Katathym-Imaginative Psychotherapy for complex post-traumatic stress disorder: a trauma therapist’s perspective

Abstract

This article explores the application of Katathym-Imaginative Psychotherapy (KIP), also known as Symboldrama, as an effective therapeutic approach for patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), a condition often resulting from prolonged or cumulative trauma, such as childhood abuse or neglect. Drawing on the trauma therapist’s perspective and clinical experience, the study provides a detailed analysis of KIP’s symbolic motifs and their implementation across the three key stages of trauma therapy: stabilization, processing of traumatic experiences, and integration. Motifs are examined through patient case studies, highlighting their role in preventing retraumatization, fostering self-compassion, and restoring psychological continuity. The findings underscore KIP’s diagnostic and therapeutic potential, particularly in addressing repressed affects, enhancing mentalization, and strengthening personality structure in patients with CPTSD. KIP offers a gentle, resource-oriented approach that mitigates the risk of retraumatization while promoting emotional regulation and identity reconstruction. The results advocate for the broader adoption of KIP in clinical practice and suggest directions for future research, including the development of new trauma-focused motifs and the exploration of KIP’s long-term impact on CPTSD symptom management.