dissertation research in Applied Psychology at the University of Toronto (OISE) demonstrated that Buddhist Vipassana (Mindfulness) meditation reduced speech and social anxiety in university students. Most interestingly, her research demonstrated that with this decrease in anxiety came a proportional increase in Ambiguity Tolerance for the meditating university students.
Pam has now been a mental health clinician in private practice specializing in the treatment of Attachment Trauma and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) since 2003. In 2021, Pam was proud to become certified in Integrative Health And Lifestyle by the Andrew Weil, M.D. School of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. http://awcim.arizona.edu.
“Pam’s sensitivity, intuition, and multidimensional skillset are grounded in love. Her compassionate way of being with others as support and guide – through traumatic imprints into full-spectrum relief and thriving – is born from decades of clinical experience, meaningful inner work, and a life deeply lived.”
